This bill amends existing laws regarding parking privileges for individuals with walking disabilities. It mandates that walking disability placards include specific driver's license information and establishes penalties for disabled drivers who park in restricted spaces without displaying their placard. The fines for such violations are increased, with a minimum fine of $500 plus a penalty assessment for unauthorized parking in designated spaces, up from the previous $250. Additionally, the bill introduces a new provision that makes it a violation or misdemeanor to display a counterfeit or fraudulent walking disability placard, with fines starting at $1,000 for a first offense and escalating to $1,500 for subsequent offenses.

The bill also clarifies that free parking privileges for vehicles displaying the appropriate special plates or placards are contingent upon the presence of the qualifying individual being transported in the vehicle. It allows cities and towns to set their own time periods for free parking, guided by recommendations from the governor's commission on disability. The effective date for these changes is set for January 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 265:69, 265:69-a, 265:74, 261:88
As Amended by the Senate: 265:69, 265:69-a, 265:74
As Amended by the House: 265:69, 265:69-a, 265:74
Version adopted by both bodies: 265:69, 265:69-a, 265:74
CHAPTERED FINAL VERSION: 265:69, 265:69-a, 265:74
SB151 text: 265:69, 265:69-a, 265:74, 261:88