Chief’s Corner
By Chief Steven J. Wojnar Dudley Police Department I recently received a question regarding Disability plates or placards issued by the Registry. I was asked to explain the process for obtaining one. I was also asked for my recommendation on which one should a person should seek when applying? Disability placards and plates are described in 540CMR17.00. Disability plates are issued to a vehicle owned by a qualified individual. Placards are special permits issued by the Registry to a specific person. Someone interested in obtaining one of these permits must complete an application and submit it to the Registry. It also must be filled out and signed by a qualified physician outlining the reason for the disability. The application is free of charge and may be issued on a temporary (Generally up to 24 month) or a permanent basis. Temporary permits apply to individuals who have possibly suffered injuries but are expected to recover. Permanent applications will renew automatically, which is the reason why the state is looking at this to prevent abuse. The start to finish process for this will take at minimum, 30 days, however, in these CPVID times, it can be much longer. Generally, only one (plate or placard) is issued to people whose conditions warrant this privilege. The main purpose is to limit misuse opportunities of these items. The rule under 540CMR17.03 however; does allow for the Registrar to "issue both a plate and placard upon application and for good cause shown by the applicant." This is totally discretionary on the part of the Registry of Motor Vehicles and they in turn will determine what is “good cause” for issuance. If you have a condition that makes you eligible for a disability plate or placard, you should take the opportunity and apply. If you are only choosing one type, my recommendation would be to seek the placard. This is issued to you directly and can be used in any vehicle. If you ride with a friend or family members, you can still use this for the proper parking privilege. If you have a plate, only that vehicle is authorized to park in designated places, limiting your access. |
It is equally as important to remember to not misuse one of these permits. The fines and penalties are serious. The person who is issued the placard or plate must be present with the vehicle when it is used. Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 90 Section 2 calls for a first offense civil infraction of $500 for misusing a disability plate or placard. The second and subsequent offense penalty is $1,000. In addition, the person who owns the placard or plate may have it taken away. These spaces are in their designated locations for the convenient use of facilities for those with limited mobility. Remember to observe the laws carefully and show consideration for those individuals who need this assistance.
Please check us out at our new Facebook link at https://www.facebook.com/dudleymapolice . Thanks again for your questions and comments. Please send them to me at the Dudley Police Department 71 West Main St. Dudley, Ma. 01571 or email at swojnar@dudleypolice.com. Opinions expressed in this weekly column are those of Chief Wojnar only and unless clearly noted, do not reflect the ideas or opinions of any other organization or citizen. |
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