BILL ANALYSIS
SENATE TRANSPORTATION & HOUSING COMMITTEE BILL NO: ab 463
SENATOR ALAN LOWENTHAL, CHAIRMAN AUTHOR: huffman
VERSION: 5/24/07
Analysis by: Mark Stivers FISCAL: no
Hearing date: June 12, 2007
SUBJECT:
Parking of vehicles with lifts, ramps, or assistive equipment
DESCRIPTION:
This bill allows a vehicle equipped with a lift, ramp, or
assistive equipment used to load a disabled person to park
across two stalls on a street or in a private off-street parking
facility when no suitably-sized parking space is available.
ANALYSIS:
Current law provides that a vehicle equipped with a side-loading
lift or ramp used to load a disabled person may park across two
stalls in a public off-street parking facility when loading or
unloading disabled persons if there is no suitable single
parking space immediately available.
This bill applies these provisions to on-street and private
off-street parking facilities and makes some additional changes.
Specifically, the bill:
Expands the law to cover vehicles with any types of lifts,
ramps, or assistive equipment used to load a disabled person,
as opposed to only side-loading lifts or ramps.
Requires the vehicle to be identified by a disabled license
plate or parking placard.
Allows a vehicle equipped with such equipment to park across
two stalls on a street or in a private off-street parking
facility when no suitably-sized parking space is available.
Clarifies that the vehicle may remain parked across two stalls
for the duration of the stay if the equipment has been or will
be used for loading or unloading a disabled person.
AB 463 (HUFFMAN) Page 2
COMMENTS:
1.Purpose of the bill . According to the author, there are
currently two types of parking spaces reserved specifically
for persons with disabilities: regular and van-accessible.
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. In private parking lots (e.g., grocery store and movie
theater parking lots), however, disabled drivers of vans
cannot legally occupy two adjacent stalls. Without the
additional room to use the lift, a driver who uses a lift
cannot exit his or her vehicle.
This bill extends the law to streets and private off-street
parking facilities, thereby allowing vehicles with lifts and
ramps to occupy adjacent parking places when van-accessible
spaces are taken. This bill will create a consistent state
policy and ensure that disabled drivers who use such loading
equipment can enter and exit their vehicle without fear of a
ticket.
2.Clarifying the law . According to Legislative Counsel,
current law allows a vehicle equipped with a side-loading lift
or ramp to occupy two stalls for the duration of the stay, not
just during loading and unloading. This bill alters the
language of current law to clarify this interpretation.
Assembly Votes:
Floor: 59-15
Trans: 11-3
POSITIONS: (Communicated to the Committee before noon on
Wednesday, June 6,
2007)
SUPPORT: Californians for Disability Rights (sponsor)
National Multiple Sclerosis Society
OPPOSED: None received.