The state of Washington offers disabled parking to person’s who are unable to walk more than 200 feet unassisted. This is a broad category of folks, including people with physical disabilities such as an amputation or a wheelchair, or those with serious health conditions like class III and IV cardiac conditions and COPD.

While most people who are eligible for disabled parking permits have chosen to acquire them, there are still a startling number of Washington state residents who have not filed for their disabled parking permits. Before we continue, let’s review the types of conditions that qualify for a disabled parking permit.

  • Risk of or history of heart attack, stroke or other major cardiac illness
  • Reliance on an assistive device, such as a wheelchair, walker or cane
  • Use of a prosthesis or brace
  • Full or partial paralysis or amputation
  • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease or other severe respiratory distress
  • Reliance on supplemental oxygen
  • Legal blindness
  • Neurological conditions causing seizures or sudden and uncontrolled loss of muscle tone

This is not a complete list, but a guideline for you to use when considering if you or a loved one may be eligible. Ultimately, eligibility is determined by a doctor as a part of the filing process.

If you or a loved one is eligible but has not yet filed for a disabled parking permit, it is essential that you do so for your health and safety. Disabled parking permits are available by obtaining a physician signed certificate and filing it with the Washington Department of Motor Vehicles.

Why do I Need Disabled Parking?

Lots of eligible people believe they can do without a disabled parking permit. Since they have always gone without one before, they believe that there is no sense changing now, since they are able to walk. It is important to remember, particularly as we age, that the risk of falling is serious, and can lead to life threatening injuries!

Every year, more than 800,000 Americans are hospitalized due to a fall. The first and most important goal of the Washington disabled parking permit program is the safety and comfort of all residents. If you qualify for the disabled parking permit program, it means you are a fall risk, plain and simple. You owe it to yourself, your family and your community to stay safe and healthy, particularly in icy, wet or poorly lit conditions.

Another common objection comes from the eligible non-drivers of Washington. Even if you do not drive yourself, you are still eligible for the disabled parking permit program! That means, when you travel with your friends or family, you can make use of the disabled parking permit program in their car. Most likely, your family is accustomed to taking you right to the door when you go out and about, but a disabled parking permit could help make sure you are safe and well cared for wherever you go.

The bottom line is, if you are eligible for the program, you need a disabled parking permit. Handicapped parking is not special treatment, merely the treatment you are entitled to from a community that wants you safe.



How Can I Help Others?

Now that you know the importance of those blue and whate parking spaces in your community, let’s talk about the elephant in the room.

While most people would never abuse a disabled parking space, there are some who would park illegally for no reason other than their own convenience. This is not just rude, this is dangerous!

Many disabled people rely on the availability of those spaces to protect their well being. Accessibility for the disabled is a point of pride for the great state of Washington, and seeing that ruined by illegal parking is downright criminal.

If you witness a parking violation, be sure to report it to your local law enforcement. When you make your report, include the time, place and license plate of the offending vehicle. Reporting illegal parking is not just about punishing the driver, but about preserving the access many people need to get to grocery stores, banks, shopping malls, or wherever they need to be.

By reporting a parking violation, you are doing a great service to your community.

While illegal parking should never be tolerated, be careful about falsely accusing! If you see someone display a disabled parking permit placard, they are most likely not parking illegally. Remember that not all disabled people look disabled to you.

Not only that, but if a family member is picking up a disabled person from a building, they are allowed to use that person’s disabled parking permit, since it is for the comfort of the permit holder.

The safest course is not to assume wrong doing if you see a disabled parking permit placard on display.

Disabled Parking Rules

Lets go over the rules of the disabled parking permit program.

Always display your disabled parking permit placard while parked in a disabled parking space. Failure to do so could result in a fine. Popular locations for your disabled parking permit placard are on the dashboard or hanging from the rearview mirror. Be aware, however, that your disabled parking permit placard must not be hung from the rearview mirror while the car is in motion! This is an obstruction of view and could land you with a ticket.

Because it is difficult for some disabled parking permit holders to remember to display their disabled parking permit placard, disabled parking permit tabs and disabled parking permit license plates are both available for purchase from the Washington Department of Motor Vehicles. Parking tabs are $13.75 and license plates are $32.75. This does not include the cost of license plate renewal.

Your disabled parking permit is valid in all fifty states, so feel free to take the show on the road. Likewise, remember to be welcoming of visitors from other states.

If you are eligible for a disabled parking permit under Washington guidelines, don’t hesitate. Talk to your doctor about disabled parking permits.