EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0907*
SENATE BILL 907
R4 4lr2203
By: Senator Augustine
Introduced and read first time: February 2, 2024
Assigned to: Judicial Proceedings
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Motor Vehicles – Disability Parking Placards – Photo Identification 2
FOR the purpose of requiring the Motor Vehicle Administration, on request, to issue a 3
disability parking placard with an embedded color photograph of the placard holder; 4
requiring a parking placard with an embedded color photograph of the placard holder 5
to include a privacy sleeve that allows a person to freely display or hide the color 6
photograph; and generally relating to disability parking placards. 7
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 8
Article – Transportation 9
Section 13–616.1 10
Annotated Code of Maryland 11
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 12
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 13
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 14
Article – Transportation 15
13–616.1. 16
(a) A person may apply to the Administration for a parking placard on a form 17
provided by the Administration if the applicant: 18
(1) Is a resident of the State; and 19
(2) (i) Has a permanent disability as described in § 13–616(b)(1) of this 20
subtitle and as certified by a licensed physician, licensed physician assistant, licensed 21
chiropractor, licensed optometrist, licensed podiatrist, or licensed physical therapist, as 22
defined in § 13–616(a) of this subtitle; or 23
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(ii) Has a permanent disability as described in § 13–616(b)(1)(vi) of 1
this subtitle and as self–certified as provided by § 13–616(b)(2)(iv) of this subtitle. 2
(b) (1) A parking placard for a person with a disability may be issued to an 3
applicant described in subsection (a) of this section only if the applicant submits proof 4
satisfactory to the Administration that the applicant is a person with a disability as 5
described in § 13–616(b) of this subtitle. 6
(2) A parent or legal guardian may apply for a special disability parking 7
placard on behalf of a qualified minor. 8
(c) (1) Except as provided in § 13–616(c) of this subtitle, the Administration 9
may not issue to an applicant: 10
(i) More than one placard if the applicant requests one set of special 11
registration plates under § 13–616 of this subtitle; or 12
(ii) More than two placards if the applicant does not request a set of 13
special registration plates under § 13–616 of this subtitle. 14
(2) Except as provided in § 13–616(c) of this subtitle, the Administration 15
may not issue to a person issued special vehicle registration plates under § 13–616 of this 16
subtitle a combination of special disability registration plates and placards exceeding two. 17
(d) (1) (i) A placard issued under this section to an applicant described in 18
subsection (a) of this section is valid until the death of the placard holder. 19
(ii) On receipt of notification of the death of the placard holder, the 20
Administration shall mark the record of the placard as expired and shall send notice to the 21
last known address of the placard holder requesting the return of the placard to the 22
Administration. 23
(2) If a placard is lost, stolen, or damaged, the placard holder may apply 24
for a replacement placard on an application form and in the manner required by the 25
Administration. 26
(e) (1) A parking placard for a person with a disability shall be issued: 27
(i) Except as provided in item (ii) or item (iii) of this paragraph, in 28
the form of a removable windshield placard capable of being hung from the inside rearview 29
mirror and of a size and design as determined by the Administration; 30
(ii) For a vehicle not equipped with an inside rearview mirror or in 31
which the inside rearview mirror is not visible from the rear of the vehicle, in the form of a 32
windshield placard of a size and design as determined by the Administration; or 33
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(iii) For a Class D (motorcycle) vehicle, in the form of a sticker of a 1
size and design as designated by the Administration. 2
(2) A person to whom a parking placard for a person with a disability is 3
issued shall display the placard described in this section: 4
(i) In a Class A (passenger) vehicle or a Class M (multipurpose) 5
vehicle; 6
(ii) On a Class D (motorcycle) vehicle as required by the 7
Administration; 8
(iii) In a Class E (truck) vehicle with a one ton or less manufacturer’s 9
rated capacity and specially equipped for the transportation of or operation by an individual 10
with a disability; or 11
(iv) In a Class H, I, or J vehicle that is specially equipped for the 12
transportation of individuals with disabilities and is used exclusively for the transportation 13
of individuals with disabilities. 14
(3) (I) THE ADMINISTRATION , ON THE REQUEST OF TH E PERSON 15
TO WHOM THE PARKING PLACARD IS ISSUED , SHALL ISSUE A PARKING PLACARD 16
WITH AN EMBEDDED COL OR PHOTOGRAPH OF THE PERSON. 17
(II) A PARKING PLACARD ISSU ED WITH AN EMBEDDED COLOR 18
PHOTOGRAPH SHALL INCLUDE A PRIV ACY SLEEVE THAT ALLOWS A PERSON TO 19
FREELY DISPLAY OR HI DE THE COLOR PHOTOGR APH. 20
(III) A PERSON SHALL DISPLAY THE EMBEDDED COLOR 21
PHOTOGRAPH ON A PARKING PLACARD ON THE REQUEST OF : 22
1. A POLICE OFFICER , WHILE THE OFFICER IS 23
DISCHARGING THE OFFI CIAL DUTIES OF A POL ICE OFFICER; OR 24
2. ANY OTHER PERSON AUTH ORIZED BY A POLITICA L 25
SUBDIVISION TO ENFORCE THIS SE CTION, WHILE ACTING WITHIN THE SCOPE OF 26
THIS AUTHORITY . 27
(IV) THE ADMINISTRATION SHALL TAKE A COLOR PHOTOGR APH 28
EMBEDDED ON A PARKIN G PLACARD IN ACCORDANCE WITH A PROCEDURE THAT THE 29
ADMINISTRATION REQUIR ES. 30
(f) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (3) of this subsection, when displayed 31
by the person to whom a removable windshield placard is issued, the removable windshield 32
placard shall be hung from the inside rearview mirror when the vehicle is parked. 33 4 SENATE BILL 907
(2) A person may not drive a vehicle while a removable windshield placard 1
described under paragraph (1) of this subsection is hanging from the inside rearview 2
mirror. 3
(3) The removable windshield placard shall be placed inside a vehicle that 4
is not equipped with an inside rearview mirror, in a position from which the removable 5
windshield placard can be viewed from the outside of the vehicle through the lower portion 6
of the windshield on the driver’s side of the vehicle. 7
(4) When displayed, the person to whom a removable windshield placard is 8
issued under this section or under a similar provision of law of any state or country is 9
accorded the privileges contained in § 13–616(f) of this subtitle. 10
(g) When using the parking privileges granted under § 13–616(f) of this subtitle: 11
(1) The person shall have in the person’s possession identification issued 12
by the Administration as proof that parking privileges are being utilized by a person with 13
a disability as defined in § 13–616(b)(1) of this subtitle; and 14
(2) The person shall make the identification available upon the request of: 15
(i) A police officer, while the officer is discharging the official duties 16
of a police officer; or 17
(ii) Any other person authorized by a political subdivision to enforce 18
this section, while acting within the scope of this authority. 19
(h) (1) A person may not commit any fraud or make any misrepresentation in 20
certifying a person’s disability or applying for or using a parking placard for a person with 21
a disability. 22
(2) A person who operates a motor vehicle displaying a parking placard for 23
a person with a disability may not use the privileges granted under this section, unless the 24
person is: 25
(i) A person with a disability who meets the requirements of § 26
13–616(b)(1) of this subtitle; or 27
(ii) Accompanied by a dependent, or an individual who depends on 28
the person for transportation, who meets the requirements of § 13–616(b)(1) of this subtitle. 29
(3) To determine if the eligibility requirements continue to be met, the 30
Administration may conduct a review of a parking placard for a person with a disability 31
that is issued by the Administration under this section and: 32
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(i) If the Administration finds it necessary to review the severity or 1
permanency of a placard holder’s disability, the Administration may request a review and 2
recommendations from the Medical Advisory Board established under § 16–118 of this 3
article; and 4
(ii) If the Administration determines that eligibility requirements 5
are not being met, the Administration may revoke the parking placard for a person with a 6
disability. 7
(i) The Administration shall: 8
(1) Administer the removable windshield placard program in accordance 9
with the provisions of this section; and 10
(2) By July 1, 2001, establish an automated system for recording the 11
issuance, renewal, and expiration of placards in a timely manner to ensure that the 12
objectives of the placard program are achieved in an efficient and orderly manner. 13
(j) In accordance with the provisions of this section, each board for licensed 14
physicians, licensed physician assistants, licensed chiropractors, licensed optometrists, 15
licensed podiatrists, or licensed physical therapists shall be responsible for the development 16
and maintenance of a database system, with which the Administration can interface and 17
verify licensure. 18
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 19
October 1, 2024. 20