This bill aims to enhance the verification and fraud prevention measures for walking disability placards. It mandates that these placards include specific driver's license information and establishes penalties for disabled drivers who park in restricted spaces without displaying their placard. The bill increases the fines for violations, setting a minimum fine of $500 for unauthorized parking in designated spaces, up from the previous $250. Additionally, it stipulates that a person must display the placard in a manner visible from both the front and rear of the vehicle, with a minor penalty of no more than $5 for non-compliance, provided the placard is valid.

The legislation also allows vehicles with the appropriate placards to park for free in any city or town, including state or municipal facilities that charge fees, as long as the person with the walking disability is being transported in the vehicle. The bill includes provisions for local ordinances and specifies that 50% of the fines collected will go to the town or city where the violation occurred. The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2026, and is expected to incur initial costs for the Department of Safety to replace existing placards and upgrade systems, with an estimated one-time cost of around $31,000.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 265:69, 265:69-a, 265:74, 261:88
As Amended by the Senate: 265:69, 265:69-a, 265:74
SB151 text: 265:69, 265:69-a, 265:74, 261:88