Obtaining a disabled parking permit in Minnesota can allow you to take care of errands and go about your everyday life with considerably more ease by using the specially designated parking areas set aside for your use. However, the specific privileges and responsibilities granted to you by your permit are only useful if you know about them!
Once you have properly applied for and received your permit from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, educate yourself about the following ways that you can properly exercise your rights and responsibilities so that you can maximize the potential of your certificate.
Know Your Type Of Permit
In Minnesota, there are four distinct types of disabled parking permits, differentiated by the length of time for which you expect to use them. The types of permits are as follows:
- Temporary Certificate: Permits issued to those with disabilities expected to persist for one to six months
- Short-Term Certificate: For disabilities persisting seven to twelve months
- Long-Term Certificate: For disabilities persisting thirteen to seventy-one months
- Permanent Certificate: For permanent disabilities. This certificate is valid for six years, after which time it can be renewed.
Chatting with your doctor, whether in-person or online, will help you to make an informed decision as to which permit is right for you. Make sure that you know which type of permit you have, and take the steps to renew it as necessary.
Display the Permit Properly
One important distinction that is very important to remember is that Minnesota Disabled Parking Permits are specific to the disabled person, and not to a designated car. Therefore, you should take your permit with you to display in whichever car you happen to be riding in.
As the permit hangs freely from the rear-view mirror in the front of your car, please remember that it is illegal and very dangerous for it to be dangling there while the vehicle is being operated. Remove it before you turn on your car, and replace it when the car is parked. Doing otherwise might put you in violation of Minnesota State Statute 169.71, so do your best to keep your windshield — and line of vision — clear.
Where You Can Park With a Disabled Parking Permit
If you have properly displayed your parking permit, you can park in the following places, under the following circumstances:
- A disability parking space that is designated as such
- In a metered parking space, as long as you do not obstruct another vehicle; your permit removes the obligation to pay the parking fee
- For as long as you want, unless it is specifically otherwise posted.
Where You Cannot Park with a Disabled Parking Permit
While you can park in several otherwise restricted parking areas if you display a disabled parking permit, you cannot park just anywhere! Please be aware that the following parking spaces are still prohibited according to M.S. 169.345, regardless of your permit:
- Parking spaces that are clearly labeled as designated no-parking areas
- Parking spaces which have been set apart for a designated purpose
- Parking spaces which fall under a local ordinance saving protected space for a Fire Lane
- Areas that are indicated to remain clear during high-traffic hours to reduce congestion at peak times.
If you feel like there is a specific place which is unfairly set aside as inaccessible parking, please feel free to contact your jurisdiction regarding this prohibition. Please note that each of these scenarios is only open to you if you are using the vehicle displaying the permit either as the disabled person or to help a disabled person.
Your Parking Permit and Associated Responsibilities
It’s important to remember that your disabled parking permit is a privilege, and therefore it comes with certain responsibilities.
- In some areas within Minnesota, there are established disabled parking spaces which are differentiated for cars of differing widths. If a larger space is marked Van Accessible and you are not driving a van, please consider parking elsewhere to allow larger vehicles to use that space.
- The space immediately next to a disability parking space is called an access aisle — it’s usually marked on the ground with large diagonal lines across the area. If there are multiple disabled parking spaces next to each other, that access aisle is a shared space. Please be sure not to park in it, as you are inconveniencing others by doing so.
Replacing And Renewing Your Parking Permit
If you realize that you have lost or misplaced your parking permit, you will need to look into having it replaced before you can enjoy the privileges associated with that permit. Fortunately, in Minnesota, the process for replacing a permit is very simple: simply fill out the top section of the Application for Disability Parking Certificate (available on the Minnesota Department of Public Safety website).
For renewal applications in which you mislaid your parking permit, you may be asked to detail the methods you are implementing to ensure that you do not lose your permit again. The state of Minnesota asks this merely to help you ensure that you have to go through the process as few times as possible to enjoy the parking privileges you require.
Because of this, if you request four or more replacement parking permits within six years, the Minnesota Council on Disability will require more information regarding your maintenance of the parking permit.
If, however, your permit is missing because you were the victim of a theft, please obtain a police report documenting the theft from your local precinct and supply a copy along with your replacement application.
Having a disabled parking permit can make your life a lot easier. Even after you’ve obtained it, it’s very important that you follow the associated rules to make sure that you can keep it! Follow the guidelines listed above, and you can enjoy both the responsibilities and the privileges that come with your Minnesota disabled parking permit.