AB825: Bill Text

LRB-4346/1

ARG:eev:jf

2013 - 2014 LEGISLATURE

2013 Assembly BILL 825

February 27, 2014 - Introduced by Representative Ripp, cosponsored by Senator Petrowski. Referred to Committee on Transportation.

AB825,1,3 An Act to amend 346.56 (4) and 349.13 (1m) of the statutes; relating to: parking violations involving spaces reserved for persons with disabilities and providing a penalty.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, a person with a disability that limits or impairs the ability to walk may apply for and obtain from the Department of Transportation (DOT) special motor vehicle registration plates (disabled plates) or a special identification card (disabled parking card) that affords certain parking privileges. If a motor vehicle displays disabled plates or a disabled parking card, the motor vehicle may be parked in spaces reserved for use by persons with physical disabilities (disabled parking spaces) if: 1) the motor vehicle is parked by or under the direction of the person issued the card or plates and this person is present; or 2) the motor vehicle is operated by or on behalf of an organization and is used to transport a person eligible for a disabled parking card. If a motor vehicle does not display disabled plates or a disabled parking card, it is a violation for a person to park the motor vehicle in a disabled parking space. It is also a violation to park a motor vehicle in a manner that blocks use of a disabled parking space or in a marked access aisle adjacent to a disabled parking space. A person who commits a disabled parking space violation must forfeit not less than $50 nor more than $300 for the violation.

This bill increases the minimum penalty for a disabled parking space violation, from a range of $50 to $300 for a violation to a range of $150 to $300 for a violation.

Also under current law, the owner or lessee of a public building or place of employment, and the owner or lessee of a parking facility that offers parking to the public, must reserve a minimum number of disabled parking spaces if the parking area has at least 26 spaces. For all reserved disabled parking spaces, the owner or lessee must post official traffic signs (disabled parking signs). In addition, DOT and local authorities may restrict parking in disabled parking spaces reserved on highways and in other parking facilities by posting disabled parking signs.

This bill specifies that a person who violates restrictions imposed by DOT or local authorities on parking in disabled parking spaces on highways and in other parking facilities must forfeit not less than $150 nor more than $300.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB825,1 Section 1. 346.56 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB825,2,3 346.56 (4) Any person violating s. 346.505 (2) shall forfeit not less than $50 $150 nor more than $300.

AB825,2 Section 2. 349.13 (1m) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB825,2,18 349.13 (1m) In addition to the requirements under s. 346.503 (1m), the department, with respect to state trunk highways outside of corporate limits and parking facilities under its jurisdiction, and local authorities, with respect to highways under their jurisdiction including state trunk highways or connecting highways within corporate limits and parking facilities within corporate limits, may, by official traffic signs indicating the restriction, prohibit parking, stopping or standing upon any portion of a street, highway or parking facility reserved for any vehicle bearing special registration plates issued under s. 341.14 (1), (1a), (1e), (1m), or (1q) or a motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle, upon which a special identification card issued under s. 343.51 is displayed or any vehicle registered in another jurisdiction and displaying a registration plate, card or emblem issued by the other jurisdiction which designates the vehicle as a vehicle used by a physically disabled person. Any person who violates a prohibition established under this subsection shall forfeit not less than $150 nor more than $300.

AB825,3 Section 3. Initial applicability.

AB825,3,3 (1) This act first applies to violations committed on the effective date of this subsection.

AB825,3,4 (End)