Handicap Parking

I recently got handicap plates and I have a question.   Are we allowed to park in areas that others are not allowed to use?

One example would be like a friend who occasionally went into NYC. There was never regular parking available, so he parked in front of a church.  NYC permits this for folks with handicap plates.  There are other examples.

Are there any such dispensations in NJ?  Any resources?

A search only found details about handicap spaces but NO discussion discussion  along these lines.

TIA for your help


Regulations should be posted on the DMV website.   


Apollo_T said:

Are there any such dispensations in NJ? Any resources?

A search only found details about handicap spaces but NO discussion discussion along these lines.

I see what you mean; I’m not finding information that addresses your question, either. This makes me assume that New Jersey’s plates apply only to the marked blue spaces, that there are no special dispensations for No Parking areas. Which would jibe with this, from NYC:

https://portal.311.nyc.gov/article/?kanumber=KA-01243

It notes that the access that your friend used is a city-only option, and implies that the New York State tags and placard apply only to marked spaces.


https://www.westfieldnj.gov/DocumentCenter/View/2607/State-of-New-Jersey-Guide-to-Handicapped-Parking

This is a Westfield link, but the brochure is state of NJ.  Info at bottom of 3rd page may be useful.  If i'm reading it right, it looks like...

No parking in "No Parking" places.

Have to put coins in meter, if any.

Permitted to overstay time limits (at least at meters), up to 24 hr.


I know it’ll possibly be out-dated, but if you search JTA’s posts on parking, she might have addressed this. It was a hot topic of hers, since non-permitted drivers often ‘stole’ much-needed accessible bays. 


"No Parking" means NO parking. Parking restrictions in front of a church, hospital, fire hydrant and so forth are established to avoid hazards to the public and are meant to apply to all.   files


Formerlyjerseyjack said:

"No Parking" means NO parking. Parking restrictions in front of a church, hospital, fire hydrant and so forth are established to avoid hazards to the public and are meant to apply to all.   files

As Apollo_T noted, NYC has exceptions. From the link I posted:

The NYC Parking Permit for People with Disabilities (PPPD) is a placard that allows you to park at "No Parking" zones on public streets and at parking meters without depositing money.

DaveSchmidt said:

Formerlyjerseyjack said:

"No Parking" means NO parking. Parking restrictions in front of a church, hospital, fire hydrant and so forth are established to avoid hazards to the public and are meant to apply to all.   files

As Apollo_T noted, NYC has exceptions. From the link I posted:

The NYC Parking Permit for People with Disabilities (PPPD) is a placard that allows you to park at "No Parking" zones on public streets and at parking meters without depositing money.

Does this also apply to vehicles with handicapped plates only or is it necessary to display a handicapped placard in addition to the plates?  Issue being that anyone could be driving a vehicle with handicapped plates while the placard signifies that a passenger or driver in the vehicle is handicapped.


joan_crystal said:

DaveSchmidt said:

Formerlyjerseyjack said:

"No Parking" means NO parking. Parking restrictions in front of a church, hospital, fire hydrant and so forth are established to avoid hazards to the public and are meant to apply to all.   files

As Apollo_T noted, NYC has exceptions. From the link I posted:

The NYC Parking Permit for People with Disabilities (PPPD) is a placard that allows you to park at "No Parking" zones on public streets and at parking meters without depositing money.

Does this also apply to vehicles with handicapped plates only or is it necessary to display a handicapped placard in addition to the plates?  Issue being that anyone could be driving a vehicle with handicapped plates while the placard signifies that a passenger or driver in the vehicle is handicapped.

If I understand you correctly, the "handicapped" (now termed accessible) tag or plate is the same. The difference is that a person with a disability ("person first") can transfer a tag to any car they are in. The plates are stationary. There are also two types of tags: permanent and ones that have to be renewed every three years.


in some towns you don't have to pay the meter...but you have to look up each town individually.  and in towns you do have to pay the meter, you can stay over time up to 24 hours as long as you pay the max.  if there were any other authorized for the disabled zones, that would be up to the individual town.


joan_crystal said:

Does this also apply to vehicles with handicapped plates only or is it necessary to display a handicapped placard in addition to the plates?  Issue being that anyone could be driving a vehicle with handicapped plates while the placard signifies that a passenger or driver in the vehicle is handicapped.

it doesn't matter, a person without a disability could be driving the car with the permanent plates...and not have the pwd with them....and illegally park.   or someone can 'borrow' another person's placard.....plates/placards are the same.....PWD should be carrying their ID card should they be questioned..i only saw it happened once...i know a person that works as a waitress, wears spiked heels, is collecting SSDI and a pension for a physical disability...and has a placard issued to her...her doc actually signed off on it......while I walk with a cane or other assistance (unless I am only going a short distance), need the access aisle to pull myself out of the car and steady myself and physically can't do any more than go out for necessities...and have been parked in a regular spot while she is in the accessible spot...that same women would give the placard to her high school athlete daughter headed to the military to use....nothing i can do about it...her doctor signed off and even if the daughter gets caught (they live in an apartment where she uses the accessible parking to void paying $30/month for parking--even though she has plenty of money to go to the salon weekly and buy high end shampoos and lotions)...she just says mom will be using the car next (mom  has her own car).



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