BILL ANALYSIS
AB 463
Page 1
Date of Hearing: April 23, 2007
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
Pedro Nava, Chair
AB 463 (Huffman) - As Amended: April 11, 2007
SUBJECT : Disabled parking
SUMMARY : Allows a vehicle with side loading lifts or ramps used
for the loading or unloading disabled persons to park in two
adjacent parking stalls in a private parking facility if there
is no single parking space immediately available within that
facility that is suitable for that purpose.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Allows any vehicle equipped with a side-loading lift or ramp
that is used for the loading and unloading of disabled persons
to park in not more than two adjacent stalls or spaces in any
public off-street parking facility when loading or unloading
disabled persons, if there is no single parking space
immediately available within that facility that is suitable
for that purpose including, but not limited to, when there is
not sufficient space to operate a vehicle lift or ramp or
there is not sufficient room for a disabled person to exit the
vehicle or maneuver once outside the vehicle.
2)Requires the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), upon
application and without additional fees, to issue special
license plates to disabled persons, disabled veterans, and
organizations and agencies involved in the transportation of
disabled persons or disabled veterans.
3)Requires DMV, prior to issuing a special license plate to a
disabled person or disabled veteran, to require the submission
of a certificate, signed by a physician and surgeon, nurse
practitioner, certified nurse midwife, or physician assistant,
substantiating the applicant's disability, unless the
applicant's disability is readily observable and uncontested.
4)Allows a disabled person or disabled veteran displaying
special license plates or a distinguishing placard to park for
unlimited periods in any restricted zone or on streets upon
which preferential parking privileges have been designated or
AB 463
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in any parking zone that is restricted as to the length of
time parking is permitted as indicated by a sign erected
pursuant to a local ordinance.
5)Allows a disabled person or disabled veteran with these plates
or placards to park in any metered parking space without being
required to pay parking meter fees.
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown. This bill is keyed nonfiscal.
COMMENTS : There are currently two types of parking spaces
reserved specifically for disabled persons: regular and van
accessible. As the author points out, van accessible parking
spots may, and often are, occupied by standard automobiles
displaying a disabled placard or license plate. In public
parking lots, disabled drivers of vans may occupy two adjacent
stalls if the van accessible stalls are full; however, in
private parking lots, such as grocery store and movie theater
parking lots, disabled drivers of vans cannot legally occupy two
adjacent stalls.
This bill simply extends current law allowing vans to occupy
adjacent parking places to apply to private off-street parking
facilities. The author describes the bill as creating "a
consistent state policy whereby handicap drivers can park in two
adjacent parking stalls in any off-street parking facility when
their van accessible handicap spot is occupied."
Double referral : This bill is also referred to the Committee on
Natural Resources. However, the second referral was assigned
when the bill dealt with a different subject.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
Californians for Disability Rights (sponsor)
Opposition
None received
Analysis Prepared by : Howard Posner / TRANS. / (916) 319-2093