If you find yourself with an illness or injury that impairs your mobility you may be wondering if you can get a disabled parking permit. Perhaps your condition will improve and won’t last long but that doesn’t mean you can’t get a disabled placard. If you live in Michigan and have a condition that is expected to improve but you still need to park in a disabled parking space qualifies you can follow this guide and find out how to apply for one.

Qualifying for Temporary Placard

In Michigan the temporary disabled placard is red and is given to those who have a qualifying condition but one that is expected to improve in the future. Qualifying conditions are:

  • Blindness
  • A medical condition that leaves you unable to walk
  • A medical condition that requires you to use a wheelchair, walker, crutches, or other assistive device.

If you qualify a physician must certify your condition and indicate that it is expected to improve.

If you have the necessary paperwork then applying for your disabled placard is a fairly straightforward process. The form you need is the Disability Parking Placard Application (BFS-108) and can be easily obtained online. As the applicant you would fill out the first portion of the application and have your physician fill out the second portion. A physician is also not the only medical professional that can certify your condition. An optometrist, physician’s assistant, chiropractor, or nurse practitioner can also fill out the second portion of the application. The application can then be taken to any Secretary of State Office in Michigan or mailed to:

Michigan Department of State Secretary of State
Special Services Branch
PO Box 30764
Lansing, MI 48918

Can You Renew a Temporary Placard?

A temporary disabled parking placard is only good for one to six months and cannot be renewed. If your condition still exists you must submit a new application with a physician that certifies your condition still impedes your ability to walk or you are blind. This is unlike a permanent placard which does not require a physician to certify your condition upon renewing a placard. This is done so that those with temporary conditions do not continue to use disabled parking spaces when they don’t qualify for them.

Does the Placard Cost Anything?

Fortunately, for an original placard there is no fee associated with obtaining a placard. There is also no fee for a permanent placard. If your name changes while you are in possession of your temporary placard this is no charge for changing the name that is on your placard.

Lost or Stolen Placard

If your temporary placard is lost or stolen you can always get a replacement placard. There is a $10 fee that you will be charged in order to receive your replacement. You are also required to show some form of identification when you are requesting a replacement.

Using Your Temporary Placard

Once you receive your placard you must follow the rules in displaying and using the placard. When you park in a disabled parking space you must hang the placard from the rear view mirror and make sure it is visible. When you do park in a disabled parking space don’t park in the striped lines, even partially. These are used for people who have wheelchairs or wheelchair lifts on their vehicles. It can be incredibly frustrating when vehicles are taking up space in the striped lines. For other disabled drivers or passengers they may find themselves in a parking spot where there is not enough room for them to enter or exit their vehicle with their wheelchair.

Rules to Follow

There are basic rules to follow when you use the placard. There are also actions that you need to avoid so that you don’t lose your placard or end up paying fines. These are the actions you should avoid:

  • Do not loan your placard out to anyone
  • Do not use a placard that is not valid. For example, one that has been canceled or replaced.
  • Do not use the placard if the disability no longer exists. This is especially important when you are using a temporary placard since those are intended for conditions that are expected to improve.
  • Do not use a family member’s placard if they have passed away. The condition applied to your family member and not to you.
  • Definitely don’t copy or forge a disability placard. Do not use one that has been altered either.

What to Do If a Placard is Misused

There are instances where placards have been misused. If you notice someone is misusing or abusing the privilege of having a temporary placard it is recommended that you call the local police and report the violations. The penalty for violations can be significant, up to $500, or even jail time. Fraud can also be reported to the Department of State Information Center.

Free Parking With a Placard

One benefit to having a disabled parking placard is that you may qualify for free parking. However, the placard alone is not enough to qualify for free parking. In addition to a doctor certifying your condition, on Part III of the application they must also certify that you qualify for free parking. Here are reasons that qualify you for free parking:

  • You can’t insert coins into a parking meter or pull a ticket out from one
  • You can’t reach above your head at a height of 42 inches above the ground because your fingers, hands, or arms lack the strength or mobility to do so
  • Your wheelchair or other ambulatory device prevents you from getting close enough to a parking meter
  • You have an orthopedic, heart, or lung condition that leads to the inability to walk any farther than 20 feet

With the certification you receive a yellow free parking sticker to place on your placard. Even if you have the sticker there are places that may still charge you for parking. For example, private parking garages or lots are not required by law to give you free parking.

Conclusion

Every state has different rules for disabled parking permits and in Michigan it is pretty simple if you have the correct form. This guide should have given you the right information to go out and get your application filled out and approved. Use the placard properly and be mindful of those who also need disabled parking space. Since you have a temporary placard don’t use it for longer than is actually needed.