News Release
For further information please contact:
Sgt. Dan Bracker
(417) 895-6767 ext.253
D200508
March 10, 2005
EMPHASIS: Statutes regulating issuance/use-disabled plates/hanging placards.
New provisions that regulate the issuance/use of disabled license plates and windshield hanging placards were enacted by the General Assembly and went into effect January 1, 2005 as part of Senate Bill 1233. These provisions are designed to prohibit the fraudulent and wrongful misuse of the plates and placards by persons other than those to whom they were issued.
The Patrol takes issue with persons who use the plates or placards in a fraudulent manner and will pursue enforcement action. The following are the highlights and most significant provisions of this legislation.
Section 301.142, RSMo.
10. Such placards must be hung from the front, middle rearview mirror of a parked motor vehicle and may not be hung from the mirror during operation.
14. ... Any placard ... shall only be used when the physically disabled occupant for whom the disabled plate or placard was issued is in the motor vehicle at the time of parking or when a physically disabled person is being delivered or collected. A disabled license plate and/or a removable windshield hanging placard are not transferable and may not be used by any other person whether disabled or not.
27. Fraudulent ... use of disabled person license plates or windshield placards shall be a class A misdemeanor.
Section 301.143, RSMo.
6. Any person who, without authorization, uses a distinguishing license plate or card issued pursuant to Sections 301.071 or 301.142, RSMo. to park in a parking space reserved under authority of this section shall be guilty of a class B misdemeanor.
7. Law enforcement officials may enter upon private property open to public use to enforce the provisions of this section and Section 301.142, RSMo. including private property designated by the owner of such property for the exclusive use of vehicles which display a distinguishing license plate or card issued pursuant to Sections 301.071 or 301.142, RSMo.
Section 304.601, RSMo.
1. Designated disabled parking spaces may only be used when a disabled person, who has been issued disabled license plates or windshield hanging placards ... is then, or immediately preceding being parked, was an occupant of the motor vehicle bearing the disabled license plate or windshield hanging placard or in cases where the motor vehicle bearing the disabled license plate or windshield hanging placard is then being used to deliver or collect one or more of the disabled persons for whom the disabled license plate or windshield hanging placard was issued.
2. The driver, or any occupant, of a motor vehicle bearing disabled license plates or a windshield hanging placard which is parked or has been observed to have been parking in a duly designated disabled parking space shall, upon request from any law enforcement officer or other duly constituted peace officer upon identification as such, produce the disabled registration certificate issued to the disabled person or entity as provided for in Section 301.142, RSMo. or such other authorization to show that the driver, or any occupant of the vehicle is lawfully entitled to use a designated disabled parking space. The driver or any occupant of the motor vehicle shall, in addition to the certificate, produce other identification with a photograph of the disabled person for whom the disabled plates or windshield-hanging placard was issued.
3. If the driver, or an occupant, of a motor vehicle which is parked or has been observed to have parked in a designated disabled parking space is unable to, or cannot, produce the certificate ... or other proper authorization showing that the vehicle is being used, or has been lawfully parking in a disabled parking space, the operator is guilty of a class A misdemeanor. However, no person shall be found guilty of violating this section if the operator produces such a certificate to the court that was valid at the time of the citation for a person who was using the vehicle.
4. The windshield-hanging placard shall only be used when the vehicle is parked in a disabled parking space. It shall be unlawful for any person to operate or drive a motor vehicle with a windshield hanging placard hanging from the inside rearview mirror.