SEARCH SITE

VIRGINIA LAW PORTAL

SEARCHABLE DATABASES

ACROSS SESSIONS

Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.

2002 SESSION


CHAPTER 108
An Act to amend and reenact § 46.2-1240 of the Code of Virginia, relating to covering of information displayed on disabled parking placards.
[H 265]
Approved March 4, 2002

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 46.2-1240 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 46.2-1240. Definitions.

"Disabled parking sign" means any sign used to identify parking spaces for use by vehicles bearing valid organizational, permanent, or temporary removable windshield placards, disabled parking license plates, or disabled parking license plates issued under § 46.2-739. All disabled parking signs shall be erected and maintained in accordance with signage requirements specified in § 36-99.11.

"Organizational removable windshield placard" means a two-sided, hooked placard which includes on each side: (i) the international symbol of access at least three inches in height, centered on the placard, and shown in white on a green background; (ii) the name of the institution or organization; (iii) an identification number; (iv) an expiration date imprinted on the placard and indicated by a month and year hole-punch system or an alternative system designed by the Department; (v) a misuse hotline number designated by the Department; (vi) a warning of the penalties for placard misuse; and (vii) the seal or identifying symbol of the issuing authority.

"Permanent removable windshield placard" means a two-sided, hooked placard which includes on each side: (i) the international symbol of access at least three inches in height, centered on the placard, and shown in white on a blue background; (ii) the name, age, and sex of the person to whom issued; (iii) an identification number; (iv) an expiration date imprinted on the placard and indicated by a month and year hole-punch system or an alternative system designed by the Department; (v) a misuse hotline number designated by the Department; (vi) a warning of the penalties for placard misuse; and (vii) the seal or other identifying symbol of the issuing authority. However, the person to whom the placard is issued may cover his name and/or age, as shown on the placard, with opaque, removable tape, provided that no other data on the placard is covered or obscured by such tape.

"Person with a disability that limits or impairs his ability to walk" means a person who, as determined by a licensed physician: (i) cannot walk 200 feet without stopping to rest; (ii) cannot walk without the use of or assistance from a brace, cane, crutch, another person, prosthetic device, wheelchair, or other assistive device; (iii) is restricted by lung disease to such an extent that his forced (respiratory) expiratory volume for one second, when measured by spirometry, is less than one liter, or when at rest, his arterial oxygen tension is less than sixty millimeters of mercury on room air; (iv) uses portable oxygen; (v) has a cardiac condition to the extent that his functional limitations are classified in severity as Class III or Class IV according to standards set by the American Heart Association; (vi) is severely limited in his ability to walk due to an arthritic, neurological, or orthopedic condition; or (vii) has some other debilitating condition that, in the view of a licensed physician, limits or impairs his ability to walk.

Any physician certifying an applicant's disability under clause (vii) of this definition shall specify, in a space provided on the certification form, the medical condition which limits or impairs his patient's ability to walk.

"Temporary removable windshield placard" means a two-sided, hooked placard which includes on each side: (i) the international symbol of access at least three inches in height, centered on the placard, and shown in white on a red background; (ii) the name, age, and sex of the person to whom issued; (iii) an identification number; (iv) an expiration date imprinted on the placard and indicated by a month and year hole-punch system or an alternative system designed by the Department; (v) a misuse hotline number; (vi) a warning of the penalties for placard misuse; and (vii) the seal or other identifying symbol of the issuing authority. However, the person to whom the placard is issued may cover his name and/or age, as shown on the placard, with opaque, removable tape, provided that no other data on the placard is covered or obscured by such tape.