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17
41-1a-414
41-6a-217
0
Disabled Parking Permit Amendments
2026 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Trevor Lee
Senate Sponsor:
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill creates a temporary parking permit for expectant mothers.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
defines terms;
creates a temporary parking placard, allowing expectant mothers to park in accessible
parking spaces; and
makes technical changes.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
This bill provides a special effective date.
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
41-1a-414
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapter 294
41-6a-217
, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2005, Chapter 2
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section
41-1a-414
is amended to read:
41-1a-414
. Parking privileges for individuals with disabilities and expectant
mothers.
(1)
As used in this section:
(a)
"Accessible parking space" means a parking space that
:
(i)
is clearly identified as reserved for use by
a person
an individual
with a disability
and includes:
(i)
(A)
vertical signage, including the international symbol of accessibility, that is
visible from a passing vehicle; and
(ii)
(B)
a clearly marked access aisle, if provided, that is adjacent to and
considered part of the parking space
.
; and
(ii)
an individual with a disability or an expectant mother may use for parking, in
accordance with the requirements of this part.
(b)
"Expectant mother" means an individual who is pregnant, as confirmed by a
physician.
(c)
"Expectant mother parking placard" means a temporary removable windshield
placard that includes, conspicuously displayed:
(i)
the expiration date of the placard; and
(ii)
the following statement, in bold, "An expectant mother parking placard may be
issued only to an expectant mother and is valid for up to one year after the date of
issuance."
(d)
"Physician" means the same as that term is defined in Section 41-1a-420.
(e)
(i)
"Removable windshield placard" means a placard that is removable and meant
to be displayed on, or visible from, the windshield of a vehicle.
(ii)
"Removable windshield placard" includes:
(A)
an expectant mother parking placard;
(B)
a temporary removable windshield placard;
(C)
a temporary wheelchair user placard; and
(D)
a wheelchair user placard.
(f)
"Temporary removable windshield placard" means a removable windshield placard
with an expiration date.
(b)
(g)
"Temporary wheelchair user placard" means the same as that term is defined in
Section
41-1a-420
.
(c)
(h)
"Van accessible parking space" means an accessible parking space that is
marked for use by a qualifying
person
individual
with a walking disability who has
a temporary wheelchair user placard or a wheelchair user placard and includes:
(i)
vertical signage with the international symbol of accessibility and the words "van
accessible" that is visible from a passing vehicle; and
(ii)
a clearly marked access aisle that is adjacent to and considered part of the parking
space.
(d)
(i)
"Walking disability" means a physical disability that requires the use of a
walking-assistive device or wheelchair or similar low-powered motorized or
mechanically propelled vehicle that is specifically designed to assist
a person
an
individual
who has a limited or impaired ability to walk.
(e)
(j)
"Wheelchair user placard" means the same as that term is defined in Section
41-1a-420
.
(2)
Except in parking areas designated for emergency use,
a person
an individual
with a
disability, qualifying under rules made in accordance with Section
41-1a-420
, may park
an appropriately marked vehicle for reasonable periods without charge in metered
parking zones and restricted parking areas, in a manner that allows proper access to the
vehicle by the
person
individual
with a disability.
(3)
(a)
The division shall create an expectant mother parking placard.
(b)
The division shall provide for the design, size, color, and placement of the expectant
mother parking placard described in Subsection (3)(a).
(4)
The division shall issue an expectant mother parking placard to an applicant who:
(a)
is an expectant mother;
(b)
completes an application as required under this section; and
(c)
pays a $15 application fee.
(5)
The division shall deposit the application fee described in Subsection (4)(c) into the
License Plate Restricted Account described in Section 41-1a-122.
(6)
An application for an expectant mother parking placard shall include:
(a)
a certification by a physician that the applicant is an expectant mother;
(b)
the certifying physician's name and address; and
(c)
the signatures of:
(i)
the certifying physician; and
(ii)
the applicant.
(3)
(a)
Only those vehicles carrying a person with a disability special group license
plate, temporary removable windshield placard, or removable windshield placard and
transporting a qualifying person with a disability may park in an accessible parking
space.
(b)
A violation of Subsection (3)(a) is a class C misdemeanor.
(c)
A person described in Subsection (3)(a) is encouraged to avoid parking in a van
accessible parking space unless:
(i)
the person has a walking disability and has a temporary wheelchair user placard;
(ii)
the person has a wheelchair user placard; or
(iii)
all other accessible parking spaces that are not van accessible parking spaces are
occupied.
(7)
(a)
A vehicle may park in an accessible parking space if:
(i)
the vehicle displays:
(A)
a disability special group license plate;
(B)
a temporary removable windshield placard; or
(C)
a removable windshield placard; and
(ii)
the vehicle is transporting a qualifying individual with a disability or an expectant
mother.
(b)
An individual who violates Subsection (7)(a) is guilty of a class C misdemeanor.
(c)
An individual parking a vehicle described in Subsection (7)(a) is encouraged to avoid
parking in a van accessible parking space unless:
(i)
the individual has a walking disability and has a temporary wheelchair user
placard;
(ii)
the individual has a wheelchair user placard; or
(iii)
all other accessible parking spaces that are not van accessible parking spaces are
occupied.
(4)
(8)
This section applies to and may be enforced on public property and on private
property that is used or intended for use by the public.
(5)
(9)
The parking privileges granted by this section also apply to vehicles
displaying a
person
with a
:
(a)
disability special group license plate
,
;
(b)
temporary removable windshield placard
described in this section
,
;
or
(c)
removable windshield placard issued by another jurisdiction if displayed on a vehicle
being used by
a person
an individual
with a disability.
(6)
(10)
In addition to required accessible parking spaces, a person may provide and
designate parking spaces for veterans and service members, including those with a
disability.
Section 2. Section
41-6a-217
is amended to read:
41-6a-217
. Volunteers may be authorized to enforce certain parking provisions.
(1)
Any
A
law enforcement agency authorized to enforce parking laws in this state may
appoint volunteers to issue citations for violations of:
(a)
the provisions of
Subsections
41-1a-414(3)
and
(4)
41-1a-414(7)
and
(8)
related
to parking for
a person
an individual
with a disability;
(b)
any
a
municipal or county accessible parking privileges ordinance for
a person
an
individual
with a disability; or
(c)
the provisions of
Subsection
41-6a-1307(4)
related to parking in a school bus
parking zone.
(2)
A volunteer appointed under this section must be at least 21 years
of age
old
.
(3)
The law enforcement agency appointing a volunteer may establish any other
qualification for the volunteer that the agency finds desirable.
(4)
A volunteer may not issue citations until the volunteer has received training from the
appointing law enforcement agency.
(5)
A citation issued by a volunteer under this section has the same
force and
effect as a
citation issued by a peace officer for the same offense.
Section 3.
Effective Date.
This bill takes effect on
July 1, 2026
.
1-20-26 6:09 PM