1. a. A handicapped resident of the state desiring a handicapped parking permit shall apply to the department upon an application form furnished by the department providing the applicant's name, address, date of birth, and social security number and shall also provide a statement from a physician licensed under chapter 148, 149, 150, or 150A, or a chiropractor licensed under chapter 151, or a physician or chiropractor licensed to practice in a contiguous state, written on the physician's or chiropractor's stationery, stating the nature of the applicant's handicap and such additional information as required by rules adopted by the department under section 321L.8. If the person is applying for a temporary handicapped parking permit, the physician's or chiropractor's statement shall state the period of time during which the person is expected to be handicapped and the period of time for which the permit should be issued, not to exceed six months.
A handicapped person may apply for one of the following handicapped parking permits:
(1) Handicapped registration plates. An applicant may order handicapped registration plates pursuant to section 321.34.
(2) Handicapped parking sticker. An applicant who owns a motor vehicle for which the applicant has been issued registration plates under section 321.34 or registration plates as a seriously disabled veteran under section 321.105 may apply to the department for a handicapped parking sticker to be affixed to the plates. The handicapped parking stickers shall bear the international symbol of accessibility.
(3) Removable windshield placard. A handicapped person may apply for a temporary removable windshield placard which shall be valid for a period of up to six months, as determined by the physician's or chiropractor's statement under this subsection or a removable windshield placard which shall be valid for a period of four years from the date of issuance. A removable windshield placard shall be renewed within thirty days of the date of expiration. To renew the placard, the person shall comply with the requirements for initial issuance of the placard under this section. Persons seeking temporary removable windshield placards shall be required to furnish evidence upon initial application that they are temporarily handicapped and, in addition, furnish evidence at subsequent intervals that they remain temporarily handicapped. Temporary removable windshield placards shall be of a distinctively different color from removable windshield placards. The department shall issue one additional removable windshield placard upon the request of a handicapped person.
b. The department may issue removable windshield placards to the following:
(1) An organization which has a program for transporting the handicapped or elderly.
(2) A person in the business of transporting the handicapped or elderly.
One removable windshield placard may be issued for each vehicle used by the organization or person for transporting the handicapped or elderly. A placard issued under this paragraph shall be renewed every four years from the date of issuance and shall be surrendered to the department if the organization or person is no longer providing the service for which the placard was issued. Notwithstanding section 321L.4, a person transporting handicapped or elderly in a motor vehicle for which a placard has been issued under this paragraph may display the placard in the motor vehicle and may use a handicapped parking space while the motor vehicle is displaying the placard. A placard issued under this paragraph shall be of a distinctively different color from a placard issued under paragraph "a". An organization issued a removable windshield placard and a handicapped person being transported under this subsection are exempt from the handicapped designation requirement under section 321L.4.
c. A new removable windshield placard can be issued if the previously issued placard is reported lost, stolen, or damaged. The placard reported as being lost or stolen shall be invalidated by the department. A placard which is damaged shall be returned to the department and exchanged for a new placard in accordance with rules adopted by the department.
2. Any person providing false information with the intent to defraud on the application for a handicapped parking permit used in establishing proof under subsection 1 is subject to a civil penalty of three hundred dollars which may be imposed by the department. A physician or chiropractor who provides false information with the intent to defraud on the physician's or chiropractor's statement used in establishing proof under subsection 1 is subject to a civil penalty of three hundred dollars which may be imposed by the department. In addition to the civil penalty, the department shall revoke the permit issued pursuant to this section.
3. The removable windshield placard shall contain the following information:
a. Each side of the placard shall include all of the following:
(1) The international symbol of access, which is at least three inches in height, centered on the placard, and is white on a blue shield.
(2) An identification number.
(3) A date of expiration, which shall be of sufficient size to be readable from outside the vehicle.
(4) The seal or other identification of the issuing authority.
b. One side of the placard shall contain all of the following information:
(1) A statement printed on it as follows: "Unauthorized use of this placard as indicated in Iowa Code chapter 321L may result in a fine, invalidation of the placard, or revocation of the right to use the placard. This placard shall be displayed only when the vehicle is parked in a handicapped parking space."
(2) The return address and telephone number of the department.
(3) The signature of the person who has been issued the placard and the signature of the physician or chiropractor who made the determination that the person was handicapped for purposes of issuance of the placard.
4. A removable windshield placard shall only be displayed when the vehicle is parked in a handicapped parking space.
5. A person obtaining a handicapped parking permit pursuant to this section, other than a person obtaining a removable windshield placard issued under subsection 1, paragraph "b", and a person issued a temporary removable windshield placard pursuant to this section shall be required to have a handicapped designation on the face of the person's motor vehicle license or if the person does not have or is not eligible for a motor vehicle license, the person shall apply for a nonoperator's identification card with a handicapped designation. A handicapped person who has been issued a handicapped parking permit pursuant to this section shall carry the motor vehicle license or nonoperator's identification card in the person's possession at all times when the handicapped parking permit is being used.
6. The shape and color of the removable windshield placard shall be changed and the placard shall be reissued every four years.
89 Acts, ch 247, § 10; 90 Acts, ch 1151, § 5; 90 Acts, ch 1267, § 39; 95 Acts, ch 118, §30; 96 Acts, ch 1088, § 7; 96 Acts, ch 1171, § 6, 7
Referred to in § 321.23, 321.166, 321L.4, 321L.5
Iowa General Assembly
Search: Iowa Code 1997
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Last update: Mon Jan 27 16:05:08 CST 1997
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