AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- PARKING FACILITIES AND PRIVILEGES (Allows persons with disabilities to receive up to two (2) motor vehicle disability parking privilege placards.)

H7575

2026 -- H 7575
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LC005011
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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A N A C T
RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- PARKING FACILITIES AND
PRIVILEGES

Introduced By:
Representatives Dawson, and Boylan

Date Introduced:
February 06, 2026

Referred To:
House State Government & Elections
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Section 31-28-7 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-28 entitled "Parking
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Facilities and Privileges" is hereby amended to read as follows:
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31-28-7. Motor vehicle plates for persons with disabilities — Entitlement —
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Designated parking spaces — Violations.
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(a) Persons, as defined in subsection (h) of this section, upon application and proof of
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permanent or long-term disability to the division of motor vehicles, shall be issued
one

up to two
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(2)
motor vehicle disability parking privilege
placard

placards
or in the case of a motorcycle, one
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motor vehicle sticker, of blue which shall be imprinted with the white international symbol of
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access, certificate number, the words “Rhode Island Disability Parking Permit” and shall bear the
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expiration date upon its face. A placard or motorcycle sticker issued to a person whose disability is
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temporary shall be substantially similar to that issued to a person with a permanent or long term
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disability. The temporary placard, however, shall be a red placard with a white international symbol
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of access, certificate number, the words “Rhode Island Disability Parking Permit” and shall bear
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the expiration dates upon its face. A preliminary placard shall be similar to that issued to a person
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with a permanent, long-term, or temporary disability. The preliminary placard shall be effective for
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twenty-one (21) days, and may be issued by an applicant’s licensed physician, if in the medical
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provider’s opinion the applicant’s medical condition merits the issuance of a preliminary placard
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while the division considers the applicant’s qualifications for any type of disability parking permit.

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The preliminary placard shall be an orange placard with a white international symbol of access,
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certificate number, the words “Rhode Island Disability Parking Permit” and shall bear the
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expiration date upon its face and shall be displayed on the dashboard of the vehicle in a manner
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that it is clearly visible from the front. The division of motor vehicles shall promulgate rules
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governing the issuance and use of preliminary placards. Applicants shall not be charged any fee
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associated with the issuance of a preliminary placard. Physicians submitting false information to
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the division of motor vehicles to obtain a preliminary placard on anyone’s behalf may be subject
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to the penalties set forth in § 11-18-1.3. Persons issued a placard or motorcycle sticker pursuant to
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this section shall be entitled to the immunities of §§ 31-28-4 and 31-28-6. The placard shall conform
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to the Uniform Parking System for Disabled Drivers standard issued by the United States
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Department of Transportation. If an application for a placard or motorcycle sticker is denied, the
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division of motor vehicles shall promptly notify the applicant in writing, stating the specific
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reason(s) for the denial, and advising the applicant of the procedures for requesting a hearing to
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appeal the denial. Prior to the appeal hearing, the applicant shall be provided with any and all
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documents relied upon by the division in denying the application. If an application contains a
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physician certification that the applicant is sufficiently disabled to require a placard or motorcycle
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sticker, and the division has not provided specific reasons in its denial letter to the applicant, the
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hearing officer shall summarily order that a placard or motorcycle sticker be provided to the
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applicant. At all other hearings of application denials where a physician certification has been
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provided, the division shall bear the burden of proof that the individual is not entitled to a placard
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or motorcycle sticker pursuant to this chapter.
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(b) A placard issued pursuant to this section shall be portable and used only when the
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person is being transported. The placard is to be hung from the rear view mirror so as to be seen
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through the front or rear windshield of the motor vehicle. A placard may be issued to a person with
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a disability who does not own a motor vehicle, to be used only when he or she is being transported.
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A motorcycle sticker issued pursuant to this section shall not be portable and shall be affixed to the
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rear plate of the motorcycle.
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(c)(1) The certificate of entitlement to the placard or motorcycle sticker shall be renewed
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every six (6) years for individuals with a long-term disability, as defined in subsection (d) of this
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section, and the renewal application shall require a physician’s certification that the condition has
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not changed since the previous approval, and six (6) years for individuals with a permanent
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disability as defined in subsection (h) of this section, in accordance with a schedule prepared by
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the division of motor vehicles that uses the last name of an individual to determine the month of
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renewal. If an application or subsequent renewal is accompanied by a physician’s certification that

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the applicant’s condition is a chronic, permanent impairment and that application is approved, then
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any subsequent renewal shall be authorized upon receipt of a notarized affidavit from the applicant
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or applicant’s, guardian or legal representative or a certificate from the applicant’s physician that
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his or her condition has not changed since the previous approval.
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(2) The certificate of entitlement to the placard or motorcycle sticker shall be covered with
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plastic or similar material. The applicant shall, upon timely renewal, receive a sticker bearing the
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expiration date of the certificate of entitlement to be affixed across the expiration date of the
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disability parking privilege placard or in the case of a motorcycle the applicant shall receive a new
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motorcycle sticker. The division of motor vehicles shall establish rules and regulations allowing
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for the renewal of the certificates of entitlement by mail.
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(3) Whenever the division of motor vehicles proposes to suspend, revoke or fail to renew
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the certificate of entitlement for noncompliance with the requirements of this section or for
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violation of subsection (h) of this section, the individual shall first be entitled to a hearing before
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the division of motor vehicles to contest the proposed action. At the hearing, the division of motor
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vehicles shall bear the burden of proof that the individual is not entitled to the placard or motorcycle
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sticker pursuant to this chapter. There shall be no renewal fee charged for the placards or
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motorcycle sticker. The division of motor vehicles shall be authorized to issue a temporary
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disability parking privilege placard or motorcycle sticker immediately upon receipt of an
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application for individuals with a temporary impairment, as defined in subsection (h) of this section.
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A temporary placard or motorcycle sticker shall be valid for sixty (60) days from the date of
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issuance. Temporary placards or motorcycle stickers may be renewed for a period of one year or
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less, as determined by the medical advisory board upon application if the disability persists. The
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division of motor vehicles shall subsequently review the applications in accordance with the
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procedures currently in effect as to applications from persons whose disability is long term. Any
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issuance which, after subsequent review, shall be found to be inappropriate shall be revoked and
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notice of the revocation shall be sent to the applicant.
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(d) A person, other than a person with a disability, who for his or her own purposes uses
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the parking privilege placard, shall be fined five hundred dollars ($500) for each violation. A person
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issued a special placard who uses the placard after expiration, or who shall allow unauthorized use
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of the disability parking placard or sticker, may be subject to immediate revocation of the use of
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the placard by the division of motor vehicles, and subject to a fine of five hundred dollars ($500).
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(e) Disability parking spaces shall be designated and identified by the posting of signs
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above ground level incorporating the international symbol of access of white on blue, and the words
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“Handicapped Parking,” “Disability Parking,” “Disabled Parking,” or “Reserved Parking” at each

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space, at both ends of a row or series of adjacent disability parking spaces, or at the entrance to a
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parking lot restricted to only disability parking.
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(f) A person, other than a person issued a special placard or motorcycle sticker pursuant to
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this section, who parks a vehicle in a parking space designated for persons with disabilities, shall
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be fined: (1) one hundred dollars ($100) for a first violation, (2) one hundred seventy-five dollars
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($175) for a second violation, and (3) three hundred twenty-five dollars ($325) for a third or
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subsequent violation. The vehicle may be subject to towing at the owner’s expense. Provided
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further, that it shall not be unlawful for a person to park a vehicle in a space designated for person
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with disabilities if that person is transporting a person who has been issued a special placard and is
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properly displaying the placard on the vehicle.
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(g) Enforcement of the parking provisions of this section shall be enforced by the local or
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state authorities on public or private property when the location of the parking spaces is within the
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purview of the State Building Code, chapter 27.3 of title 23.
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(h) Definitions. For the purpose of this section:
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(1) “Disabled” or “disability” means a permanent or long-term impairment which prevents
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or impedes walking, which shall include but not be limited to: (i) an impairment which prevents
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walking and requires use of a wheelchair; (ii) an impairment which involuntarily causes difficulty
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or insecurity in walking or climbing stairs with or without the need to use braces, crutches, canes
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or artificial support; (iii) an impairment caused by amputation, arthritis, blindness (including legally
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blind), or orthopedic condition; (iv) an impairment in respiratory, circulatory, or neurological health
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which limits the person’s walking capability; or (v) disabled veteran, pursuant to § 31-6-8 after
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certification of eligibility from the Veterans’ Administration or other satisfactory documentation
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of eligibility is presented. Persons with disabilities may be capable of working or may be presently
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working.
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(2) “Long-term disability” means an impairment which is potentially reversible or may
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improve with appropriate medical treatment. At the time of application and or renewal, the
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impairment should not be expected to improve prior to the expiration of the certification, to a point
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where the individual does not meet the provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection.
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(3) “Permanent disability” means an impairment which is non-reversible.
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(4) “Temporary impairment” means an impairment which is expected to improve to a point
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where the individual does not meet the provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection, within two
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(2) years of the application.
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(i) The department of revenue shall inform each licensed driver of the certificate procedures
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and parking restrictions of this section and §§ 31-28-4 and 31-28-6, and a facsimile of the portable

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placards and motorcycle stickers issued under this section shall be sent to the enforcing authority
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of each state, and each enforcing authority shall be informed of the parking restrictions of this
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section and §§ 31-28-4 and 31-28-6. Recipients of disability parking privilege placards shall also
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receive instructions on their use and the penalties for misuse, when the placard is initially issued.
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(j) Any person who makes, manufactures, offers for sale or knowingly uses a counterfeit
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parking privilege placard shall be fined up to five hundred dollars ($500) and/or forty (40) hours
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of community restitution.
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- PARKING FACILITIES AND
PRIVILEGES
***
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This act would allow persons with disabilities to receive up to two (2) motor vehicle
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disability parking privilege placards.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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