Amended in Assembly May 11, 2016

Amended in Assembly April 4, 2016

Amended in Assembly March 18, 2016

California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly Bill No. 2602

Introduced by Assembly Member Gatto

February 19, 2016

An act to begin insert add Section 734 to the Business and Professions Code, and to end insert amend Sections begin delete 4461 and 22511.55 end delete begin insert 4461, 4463, 22511.55, and 22511.6 end insert of, to begin insert amend, repeal, and end insert add Section begin delete 22511.551 to, end delete begin insert 22511.5 of, end insert and to begin delete repeal and end delete add Section begin delete 22511.5 of, end delete begin insert 22511.551 to, end insert the Vehicle Code, relating to vehicles.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 2602, as amended, Gatto. Disabled parking placards.

Existing law authorizes a disabled person or disabled veteran to apply to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) for the issuance of a distinguishing license plate or placard that entitles the person or veteran to various privileges, including parking in spaces designated for owners of those license plates and placards, parking for unlimited periods in a restricted zone, as specified, and parking in metered spaces without paying parking meter fees.

begin delete

This

end delete

begin insert Commencing January 1, 2018, this end insert bill would delete the authority of a disabled person or disabled veteran who has been issued a placard as described above to park for an unlimited period in restricted zones and to park in metered spaces without begin insert paying end insert parking meter fees. The begin delete bill would also end delete begin insert bill, commencing January 1, 2018, instead, would end insert authorize specified disabled persons and disabled veterans to apply for begin delete a free-parking sticker, which, when properly affixed to the distinguishing placard, additionally end delete begin insert free-parking status, as specified, which end insert would authorize the begin delete owner end delete begin insert person end insert to park in begin delete any metered parking space, as defined, end delete begin insert specified metered and unmetered parking spaces end insert without being required to pay fees and for an unlimited period of time. begin insert The bill would require the department, commencing January 1, 2017, to begin to notify existing holders of a disabled driver placard of these changes to the disabled persons parking program, as specified. end insert

begin insert

This bill would require an applicant to provide certification of his or her disability by a physician and surgeon, nurse practitioner, certified nurse midwife, physician assistant, chiropractor, or optometrist, as specified. To knowingly provide a false disability certification for a disabled parking placard, or a free-parking sticker, emblem, or other indicia of free-parking status, would constitute unprofessional conduct and grounds for disciplinary action for any person regulated under specified provisions of law.

end insert

Under existing law, a person to whom a disabled person placard has been issued is prohibited from various acts, begin delete including end delete begin insert including, but not limited to, end insert lending the placard to another begin delete person and end delete begin insert person, end insert knowingly permitting use for parking purposes of the placard by one not entitled to begin delete it. end delete begin insert it, or forgery, counterfeiting, or sale of the placard. end insert Existing law also prohibits a person from displaying a placard that was not issued to him or her or that has been canceled or revoked. These acts are subject to the issuance of a notice of parking violation imposing a civil penalty, as prescribed, and constitute a misdemeanor punishable by a specified fine, imprisonment in the county jail, or both the fine and imprisonment.

This bill would extend the above penalty provisions to acts begin delete involving misuse end delete begin insert including, but not limited to, forging, misuse, counterfeiting, or sale end insert of a free-parking begin delete sticker. end delete begin insert sticker, emblem, or other indicia of free-parking status issued by the department. The bill also would require an application for free-parking status under the bill to be signed under penalty of perjury. The bill would make those provisions operative January 1, 2018. end insert By creating new crimes, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: yes.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

begin insert

begin insert SECTION 1. end insert   

end insert

begin insert Section 734 is added to the end insert begin insert Business and
Professions Code end insert begin insert , to read: end insert

begin insert

begin insert 734. end insert   

To knowingly provide a false certification under
subdivision (b) of Section 22511.55 of, or subdivision (c) of Section
22511.551 of, the Vehicle Code is unprofessional conduct and
grounds for disciplinary action for any physician and surgeon,
nurse practitioner, certified nurse midwife, physician assistant,
chiropractor, or optometrist regulated under this division or under
any initiative act referred to in this division.

end insert

begin delete SECTION 1. end delete

begin insert SEC. 2. end insert   

Section 4461 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:

4461.  

(a) A person shall not lend a certificate of ownership,
registration card, license plate, special plate, validation tab, or
permit issued to him or her if the person desiring to borrow it would
not be entitled to its use, and a person shall not knowingly permit
its use by one not entitled to it.

(b) A person to whom a disabled person begin delete placard or sticker end delete
begin insert placard, or, commencing January 1, 2018, a free-parking sticker,
emblem, or other indicia of free-parking status, end insert has been issued
shall not lend the placard or begin delete sticker end delete begin insert free-parking sticker, emblem,
or other indicia of free-parking status end insert to another person, and a
disabled person shall not knowingly permit the use for parking
purposes of the placard, begin delete sticker, end delete begin insert free-parking sticker, emblem, or
other indicia of free-parking status, end insert or identification license plate
issued pursuant to Section 5007 by one not entitled to it. A person
to whom a disabled person placard or begin delete sticker end delete begin insert free-parking sticker,
emblem, or other indicia of free-parking status end insert has been issued
may permit another person to use the placard begin insert or free-parking
sticker, emblem, or other indicia of free-parking status end insert only while
in the presence or reasonable proximity of the disabled person for
the purpose of transporting the disabled person. A violation of this
subdivision is subject to the issuance of a notice of parking
violation imposing a civil penalty of not less than two hundred
fifty dollars ($250) and not more than one thousand dollars
($1,000), for which enforcement shall be governed by the
procedures set forth in Article 3 (commencing with Section 40200)
of Chapter 1 of Division 17 or is a misdemeanor punishable by a
fine of not less than two hundred fifty dollars ($250) and not more
than one thousand dollars ($1,000), imprisonment in the county
jail for not more than six months, or both that fine and
imprisonment.

(c) Except for the purpose of transporting a disabled person as
specified in subdivision (b), a person shall not display a disabled
person begin delete placard or sticker end delete begin insert placard, or, commencing January 1,
2018, a free-parking sticker, emblem, or other indicia of
free-parking status, end insert that was not issued to him or her or that has
been canceled or revoked pursuant to Section 22511.6. A violation
of this subdivision is subject to the issuance of a notice of parking
violation imposing a civil penalty of not less than two hundred
fifty dollars ($250) and not more than one thousand dollars
($1,000), for which enforcement shall be governed by the
procedures set forth in Article 3 (commencing with Section 40200)
of Chapter 1 of Division 17 or is a misdemeanor punishable by a
fine of not less than two hundred fifty dollars ($250) and not more
than one thousand dollars ($1,000), imprisonment in the county
jail for not more than six months, or both that fine and
imprisonment.

(d) Notwithstanding subdivisions (a), (b), and (c), a person using
a vehicle displaying a special identification license plate issued to
another pursuant to Section 5007 shall not park in those parking
stalls or spaces designated for disabled persons pursuant to Section
22511.7 or 22511.8, unless transporting a disabled person. A
violation of this subdivision is subject to the issuance of a notice
of parking violation imposing a civil penalty of not less than two
hundred fifty dollars ($250) and not more than one thousand dollars
($1,000), for which enforcement shall be governed by the
procedures set forth in Article 3 (commencing with Section 40200)
of Chapter 1 of Division 17 or is a misdemeanor punishable by a
fine of not less than two hundred fifty dollars ($250) and not more
than one thousand dollars ($1,000), imprisonment in the county
jail for not more than six months, or both that fine and
imprisonment.

(e) For the purposes of subdivisions (b) and (c), “disabled person
placard” means a placard issued pursuant to Section 22511.55 or
22511.59, and begin delete “sticker” means a free-parking sticker issued end delete
begin insert “free-parking sticker, emblem, or other indicia of free-parking
status” designates a sticker, emblem, or other indicia of that status
issued by the department end insert pursuant to Section 22511.551.

begin insert

begin insert SEC. 3. end insert   

end insert

begin insert Section 4463 of the end insert begin insert Vehicle Code end insert begin insert is amended to read: end insert

4463.  

(a) A person who, with intent to prejudice, damage, or
defraud, commits any of the following acts is guilty of a felony
and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by imprisonment
pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code for
16 months or two or three years, or by imprisonment in a county
jail for not more than one year:

(1) Alters, forges, counterfeits, or falsifies a certificate of
ownership, registration card, certificate, license, license plate,
device issued pursuant to Section 4853, special plate, or permit
provided for by this code or a comparable certificate of ownership,
registration card, certificate, license, license plate, device
comparable to that issued pursuant to Section 4853, special plate,
or permit provided for by a foreign jurisdiction, or alters, forges,
counterfeits, or falsifies the document, device, or plate with intent
to represent it as issued by the department, or alters, forges,
counterfeits, or falsifies with fraudulent intent an endorsement of
transfer on a certificate of ownership or other document evidencing
ownership, or with fraudulent intent displays or causes or permits
to be displayed or have in his or her possession a blank, incomplete,
canceled, suspended, revoked, altered, forged, counterfeit, or false
certificate of ownership, registration card, certificate, license,
license plate, device issued pursuant to Section 4853, special plate,
or permit.

(2) Utters, publishes, passes, or attempts to pass, as true and
genuine, a false, altered, forged, or counterfeited matter listed in
paragraph (1) knowing it to be false, altered, forged, or
counterfeited.

(b) A person who, with intent to prejudice, damage, or defraud,
commits any of the following acts is guilty of a misdemeanor, and
upon conviction thereof shall be punished by imprisonment in a
county jail for six months, a fine of not less than five hundred
dollars ($500) and not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000),
or both that fine and imprisonment, which penalty shall not be
suspended:

(1)  Forges, counterfeits, or falsifies a disabled person placard
or a comparable placard relating to parking privileges for disabled
persons provided for by a foreign jurisdiction, or forges,
counterfeits, or falsifies a disabled person begin delete placard end delete begin insert placard, or,
commencing January 1, 2018, a free-parking sticker, emblem, or
other indicia of free-parking status, end insert with intent to represent it as
issued by the department.

(2)  Passes, or attempts to pass, as true and genuine, a false,
forged, or counterfeit disabled person begin delete placard end delete begin insert placard, or,
commencing January 1, 2018, a free-parking sticker, emblem, or
other indicia of free-parking status, end insert knowing it to be false, forged,
or counterfeited.

(3)  Acquires, possesses, sells, or offers for sale a genuine or
counterfeit disabled person begin delete placard. end delete begin insert placard, or, commencing
January 1, 2018, a free-parking sticker, emblem, or other indicia
of free-parking status. end insert

(c) A person who, with fraudulent intent, displays or causes or
permits to be displayed a forged, counterfeit, or false disabled
person placard, begin insert or, commencing January 1, 2018, a free-parking
sticker, emblem, or other indicia of free-parking status, end insert is subject
to the issuance of a notice of parking violation imposing a civil
penalty of not less than two hundred fifty dollars ($250) and not
more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), for which enforcement
shall be governed by the procedures set forth in Article 3
(commencing with Section 40200) of Chapter 1 of Division 17 or
is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in a county
jail for six months, a fine of not less than two hundred fifty dollars
($250) and not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or both
that fine and imprisonment, which penalty shall not be suspended.

(d) For purposes of subdivision (b) or (c), “disabled person
placard” means a placard issued pursuant to Section 22511.55 or
22511.59. begin insert “Free-parking sticker, emblem, or other indicia of
free-parking status” indicates a free-parking sticker, emblem, or
other indicia of that status issued by the department pursuant to
Section 22511.551. end insert

(e) A person who, with intent to prejudice, damage, or defraud,
commits any of the following acts is guilty of an infraction, and
upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine of not less than
one hundred dollars ($100) and not more than two hundred fifty
dollars ($250) for a first offense, not less than two hundred fifty
dollars ($250) and not more than five hundred dollars ($500) for
a second offense, and not less than five hundred dollars ($500)
and not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) for a third or
subsequent offense, which penalty shall not be suspended:

(1) Forges, counterfeits, or falsifies a Clean Air Sticker or a
comparable clean air sticker relating to high occupancy vehicle
lane privileges provided for by a foreign jurisdiction, or forges,
counterfeits, or falsifies a Clean Air Sticker with intent to represent
it as issued by the department.

(2) Passes, or attempts to pass, as true and genuine, a false,
forged, or counterfeit Clean Air Sticker knowing it to be false,
forged, or counterfeited.

(3) Acquires, possesses, sells, or offers for sale a counterfeit
Clean Air Sticker.

(4) Acquires, possesses, sells, or offers for sale a genuine Clean
Air Sticker separate from the vehicle for which the department
issued that sticker.

(f) As used in this section, “Clean Air Sticker” means a label
or decal issued pursuant to Sections 5205.5 and 21655.9.

begin delete

SEC. 2.  

Section 22511.5 of the Vehicle Code is repealed.

end delete

begin insert

begin insert SEC. 4. end insert   

end insert

begin insert Section 22511.5 of the end insert begin insert Vehicle Code end insert begin insert is amended to
read: end insert

22511.5.  

(a) (1) A disabled person or disabled veteran
displaying special license plates issued under Section 5007 or a
distinguishing placard issued under Section 22511.55 or 22511.59
is allowed to park for unlimited periods in any of the following
zones:

(A) In any restricted zone described in paragraph (5) of
subdivision (a) of Section 21458 or on streets upon which
preferential parking privileges and height limits have been given
pursuant to Section 22507.

(B) 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.

(2) A disabled person or disabled veteran is allowed to park in
any metered parking space without being required to pay parking
meter fees.

(3) This subdivision does not apply to a zone for which state
law or ordinance absolutely prohibits stopping, parking, or standing
of all vehicles, or which the law or ordinance reserves for special
types of vehicles, or to the parking of a vehicle that is involved in
the operation of a street vending business.

(b) A disabled person or disabled veteran is allowed to park a
motor vehicle displaying a special disabled person license plate
or placard issued by a foreign jurisdiction with the same parking
privileges authorized in this code for any motor vehicle displaying
a special license plate or a distinguishing placard issued by the
Department of Motor Vehicles.

begin insert

(c) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2018,
and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that
is enacted before January 1, 2018, deletes or extends that date.

end insert

begin delete SEC. 3. end delete

begin insert SEC. 5. end insert   

Section 22511.5 is added to the Vehicle Code, to read:

22511.5.  

(a) (1) A disabled person or disabled veteran
displaying special license plates issued under Section 5007 or a
distinguishing placard issued under Section 22511.55 or 22511.59
is allowed to park in any restricted zone described in paragraph
(5) of subdivision (a) of Section 21458 or on streets upon which
preferential parking privileges and height limits have been given
pursuant to Section 22507.

(2) This subdivision does not apply to a zone for which state
law or ordinance absolutely prohibits stopping, parking, or standing
of all vehicles, or which the law or ordinance reserves for special
types of vehicles, or to the parking of a vehicle that is involved in
the operation of a street vending business.

(b) A disabled person or disabled veteran is allowed to park a
motor vehicle displaying a special disabled person license plate
or placard issued by a foreign jurisdiction with the same parking
privileges authorized in this code for any motor vehicle displaying
a special license plate or a distinguishing placard issued by the
Department of Motor Vehicles.

begin insert

(c) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2018.

end insert

begin delete SEC. 4. end delete

begin insert SEC. 6. end insert   

Section 22511.55 of the Vehicle Code is amended to
read:

22511.55.  

(a) (1) A disabled person or disabled veteran may
apply to the department for the issuance of a distinguishing placard.
The placard may be used in lieu of the special license plate or
plates issued under Section 5007 for parking purposes described
in Section 22511.5 when (A) suspended from the rearview mirror,
(B) if there is no rearview mirror, when displayed on the dashboard
of a vehicle, or (C) inserted in a clip designated for a distinguishing
placard and installed by the manufacturer on the driver’s side of
the front window. It is the intent of the Legislature to encourage
the use of distinguishing placards because they provide law
enforcement officers with a more readily recognizable symbol for
distinguishing vehicles qualified for the parking privilege. The
placard shall be the size, shape, and color determined by the
department and shall bear the International Symbol of Access
adopted pursuant to Section 3 of Public Law 100-641, commonly
known as the “wheelchair symbol.” The department shall
incorporate instructions for the lawful use of a begin delete placard, instructions
for affixing end delete begin insert placard and, commencing January 1, 2018, for the
display of end insert a free-parking begin delete sticker end delete begin insert sticker, emblem, or other indicia
of free-parking status end insert issued pursuant to Section 22511.551, and
a summary of the penalties for the unlawful use of a begin delete placard, end delete
begin insert placard or free-parking status, end insert into the identification card issued
to the placard owner.

(2) (A) The department may establish procedures for the
issuance and renewal of the placards. The procedures shall include,
but are not limited to, advising an applicant in writing on the
application for a placard of the procedure to apply for a special
license plate or plates, as described in Section 5007, and the fee
exemptions established pursuant to Section 9105 and in subdivision
(a) of Section 10783 of the Revenue and Taxation Code. The
placards shall have a fixed expiration date of June 30 every two
years. A portion of the placard shall be printed in a contrasting
color that shall be changed every two years. The size and color of
this contrasting portion of the placard shall be large and distinctive
enough to be readily identifiable by a law enforcement officer in
a passing vehicle.

(B) As used in this section, “year” means the period between
the inclusive dates of July 1 through June 30.

(C) Prior to the end of each year, the begin delete department shall, end delete
begin insert department, end insert for the most current three years available, begin insert shall end insert
compare its record of disability placards issued against the records
of the Office of Vital Records of the State Department of Public
Health, or its successor, and withhold any renewal notices that
otherwise would have been sent for a placardholder identified as
deceased.

(3) Except as provided in paragraph (4), a person shall not be
eligible for more than one placard at a time.

(4) Organizations and agencies involved in the transportation
of disabled persons or disabled veterans may apply for a placard
for each vehicle used for the purpose of transporting disabled
persons or disabled veterans.

(b) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (4), prior to issuing an
original distinguishing placard to a disabled person or disabled
veteran, the department shall require the submission of a certificate,
in accordance with paragraph (2), signed by the physician and
surgeon, or to the extent that it does not cause a reduction in the
receipt of federal aid highway funds, by a nurse practitioner,
certified nurse midwife, or physician assistant, substantiating the
disability, unless the applicant’s disability is readily observable
and uncontested. The disability of a person who has lost, or has
lost use of, one or more lower extremities or one hand, for a
disabled veteran, or both hands, for a disabled person, or who has
significant limitation in the use of lower extremities, may also be
certified by a licensed chiropractor. The blindness of an applicant
shall be certified by a licensed physician and surgeon who
specializes in diseases of the eye or a licensed optometrist. The
physician and surgeon, nurse practitioner, certified nurse midwife,
physician assistant, chiropractor, or optometrist certifying the
qualifying disability shall provide a full description of the illness
or disability on the form submitted to the department.

(2) The physician and surgeon, nurse practitioner, certified nurse
midwife, physician assistant, chiropractor, or optometrist who
signs a certificate submitted under this subdivision shall retain
information sufficient to substantiate that certificate and, upon
request of the department, shall make that information available
for inspection by the Medical Board of California or the appropriate
regulatory board.

(3) The department shall maintain in its records all information
on an applicant’s certification of permanent disability and shall
make that information available to eligible law enforcement or
parking control agencies upon a request pursuant to Section
22511.58.

(4) For a disabled veteran, the department shall accept, in lieu
of the certificate described in paragraph (1), a certificate from the
United States Department of Veterans Affairs that certifies that
the applicant is a disabled veteran as described in Section 295.7.

(c) A person who is issued a distinguishing placard pursuant to
subdivision (a) may apply to the department for a substitute placard
without recertification of eligibility, if that placard is lost or stolen.

(d) The distinguishing placard shall be returned to the
department not later than 60 days after the death of the disabled
person or disabled veteran to whom the placard was issued.

(e) The department shall print on any distinguishing placard
issued on or after January 1, 2005, the maximum penalty that may
be imposed for a violation of Section 4461. For purposes of this
subdivision, the “maximum penalty” is the amount derived from
adding all of the following:

(1) The maximum fine that may be imposed under Section 4461.

(2) The penalty required to be imposed under Section 70372 of
the Government Code.

(3) The penalty required to be levied under Section 76000 of
the Government Code.

(4) The penalty required to be levied under Section 1464 of the
Penal Code.

(5) The surcharge required to be levied under Section 1465.7
of the Penal Code.

(6) The penalty authorized to be imposed under Section 4461.3.

begin delete SEC. 5. end delete

begin insert SEC. 7. end insert   

Section 22511.551 is added to the Vehicle Code, to
read:

22511.551.  

(a) (1) Notwithstanding any other law,
begin insert commencing January 1, 2018, end insert a disabled person or disabled veteran
who has been issued a distinguishing placard under Section
22511.55 or 22511.59 and who meets the criteria specified in
subdivision (b) may apply, pursuant to this section, for begin delete a end delete
free-parking begin delete sticker, which shall be yellow in color and shall be
affixed to a placard issued pursuant to Section 22511.55 or
22511.59. end delete begin insert status. An application for free-parking status granted
under this section shall be signed by the applicant under penalty
of perjury. end insert

begin insert

(A) Free-parking status granted pursuant to this section shall
be indicated by affixing a sticker or emblem to the placard issued
pursuant to Section 22511.55 or 22511.59, or by another indicia
of free-parking status as determined by the department.

end insert begin insert

(B) Commencing January 1, 2017, the department shall begin
notifying all holders of a placard issued pursuant to Section
22511.55 or 22511.59 of the availability of free-parking status
pursuant to this section and the related changes to the disabled
persons parking program operative January 1, 2018. Notification
pursuant to this subparagraph shall be completed no later than
January 1, 2018.

end insert

(2)  begin delete The owner of a sticker that is properly affixed to a placard end delete
begin insert (A) end insert begin insert   end insert begin insert A person granted free-parking status under this section end insert may
park in any metered parking space without being required to pay
parking fees and for an unlimited period of time. For purposes of
this section, “metered parking space” includes a parking space
regulated by a parking meter designated for an individual parking
space and a parking payment center designated for one or more
parking spaces.

begin insert

(B) A person granted free-parking status under this section may
park 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.

end insert

(3) The department may establish procedures for the issuance
begin delete and renewal of the stickers. end delete begin insert of a free-parking sticker, emblem, or
other indicia of free-parking status. end insert The procedures shall include,
but are not limited to, advising an applicant in writing on the
application for begin delete a sticker end delete begin insert free-parking status end insert of the procedure to
apply for a special license plate or plates, as described in Section
5007. begin delete The stickers shall have a fixed expiration date of June 30
every four years. end delete begin insert A free-parking sticker, emblem, or other indicia
of free-parking status shall expire according to the same schedule
as the underlying distinguishing placard. end insert

(b)  begin insert (1) end insert begin insert   end insert An applicant for begin delete a free-parking sticker end delete begin insert free-parking
status end insert under this section shall provide certification pursuant to
subdivision (c) that the applicant is unable to perform one or more
of the following activities:

begin delete

(1)

end delete

begin insert (A) end insert  Manage, manipulate, or insert begin delete coins, end delete begin insert coins or cards, end insert or obtain
tickets or tokens at parking meters or parking payment centers,
due to begin delete the lack of fine motor control of both hands. end delete begin insert a physical
disability. end insert

begin delete

(2)

end delete

begin insert (B) end insert  Reach above his or her head to a height of 42 inches from
the ground due to a lack of finger, hand, or upper extremity strength
or mobility.

begin delete

(3)

end delete

begin insert (C) end insert  Approach a parking meter due to his or her use of a

begin delete wheelchair or other device. end delete begin insert wheelchair, walker, or other mobility
device, or if his or her medical provider determines that the
disability would make it unsafe for the individual to let go of the
mobility device to operate a meter or payment center. end insert

begin delete

(4)

end delete

begin insert (D) end insert  Walk more than 20 feet due to an orthopedic, neurological,
cardiovascular, or lung condition in which the degree of debilitation
is so severe that it almost completely impedes the ability to walk.

begin insert

(2) Except as provided in paragraph (3), a person shall not be
eligible for more than one free-parking sticker, emblem, or other
indicia of free-parking status at a time.

end insert begin insert

(3) Organizations and agencies involved in the transportation
of disabled persons or disabled veterans may apply for free-parking
status for each vehicle used for the purpose of transporting eligible
disabled persons or disabled veterans.

end insert

(c) (1)  begin delete Prior to issuing an original sticker to a disabled person
or disabled veteran, end delete begin insert Except as provided in paragraph (4), prior
to issuance or renewal of a free-parking sticker, emblem, or other
indicia of free-parking status, end insert the department shall require the
submission of a certificate, in accordance with paragraph (2),
signed by the physician and surgeon, or to the extent that it does
not cause a reduction in the receipt of federal aid highway funds,
by a nurse practitioner, certified nurse midwife, or physician
assistant, substantiating the begin delete disability, unless the applicant’s
disability is readily observable and uncontested. end delete begin insert disability. The
disability of a person who has lost, or has lost use of, one or more
lower extremities or one hand, for a disabled veteran, or both
hands, for a disabled person, or who has significant limitation in
the use of lower extremities, may also be certified by a licensed
chiropractor. The blindness of an applicant shall be certified by
a licensed physician and surgeon who specializes in diseases of
the eye or a licensed optometrist. end insert The physician and surgeon, nurse
practitioner, certified nurse midwife, physician assistant,
chiropractor, or optometrist certifying the qualifying disability
shall provide a full description of the qualifying condition on the
form submitted to the department.

(2) The physician and surgeon, nurse practitioner, certified nurse
midwife, physician assistant, chiropractor, or optometrist who
signs a certificate submitted under this subdivision shall retain
information sufficient to substantiate that certificate and, upon
request of the department, shall make that information available
for inspection by the Medical Board of California or the appropriate
regulatory board.

(3) A person who is issued a begin delete sticker end delete begin insert free-parking sticker,
emblem, or other indicia of free-parking status end insert pursuant to
subdivision (a) may apply to the department for a substitute begin delete sticker end delete
begin insert sticker, emblem, or other indicia of free-parking status end insert without
recertification of eligibility, if that begin delete sticker end delete begin insert sticker, emblem, or other
indicia of free-parking status end insert is lost or stolen.

begin delete

(d) The department may establish a fee for issuance of a sticker
pursuant to this section, which shall not exceed the reasonable
costs of implementing the sticker program.

end delete begin insert

(4) An individual whose disability is readily observable and
uncontested shall not be required to recertify his or her disability
pursuant to this subdivision.

end insert begin delete

(e)

end delete

begin insert (d) end insert  Notwithstanding any other law, the maximum fine that may
be imposed under Section 4461 constitutes the maximum penalty
that may be imposed for a violation of Section 4461 based on the
misuse of a begin delete sticker end delete begin insert free-parking sticker, emblem, or other indicia
of free-parking status end insert issued under this section.

begin insert

begin insert SEC. 8. end insert   

end insert

begin insert Section 22511.6 of the end insert begin insert Vehicle Code end insert begin insert is amended to
read: end insert

22511.6.  

(a) The Department of Motor Vehicles may cancel
or revoke a distinguishing placard issued pursuant to Section
22511.55 or 22511.59 begin delete in any of the following events: end delete begin insert and,
commencing January 1, 2018, free-parking status granted pursuant
to Section 22511.551, under any of the following circumstances: end insert

(1)  begin delete When end delete begin insert If end insert the department is satisfied that the placard begin insert or
free-parking status end insert was fraudulently obtained or erroneously issued.

(2)  begin delete When end delete begin insert If end insert the department determines that the required fee has
not been paid and the fee is not paid upon reasonable notice and
demand.

(3)  begin delete When end delete begin insert If end insert the placard begin insert or free-parking status end insert could have been
refused when last issued or renewed.

(4)  begin delete When end delete begin insert If end insert the department determines that the begin delete owner end delete begin insert holder end insert
of the placard begin insert or free-parking status end insert has committed any offense
described in Section 4461 or 4463, involving the placard begin insert or
free-parking sticker, emblem, or other indicia of free-parking status end insert
to be canceled or revoked.

(5)  begin delete When end delete begin insert If end insert the department determines that the begin delete owner end delete begin insert holder end insert
of the placard begin insert or free-parking status end insert is deceased.

(b)  begin delete Whenever the Department of Motor Vehicles end delete begin insert If the
department end insert cancels or revokes a distinguishing placard, the begin delete owner end delete
begin insert holder end insert or person in possession of the placard shall immediately
return the placard to the department.

begin insert

(c) If the department cancels or revokes free-parking status
granted pursuant to Section 22511.551, the holder or person in
possession shall immediately return to the department any sticker,
emblem, or other indicia of that status.

end insert

begin delete SEC. 6. end delete

begin insert SEC. 9. end insert   

No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to
Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because
the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school
district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or
infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty
for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of
the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within
the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California
Constitution.