What is the Fastest Way You Apply for a Handicap Parking Permit for Rhode Island?

Regulations surround your day-to-day activities and if you do not understand your neighborhood rules, as determined by the United States government, you will rapidly fall. When talking about handicap or disabled parking permits, Rhode Island has implemented strategies to ensure your rights as a disabled person. The following outline will help you transition into a permit holder for Rhode Island.

What Your Requirements are Needed

Rhode Island may be the smallest state in the country, but the Division of Motor Vehicles pack a strategic punch for disabled parking placards. Don’t be discouraged, though, because you will be eligible if you are:

  • Not able to have help walking by brace, crutch, cane, wheelchair, prosthetic mechanism, or a person
  • Legitimately blind
  • Identified as a Class III or Class IV cardiac disease
  • Not able to breathe in normal air due to a serious lung disease
  • Dependent upon a portable oxygen tank

You will need access to a computer to download and print the application for new disability parking placards. Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles only accept applications via postal service, so include all necessary fees and your individual documents. For you to fully complete your application, you will need to have your health care provider assess your conditions and sign the second page of your application.

What Class Your Disability Placards Provide

Rhode Island offers unique levels for disability placard holders; temporary, permanent, and long-term. Each stage has different conditional timeframes, depending upon your disability. You want to know each of these terms to better assist your needs.

  • Temporary parking placards are issued to you if you are disabled from two to six months
  • Long-term parking placards are issued to you if your needs are from one to three years
  • Permanent parking placard are available to those of you whose needs exceed three years and longer

Only your healthcare provider is authorized to fill out your conditions, determine your classification of parking placard, and sign the application; you will fill out and sign the first page. No one, except a Power of Attorney will be allowed to fill and sign on your behalf.

Disabled Veteran’s Parking Placards and Plates

If you are a veteran, disabled 100% due to performing your service, in the line of defense or otherwise, you are eligible to receive a disabled parking placard and license plate. You will not be charged for either of these services but will have to fill out a disability parking placard for disabled veterans. Only the Veterans administration is permitted to attach a verified letter of your disability.

Who is Authorized to Park in Rhode Island’s Accessibility Spaces?

If you are a placard or plate holder from another state, you do not have to apply for a new Rhode Island parking placard, you may use the handicap spaces available. If you applied for a disability parking placard in Rhode Island, you must be a resident of the state.

Part of Rhode Island’s laws regarding disabled persons state that if you are a permit holder, using a metered parking space, you do not pay charges.

What Measures You Need to Take?

Once you receive your parking placards in the mail, when you use them be sure it shows your expiration date through the windshield of your vehicle while hanging in your rearview mirror. Use caution to avoid unnecessary fines and remove your placard from your rearview mirror if you are driving.

You will be charged a fine and punished with a misdemeanor if you are found to have fraudulently obtained a disability parking placard. The fines can be assessed in excess of $1,000 with the possibility or up to a year in jail, so be honest on your application and do not deceive the Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles.

How Do You Renew and Replace Disability Parking Placards?

Fortunately for you, renewing your parking placards is easy since you have already submitted an application before. To renew your temporary and long-term parking permits, you will have to reapply by submitting a new application and renewed medical certificate from your health care provider. Permanent parking permit renewal forms will be sent to you through the mail several weeks before the expiration of your original parking placard, then after submission you will receive a new sticker with a new expiration date.

What to do When You Need Replacement Disability Parking Placards

Replacing your cards because they are lost, stolen, or damaged requires a few more steps and should only be done if it is absolutely necessary.

  • If your parking placard is stolen, you must immediately file a police report with your local police department. You will need your report along with a copy of your Driver’s License to offer to your local Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles.
  • If your parking placard is lost, you must fill out and mail a copy of an Affidavit for Lost Parking Placard to the DMV.
  • If your parking placard is damaged, easily take your damaged card in person to your DMV branch in exchange for a new parking permit.

How Do You Find Rhode Island DMV Locations?

Rhode Island is one of the few states that you should not submit an application for disability parking placards in person. There are locations of the Rhode Island DMV scattered in every county, even though it’s a tiny state. You must mail your endorsed documents, application, and medical certification to:

Division of Motor Vehicles
Disability Parking Placards Office
600 New London Avenue
Cranston, Rhode Island 02920

How to Gather Your Thoughts

After you review the outline, find all of the appropriate documentation, obtain your medical certification and submit to the Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles, you’ll need to wait a month for your application to process. A month wait time, is common and less time than most other states, remain patient through the process. If you find yourself in a loop, revert back to this summary of the practices you need to take.

Who is permitted to have a Disability Parking Placard in Rhode Island?

No matter where you live in the United States of America, the Americans with Disabilities Act, is part of your law. States may amend to include, reduce, increase, or exact punishment to individuals of your state. The laws then trickle down to a local level and if you live in Rhode Island, you’ll need to follow specific guidelines.

Don’t let your fear of rejection for a handicap parking placard scare you away from applying. You will need a few basic things to get started; access to a computer, printer, and personal records. Read each paragraph thoroughly to better understand your legal rights and take action to receive your parking placards.

Where You Can Find Your Rhode Island Branches

Rhode Island is the smallest state in America, bordering Connecticut and Massachusetts, predominantly. The Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles oversees disability parking applications, provides important information regarding your rights, and offices can be found all across the state with over 13 locations.

What are Your Rights as a Disabled Person in Rhode Island?

Your state allows specific restrictions against anyone impersonating a disabled person or falsely using disability parking placards. The handicap accessible parking spaces are reserved for you and only you, you are not allowed to share your parking placard with any member of your family or friends. All retail spaces, restaurants, and other buildings must be in ADA compliance so that you have the luxuries non-disabled people have. If you suspect misuse or abuse of disabled parking permits, you must report the conduct to the authorities.

How Do You Start the Application Course?

First, you will download your application from the Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles and evaluate what you need to fill out. Second, you will need a medical certification from your physician to assess your conditions to place you in the appropriate category for your disability parking placard. Lastly, you must submit your entire application through the mail to the Division of Motor Vehicles Department of Disability Parking Placards.

Your physician will decide, based on your disability, how long you will need to have a parking placard in your possession. If you are temporarily disabled, he will check the temporary box or the long-term space. If you are in desperate need and will be out of commission for more than three years, you will be assigned as a permanent placard holder.

  1. Temporary Disability Parking Placards- valid two to six months
  2. Long-term Disability Parking Placards- valid one to three years
  3. Permanent Disability Parking Placards- valid 3+ years (expiration depends on your condition)

Why You Need a Medical Certification

Rhode Island’s qualifications for your parking placards solely depend on your disability and how much you are disabled. Only a physician is permitted to decide how badly you need a handicap permit. You will need to be:

  1. Cannot walk without help from someone, a cane, brace, crutch, wheelchair or prosthetic device
  2. Have a severe lung disease that restricts your normal breaths
  3. Legally blind or have vision loss comparable to 2/200
  4. Classified as a level III or IV cardiac condition
  5. Solely dependent on an oxygen tank

Your condition in one or more of the qualifications may change, so it’s best that you have your physician recertify before the expiration of your original disability parking placards.

How to Use Your Parking Placards

After you submit your application, the Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles will verify all of your given information. Remain calm, no one has forgotten about you as this will take at least a month to process, possibly longer. Then, you will receive your parking placard along with information on use:

  • Hang your placard in your rearview mirror, be sure the expiration date is visible through your windshield.
  • Remove your placard if you are driving

What are Disabled Veterans Plates?

If you are a veteran and disabled, you may qualify for a Disabled Veterans License Plate and/or Placard. You must retrieve an authentic letter from the Veteran’s Administration validating that you are completely disabled due to an injury or other disability from your branch-related service. You are also qualified for a free license plate showing your disabled veteran status.

What If Your Parking Placards are Lost, Stolen, or Damaged?

Your placards should be valued the same as your Social Security card, Driver’s License, or any other form of ID. There are instances when you cannot help what is unexpected, though. In the event that your parking placard is lost or stolen, you’ll need to file a report at your local police station.

After you receive your report, download and fill out an affidavit for lost placards (if lost) and mail all of your required information to the Division of Motor Vehicles. If your parking placard is damaged all you need to do is visit your local Rhode Island DMV with your damaged placard and receive a new one.

What Other Information You Need to Know

If you live out of state, you do not have to apply for a disability parking placard while visiting Rhode Island. If you move to Rhode Island, you have 30 days to obtain a medical certification and apply. Remember, you must be a permanent resident to carry a Rhode Island handicap parking placard.

  • Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles Mailing Address

To submit applications, replacement placard information, or renewal forms send to:

Division of Motor Vehicles
Disability Parking Placards Office
600 New London Avenue
Cranston, RI 02920

  • Anyone who abuses or misuses the rights of the disability parking placard could receive jail sentences of a year and filed as a misdemeanor offense with fines exceeding $1,000 or more

How to Begin Your Future with Your Parking Placards

Know your rights as a handicapped person, review the guides, rules and regulations of Rhode Island. Be sure to always double-check your forms before submitting to the DMV and gain knowledge of your qualifications. Remain certified as applicable from renewing and you will receiver your disability parking placards now and in the future.

Where to Find Rhode Island’s Disability Parking Placards?

You’re sitting at home, trying to figure out where to begin your journey through your state’s procedures for handicap parking permits. All of the states in the country require different eligibility and have various rules for you to follow. Do a little research to figure out whether your local laws are the same as the state or not.

Rhode Island only has five counties in the entire state, so be sure you also check the ADA guide. There were over 49,000 disability parking placards issued within the last year, only in Rhode Island. Follow the below rules to acquire your disabled parking permit.

What do You Need to Qualify?

You’ll need to have a computer to download and print the application from the Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles website for your review. The application lists all of the criteria you need to meet to be eligible like:

  • You are legally blind or have severe vision loss
  • You are breathing portable oxygen for help
  • You have a chronic lung disease that constrains the normalcy of your breaths
  • You are unable to walk without another person’s help, you have a cane, brace, crutch or wheelchair aiding your mobility
  • You have a heart disease or condition Class III or Class IV

Your health physician will need to fill out one page of your application with one or more of the ailments listed above to certify your disability. Do not forge any of the documentation, all your information including doctor’s contact will be recorded for legitimacy purposes. Later, you will be advised, according to Rhode Island law, to maintain your medical certification every few months, or years as determined by your classification of parking placard.

What Category Do You Fall Into?

Your doctor will select a classification for you on your application, depending on your condition. You may have a temporary disability, long-term disability, or a permanent disability. Each rank will predict your expiration date for your handicap parking placards.

Temporary Placards Disabled up to 6 months Expire within time limit and require new application and medical certificate at renewal

Long-Term Placards

Disabled one to three years Expire depending on length; also require reapply and recertify to renew
Permanent Placards Disabled over three years Expiration depends on longevity of disability; renewal sent by mail prior to expiration

What If You Drive a Motorcycle but Need a Disability Placard?

If you do not have a passenger vehicle, you may register your motorcycle by your license plate. Each disability plate is faceted to your motorcycle as a regular license plate would be. You will not be allowed a hanging placard for registering a motorcycle. You are subject to fees associated with obtaining a disability license plate.

How Do You Know If You Are Using the Parking Permit Properly?

Once you have your placards, brochures will be sent explaining proper use and care. Remember to always hang your placard on your rearview mirror, expiration date showing through your windshield. One of the major rules to abide by as a disabled parking placard holder is to ensure you never hang your placard while your vehicle is in motion. Additionally, if you do not drive and require transportation in a vehicle not owned by you, you may use your placard, only if you are present in the vehicle.

If you allow other family and friends to borrow your parking permit, you are in breach of Rhode Island’s state laws as a disabled person. Brush up on the fines and punishment you could be facing if you permit these actions.

Where You Can Access Your Division of Motor Vehicles Offices

Through the website that you downloaded your original application, you will find links to your local branches. Directions, addresses, and contact numbers are provided to you for ease of use. Rhode Island’s small area on the map is accessible to any location wherever you live. If you are submitting a new application, renewal or lost/stolen identifying documents please mail:

Division of Motor Vehicles
Disability Parking Placards Offices
600 New London Avenue
Cranston, RI 02920

How You Replace Disability Parking Placards

Life happens and you may end up losing your parking placard but don’t be discouraged for fear of filling out another application and medical certification. There are other steps in place to help protect you against fraudulent use and just lost or damaged permits. If you lost your parking placard you will need to sign an affidavit for lost placards, which can be acquired from the same website as your original application and submit through the mail.

For your stolen disability parking placards, you will need to file a statement with the police, get a report from them and mail the report and your driver’s license information to the DMV. You may go in person to your local Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles office with proper identification and the original police report.

Damaged parking placards are easily replaceable by taking your damaged placard to your DMV office and receiving a new one. You must have the damaged placard, or you will not be allowed to retrieve another.

Where are You Allowed to Park?

Rhode Island law states that as a disabled parking placard holder, you are allowed to park anywhere an accessible space is located. If you are a visitor with an out of state placard you have the same rights and rules that apply to Rhode Island residents. Malls, offices, government buildings and other venues are required to provide a certain number of handicap spaces per ADA guidelines.

Rhode Island’s Application Endeavors

The Rhode Island Division of Vehicles department urges you to submit most of your information through the mail. If you find yourself in need of other help, you may visit your nearest location, but you will still need to mail your documentation. If you still don’t understand after reviewing this entire message, then research the topic and be sure to include Rhode Island and disability parking rights and laws.

What You Need to Do to Apply for Your Disabled Parking Permit in Rhode Island

You listen to far too many statistics about your health, your rights and your ability to do things about your life. You find yourself stuck between a rock and a hard spot when you don’t know where or how to begin finding an answer for your handicap accessible parking permits. Many of the laws surrounding disabled permits vary from state to state, within the United States. If you live in Rhode Island, pay attention to each step listed below, for your peace of mind.

Where You Begin the Application Process

Step 1:

Finding yourself answers to questions you didn’t even realize needed answers to will allow you to complete your application. In Rhode Island, the simple first step is to accumulate and put together your legal documentation and identification. You will also need an application for a new disability parking placard, which can be downloaded from the Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles website.

  1. Review the entire application
  2. Submit page two, along with your person, to your medical physician (discussed in Step 2)
  3. Fill out your application to its entirety
  4. Review your appropriate documents to be submitted with your application

How Do You Know If You Qualify for a Disabled Parking Permit?

Step 2:

After receiving an application in person or online, you will know that page one is for you to fill and sign and page two is for your doctor. You will need your medical doctor to verify your disability and include the timeframe of your usage of your disabled parking permit. You qualify if you meet one or more of the following criteria:

  1. You cannot walk without help from another person, brace, wheelchair, cane, crutch, or a prosthetic device.
  2. You suffer from a severe lung disease that restricts your breathing in resting air
  3. You require an oxygen tank
  4. You are diagnosed with a serious Class III or Class IV cardiac condition
  5. You are legally blind

What Type of Handicap Parking Permits are Available?

Step 3:

As specified in Step 2, your medical doctor is the only authorized person to fill out the certification of page two of your application. There are four listed choices of the type of disability placard you may need. This is only dependent on what your doctor says, it is not your choice, so please read and understand your local guidelines for Rhode Island’s disability parking placards.

  1. Temporary Disability Placard- expected minimum of two months, disabled, up to six months
  2. Long-term Disability Placard- expected one to three years, disabled
  3. Permanent Disability Placard- more than three years disabled (your lifetime span)
  4. Disabled Veterans- 100% service-connected disabled (veterans only)

What are the Differences You Should Know?

Step 4:

It is important for you to stay knowledgeable with your selected disability parking placards. Each one is different and have certain rules of renewability and procedures. Be sure you follow the Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles practices, otherwise you could face fines and other punishment by law. Here’s what you need to be versed in:

  1. Temporary parking placards are valid for up to six months, to renew you must submit a new application and new medical certification from your doctor.
  2. Long-term parking placards are valid one to three years, dependent upon your condition, and you must submit a new medical certification and application by the expiratory period.
  3. Permanent placards are valid if you need them, but disability conditions last longer than a three-year period. The Rhode Island DMV will send a renewal to your mailbox a few weeks before your expiration date, then a new expiration sticker for your placard.
  4. Disabled Veteran’s parking placards/plates must be disabled 100% connected to their service, submit a verified letter from the Veteran’s Administration, and complete the application specific to disabled veterans. If you apply for a DV parking placard, you can receive your DV license placard free.

The Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles have a distinct plan if you need a replacement placard due to loss, theft, or damage. Always follow the law and processes that keep you and your parking permits safe. You may visit the DMV in person, or mail all your documents, as listed.

  • Lost Placard- you are required to fill out and submit an Affidavit for Lost Parking Placard
  • Damaged Placard- simply take your damaged placard to your local DMV office for replacement
  • Stolen Placard-
    • You must file a Stolen Disability Placard Incident Report with your local law enforcement agency.
    • You must present and submit the report along with your Driver’s License

What Actions Does Rhode Island Take for Exploitation of Parking Placards?

Step 5:

Throughout the nation, each state tries its hardest to protect Disabled Persons rights and parking accessibility. Rhode Island announced several years ago, that they are now a zero-tolerance state against disability parking fraud and have cracked down on the issuance of parking placards. If you are caught cheating or attempting to deceive the Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles Disability Parking Permit application, you will be fined in excess of $1,000. Remember, this is a crime and you could face punishment beyond fines, including jail.

Where and How You Need to Use Your Placards

Step 6:

Keep in mind that after your application and other supporting documents are received, it will take about four weeks before you are approved. You will receive your disability parking placards through the mail, and you must not use them while any vehicle is in motion. Once you are in your designated handicap accessible space, you must hang your placard in your rearview mirror with the expiration date visible through your windshield.

What Address You Must Send Your Application to

Step 7:

Although Rhode Island is small, you are guaranteed a location closest to your residence. If you are submitting your application, don’t forget you must mail to:

Division of Motor Vehicles
Disability Parking Placards Office
600 New London Avenue
Cranston, RI 02920

Follow these seven simple steps to assist you through the application process. Be sure you check with all your state and local resources so that you are in compliance for your Rhode Island Disability Parking Placard.

How To Quickly Get Your Disabled Parking Permit In Rhode Island

Figuring out how to get your disabled parking permit can be a difficult task. You have to qualify, fill out the application, receive a medical certification, and more. Because each state has its set of rules and regulations about the disabled parking permit, it can be easy to get lost in all the information out there.

Here is a simple guide to show you how to quickly get your disabled parking permit in the state of Rhode Island. We’ll begin with the basics.

Who Can Qualify?

This is the first step in ensuring you obtain your disabled parking permit quickly. You must understand each criterion to know if you can or cannot get a permit. It’s imperative to correctly fill out your application, so it’s important.

The answer to the question is probably more complicated than you think. Of course, disabled parking permits are meant for those who have a disability. However, each state has its own set of standards that define what disabilities qualify. So, the qualifications may differ if you move into a new state. You must meet one or more of the criteria.

Here are the qualifications the state of Ohio has adopted for owning a disabled parking permit:

  • You must not be able to move without an assisting device such as a brace, crutch, cane, wheelchair, prosthetic device, or another person.
  • You must suffer from lung disease to such an extent that forced (respiratory) expiratory volume for one second, when measured by spirometry, is less than one liter, or the arterial oxygen tension is less than 60 mm/hg on room air at rest.
  • You must need portable oxygen
  • You must be legally blind or have a visual acuity of 20/200 or worse in the better eye with corrective lenses.
  • You must have a cardiac condition to the extent that functional limitations are classified in severity as Class III or Class IV according to standards set by the American Heart Association.

Understandably, these qualifications may be difficult to understand. If you’re unsure if you qualify, talk to your doctor to fully understand why you’re eligible for disabled parking.

You have to visit a medical professional anyway to complete your application. This is a great time to talk to them about how you qualify.

How To Apply

The next step in quickly owning your disabled parking permit is to fill out the application entirely and appropriately.

Those who are interested must complete the New/Renewal Disability Parking Placard Application. This application will ask you to fill in personal information. Be prepared to give your name, date of birth, and driver’s license number.

You can pick up the form in-person from any DMV office in the state of Rhode Island. Or, the form is also available online.

After you’ve completed your section of the application, it’s time to visit a medical professional. You’ll need to give them the application and they’ll fill out a section about what qualification(s) you meet for the permit.

After you’ve fully completed your application, you’ll have to submit it via post. Rhode Island is a bit unusual in that you must submit all types of disabled parking permit applications via mail. You can mail it to the address listed below:

Division of Motor Vehicles
Disability Parking Placards Office
600 New London Avenue
Cranston, RI 02920-3024

There are also services available to complete your disabled parking permit application online!

If you’ve followed all directions clearly and appropriately, you’re on your way to obtaining your disabled parking permit in Rhode Island as fast as possible.

Rules and Regulations

Now that you own a disabled parking permit, it’s extremely important to understand all of the laws about how to properly use it.

Here is a list of some of the most important rules and regulations you should follow:

  • Always keep your placard hung from your rearview mirror when using a designated space. It must be visible from the front and rear windshield of the vehicle.
  • Take your placard off your rearview mirror if the vehicle is in motion. Failing to take your placard off while the vehicle in motion could be seen as an obstruction to your vision.
  • It is illegal to use a disabled parking permit unless the owner is present. Even if you have a legally owned disabled parking permit in a vehicle, it is illegal to use unless the owner of the permit is present.
  • Never park in the loading/unloading zones next to disabled parking spaces. These may be marked by tilted blue horizontal lines. These zones are for those who need extra space to get in and out of their vehicle. Regardless if you own a disabled parking permit or not, it is always illegal to park in these areas.

Renewals and Replacements

To get the most out of your disabled parking permit, you’ll need to make sure you’re renewing them appropriately. You’ll also need to know how to replace your permit in case it is lost, stolen, or damaged.

Renewals

In the case of a temporary placard, they’re valid for between two and 12 months. Placards for long-term conditions are valid for one to three years. Finally, permanent placards are valid for more than three years.

 If you find that you need to renew your placard, the process is nothing new. You’ll simply fill out the same application you originally used and apply it again.

Lost/Stolen/Damaged Placards

You must fill out another form, available from any DMV office, to obtain a replacement. If the permit was stolen, you must report it to the police and bring a copy of the report to the DMV office or mail it to the address given above.

 

Conclusion

Hopefully, you’re now on your way to getting your disabled parking permit in Rhode Island as quickly as possible. Remember to always follow the laws about your area and keep your placards valid.