DEAR SERGEANT AL: I am planning on traveling
out of state with my car as I have a permanent disabled/handicap permit from my
home state both for the windshield and on the license plates on my car. Can I
use my permit in other states? –HOVEROUND MAMA.
DEAR HOVEROUND MAMA: Here’s the skinny 411 when it
comes to using your out of state handicap permit in another state: I don’t
think any government or business entity wants to be a test case in piled on
litigation when it comes to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. One of
the reasons why you have such a permit hanging on your rear view mirror and why
businesses and governments went to such lengths as to alter their
infrastructure and the law was to make handicap access easier for people like
you as a result of this act. It would be counterproductive and bad public
relations to ticket or exclude a disabled person from access just because they
are from another state or they don’t have the proper permit or plate. That would be
the equivalent of discriminating against a black person from another state
because they do not have the proper identification from the visiting state identifying them as being black. Believe it or not this was the way it was similarly
done years ago in places like South Africa with those who fell between the
cracks of color classification during apartheid, and it’s obviously bad policy
to do things in such a way anywhere today. But since having a disability
creates the unique circumstance of requiring some kind of ID to obtain the
access disabled persons need, the ID needs to be possessed and displayed in
such a manner that makes access easier for them wherever they go. Law
enforcement is keenly aware of this. In 99% of the cases where a police officer
or ticket agent gives a car with a handicap permit a ticket regardless of what
state they originate, it is simply because the officer didn’t notice the permit
hanging from the windshield, a simple regrettable mistake. Believe me when I state cops don't like to hang out in parking lots doing handicap patrol. If you see one doing this it's because either the cops got a complaint that they have to do something about it, or the cop that's there is just a nut job. Thank goodness the
1% of the time where the cop is simply just a prick that you often hear horror
stories, is really the exception, not the rule.
To answer your question, yes your out of state handicap permit should be perfectly valid in whatever state you should be visiting, and I wouldn’t be surprised if you had the same kind of welcome if you even visited Canada and Mexico with your car. I would call BOTH your home state and the visiting state to see what their policy is regarding visiting handicap permits to see if a temporary or visitor’s one is required, which I think in most cases it is NOT. I did a little digging on the Internet for several states to find in California for example, there is a temporary visiting permit you can use when LEAVING the state to visit others. It is free and valid for 30 days. I get the impression that this device is only as a precaution, an added measure that helps and certainly doesn’t hurt to have just in case. According to the California DMV website:
“If
you have a parking placard or license plate issued by the state of California,
and you plan to travel out of state, you will want to obtain a Travel Parking
Placard for California Residents. Follow the same steps as above and don't
forget to include the appropriate fee. If you are a
permanent placard owner, there is no charge. A traveling placard is good for 30
days.”
The main issue is if you move to that
jurisdiction: make sure you transfer your handicap permit to your new home
state should you move within 30 days, just to be on the safe side. If by chance
you should get a parking ticket or God forbid towed from a handicap zone, make
sure you have your medical ID and handicap permit handy so you can present for
dismissal and/or redemption. Everyone from teachers to bosses likes a doctor’s
note explaining an ailment, and having one here for a judge though not
required, wouldn’t hurt either. HOVEROUND
MAMA you owe me a spin on the back
of your wheelchair when you get back from your trip! I wanna see how fast
we can go down the block before I fall off! Maybe I can strap on a turbocharger
to soup up your horsepower so you can go through the airport faster! You need
some more sass in your step: I wanna see you knock some people down as you go
buzzing by! LOL I hope you don't mind a little of my sick crazy cop humor again: I love you; you silly thing: have a safe trip and easy access
with your wheelchair! Sgt. Al loves you baby!
My kinda wheelchair:
My kinda lawn mower:
Suggested
Reading:
What is a CARMAGEDDON and when will
it happen?
Am I allowed to walk on a highway?
Suggested Reading:
The
definition of a “Concours” car and event
Suggested Reading:
Suggested Reading:
What is the new national terror alert warning?
Taking photographs at off-limits tourist landmarks .
Great blog post - not only was it informative, it was way funny too! Keep up the great work Sgt. Al!
ReplyDeleteThank you citizen!
ReplyDeleteI called the Ontario provincial police information line, and the very nice lady assured me that a US-state issued handicapped permit is honored there.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the heads up Paul!
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