Driver's License Guide

Disabled Parking Placards
Original Application Process
DLG-2202

Original Date: 07/01/2001
Revision Date: 07/25/2016

PURPOSE:

To provide information on the application process for original disabled parking placards.

DEFINITIONS:

TEMPORARY DISABILITY - A physical condition that limits or impairs the ability to walk and is expected to last NO longer than 6 months.

PERMANENT DISABILITY - A condition that is defined as a physical or mental condition that limits or impairs movement from one place to another or the ability to walk as defined in Va. Code § 46.2-1240, and that has reached the maximum level of improvement and is not expected to change even with additional treatment.

BACKGROUND:

Persons who have a temporary or permanent disability that limits or impairs their ability to walk, or creates a safety concern while walking, can apply for disabled plates and placards that allow them to use parking spaces reserved for individuals with disabilities. The disabled person may be either the driver or a passenger in the vehicle displaying the placard. The person's disability may or may not be visible.

Institutions and organizations that provide transportation for persons with disabilities may also apply for plates and placards. The institution or organization must be a hospital, hospice, nursing home, non-profit entity, or an organization that does not charge for its service.

Disabled plates and placards display the International Symbol of Access and are valid in all 50 states, the District of Columbia (DC), and other countries. Placards issued in other states, DC, and foreign countries are also honored in Virginia. A Virginia placard may be issued to a customer who is a resident of another state or country.

Disabled parking placard holders are allowed to park for up to four hours in metered or time-restricted spaces without paying a fee UNLESS PROHIBITED BY THE LOCALITY. Localities that do not provide the four hours of free parking must post a sign to advise placard holders.

Virginia Code § 46.2-1241 authorizes DMV to issue three different types of disabled parking placards:

• TEMPORARY
• PERMANENT
• INSTITUTIONAL/ORGANIZATIONAL

For examples of the placards and plates, go to Description of Parking Placards and Plates.

The disabled parking placard program at DMV is administered by the Data Integrity Work Center. Data Integrity handles all disabled parking placard issues EXCEPT fraud, misuse, or abuse complaints. Fraud, misuse, and abuse inquiries are directed to Medical Review Services according to the procedures in DLG-2207.

DISABLED PLACARD POINTS TO REMEMBER:

• TEMPORARY disabled parking placards are issued to persons with temporary disabilities. Applications for temporary disabled parking placards must specify the disability and provide a medical certification from a licensed physician, physician's assistant, nurse practitioner, podiatrist, or chiropractor. VA law allows the licensed medical professional to certify up to 15 days in advance of an applicant's medical procedure that an applicant will meet the definition of a temporary disability. The medical professional must specify the beginning date and ending date the placard is to be valid, not to exceed 6 months. Upon expiration, DMV requires a new certification and authorized period of validity in order to process a new placard.


<<<<<REVISION

• PERMANENT disabled parking placards or plates are issued to persons with permanent disabilities. Applications for PERMANENT disabled parking placards must specify the disability and provide a medical certification from a licensed physician, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, podiatrist, or chiropractor. Permanent placards are valid for a period of 5 years and may be renewed at expiration WITHOUT a new medical certification. PERMANENT placards may be renewed by mail, Internet, or at any CSC (refer to DLG-2204).   END REVISION>>>>>
• DISABLED PARKING PLACARD RECEIPTS are issued to customers for use while waiting to receive the final TEMPORARY or PERMANENT disabled parking placard in the mail. After processing a placard application, the CSC gives the customer the DISABLED PARKING PLACARD RECEIPT that provides disabled parking privileges for up to 15 days from the beginning date. A vendor produces and mails the requested disabled parking placard directly to the customer within 15 days.
• DMV issues only ONE TEMPORARY or PERMANENT placard at a time per customer. Customers with a PERMANENT disabled parking placard may also possess disabled parking license plates. Refer customers who request exceptions to the one-placard rule to the Data Integrity work Center.
• For a list of conditions that qualify for a TEMPORARY or PERMANENT placard, and the medical professional authorized to certify the condition, refer to the Certification Table in the "Disabled Parking Privileges" publication (MED 12).
  • For both TEMPORARY and PERMANENT placards, it is not required that the medical professional who is certifying the condition or disability be licensed in Virginia. Licensed medical professionals from other states or countries may sign the medical certification.
• Virginia law requires customers with a PERMANENT placard to carry the Disabled Parking Placard Identification Card issued with the placard, and to present it to law enforcement upon request. Although not specifically mentioned in the statute, DMV instructs customers with a TEMPORARY placard to carry the Disabled Parking Placard Identification Card issued with the placard, and to present it to law enforcement upon request.
• INSTITUTIONAL/ORGANIZATIONAL disabled parking placards are issued at NO FEE to hospitals, hospices, nursing homes, non-profit institutions or organizations that regularly transport disabled persons. No medical certification is required on the "Institutional/Organizational Permanent Parking Placard Application" (MED11). These placards are valid for 5 years and CANNOT be renewed. However, they may be reissued as original placards.
  • There is no limit to the number of INSTITUTIONAL/ORGANIZATIONAL placards that may be issued.

CUSTOMER REQUIREMENTS:

TEMPORARY OR PERMANENT PLACARD --

1. Complete the Application Type, Applicant Information and Applicant Certification sections of the "Disabled Parking Plates or Placard Application" (MED10) or (if a disabled veteran) "Veteran Certification of Disability" (VSA54).
2. Have a physician, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, podiatrist or chiropractor complete the Medical Certification section of the MED10 or VSA54.
   • The medical professional certifying the disability may be licensed in another state or country.
   • If Temporary, the medical professional must include the beginning date and ending date not to exceed 6 months.
3. Pay the fee.
   
   NOTE: The fee is waived for a disabled veteran applying for a placard if they:
   • Already have Virginia disabled veteran license plates OR
   • Submits the Veterans Certificate of Disability (VSA54) signed by the Veteran's Administration to certify the applicant has been designated as disabled and that his disability is service-connected AND signed by the medical professional in the Medical Professional Certification Statement section to certify the disability. OR
   • Submits a MED10 signed by a medical professional to certify the disability AND a VSA54 signed by the Veteran's Administration to certify the applicant is designated as disabled and the disability is service-connected. AND
   • Submits a completed �Personalized or Special Interest License Plate Application� (VSA 10).

INSTITUTIONAL/ORGANIZATIONAL PLACARD --

1. Complete the "Institutional/Organizational Permanent Parking Placard Application" (MED11).
   • The institution or organization MUST be a hospital, hospice, nursing home, non-profit entity, or an organization that does not charge for its service.
2. A medical certification is NOT required.
3. The fee is NOT required.

FRONT COUNTER CSR:

TEMPORARY OR PERMANENT PLACARD -

1. Verify that the customer has requested a disabled parking placard on the MED10 or (VSA54) and that the Applicant Information and Applicant Certification sections of the form are complete.
   • NO medical professional certification is required if the customer has valid disabled parking license plates and is applying for a placard.
2. Verify that the Medical Certification section includes:
   • The applicant's full name
   • Permanent or Temporary designation
     • If temporary, must include the beginning date and ending date, not to exceed 6 months
   • The reason for the impairment
   • If either of the "Other Condition" boxes are checked, the specific medical condition.
   • Medical professional's printed name
   • Medical license type and number
     
     NOTE 1: Podiatrists and chiropractors may only certify for the conditions or disabilities listed in the certification section provided for podiatrists and chiropractors on the MED10 form.
     
     NOTE 2: A certification from a medical professional licensed in another state or country is acceptable if it contains the medical professional's medical license number.
     
     NOTE 3: Medical license numbering systems used by Virginia and surrounding states:

     State	License Numbering System
     Virginia	9 or 10 digits
     North Carolina	4, 5 or 7 digits
     Tennessee	2, 3, 4 or 5 digits
     District of Columbia	sequence numbering
     Maryland	H or D followed by a 5-digit number
     West Virginia	3, 4 or 5 digits
     Kentucky	5 digits

     
     
   • Medical license expiration date
   • State issuing medical license
   • Medical professional's signature
   
   
   NOTE: If the medical professional's medical license information is missing:
   • Return the MED 10 or VSA54 to the customer, issue them a "Customer information form" and ask them to obtain the medical professional's medical license information, OR
   • Contact the medical professional to obtain the information.
3. Verify that the placard is being issued on the record of the customer on the application
• If a record does NOT exist for a Non-Virginia resident, establish a record according to data entry procedures.
• Customers are not required to present a proof of address or identity document as long as they submit a completed MED 10 or VSA54 form.
4. Verify with the customer that the address on the application and on the customer's record is their current address. If the address on the application and on the customer's record is NOT their current address, change it in accordance with DLG-0601.
   • The customer must complete the Address Change Request form (ISD01) to change their address on record (refer to DLG-0601).
5. Process the placard according to data entry procedures for issuing disabled parking placards.
   • For temporary placards, be sure that the beginning date and ending date entered into the system match the dates (not to exceed 6 months) authorized by the medical professional who certified the application.
6. If prompted by the system, prepare the Disabled Parking Placard Receipt (orange paper placard):
   1. The system will display a placard receipt number, begin date, and end date.
   2. Write the placard receipt number in the "RECEIPT FOR PLACARD NUMBER" block on the front of the orange placard.
   3. Write the begin date and end date in the "VALID TO PARK IN DISABLED PARKING SPACE THROUGH" block, also on the front.
7. Collect the fee.
8. Give the customer the paid receipt and if applicable, the Disabled Parking Placard Receipt Receipt (orange paper placard).
9. Advise the customer that:
   1. The Disabled Parking Placard Receipt allows disabled parking privileges for 15 days.
   2. The placard, along with a non-photo disabled parking ID card, will be mailed to the address on the customer's record.
10. Place all disabled parking applications in the day's work.
11. Place the MED 10 or VSA-54 in the appropriate area for document preparation. (Document preparer shreds the MED 10 or VSA-54 after it has been filed or batched in accordance with the CSC Document Distribution List. Applications are NOT to be maintained on file.)
    
    NOTE: Do not send processed disabled parking applications to Data Integrity or Medical Review Services.

INSTITUTIONAL/ORGANIZATIONAL PLACARD --

1. Verify that the MED11 is complete.
2. Update the customer record using data entry procedures for issuing disabled parking placards.
3. DO NOT issue an orange Disabled Parking Placard Receipt.
4. Advise the customer that the placard will be mailed to them within 15 days.
5. Continue with step 10 in Front Counter CSR section above.

LOST OR EXPIRED RECEIPTS --

1. If the customer loses the receipt BEFORE IT EXPIRES:
   1. Use the Handicapped Parking Permit Inquiry screen to obtain the receipt number, begin date, and end date.
   2. Issue the customer a new receipt with the same receipt number, begin date, and end date.
2. If the receipt HAS EXPIRED OR HAS ONLY 1 OR 2 DAYS OF VALIDITY LEFT, and the customer HAS NOT RECEIVED THE PLACARD, use the Handicapped Parking Permits Inquiry screen to determine whether the placard was returned to DMV undelivered. The bottom of the screen will show a surrender date (Surr Date) and a surrender reason (Surr Rsn) of UNDELIVERED.
   1. If the system indicates that the placard was returned undelivered, send a DL9 to the Data Integrity Work Center to see if they still have the placard.
      1. If Data Integrity has the placard:
         1. Verify the customer's address against the system and correct, if necessary. Customer must complete and submit an ISD01 (refer to DLG-0601).
         2. Notify Data Integrity (by sending a DL9) of the correct address and ask them to mail the placard to the customer.
         3. Advise the customer that DMV will attempt to mail the placard again.
         4. DO NOT process a new placard.
         5. Issue ONLY a new receipt with the same receipt number, begin date, and end date, and inform the customer that he will receive the placard within 15 days.
      2. If Data Integrity does NOT have the placard:
         1. Verify the customer's address against the system and correct, if necessary. Customer must complete and submit an ISD01 (refer to DLG-0601).
         2. Process a new placard at NO FEE according to procedures in DLG-2205.
         3. Issue a new receipt with a receipt number, begin date and end date, and advise the customer that he will receive the new placard within 15 days.
   2. If the system does NOT indicate that the placard was returned undelivered:
      1. Obtain the number of the placard that was to be issued to the customer from the Handicapped Parking Permits Inquiry screen and provide it to the customer.
      2. Advise the customer that, if received, this placard will NOT be valid and it must be returned to: DMV, Data Integrity
         P.O. Box 27412
         Richmond, VA 23269-0001
      3. Verify the customer's address against the system and correct, if necessary. Customer must complete and submit an ISD01 (refer to DLG-0601).
      4. Process a new placard at NO FEE according to procedures in DLG-2205.
      5. Issue a new receipt with a receipt number, begin date and end date, and advise the customer that he will receive the new placard within 15 days.

REFERENCE:

• Code of Virginia: §§ 46.2-100, 46.2-739, 46.2-1240, 46.2-1241

CONTACT:

For additional information contact:

• Your CSC Manager/Assistant Manager
• DMV DIRECT Help Desk at (804) 367-6646

PROCEDURE PROPONENT:

DMS/Data Integrity Work Center
DSA/Driver Monitoring Division/Medical Review Services