ASSEMBLY, No. 678

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 1996 SESSION

By Assemblyman BAGGER

An Act concerning handicapped driver certification and amending P.L.1949, c.280.

    Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

    1. Section 1 of P.L.1949, c.280 (C.39:4-204) is amended to read as follows:

    1. The term "handicapped person" as employed herein shall include any person who has lost the use of one or more limbs as a consequence of paralysis, amputation, or other permanent disability or who is permanently disabled as to be unable to ambulate without the aid of an assisting device or whose mobility is otherwise limited as certified by a physician with a plenary license to practice medicine and surgery or a podiatrist licensed to practice in this State or a bordering state or a physician stationed at a military or naval installation located in this State who is licensed to practice in any state.

(cf: P.1991, c.49, s.1)

    2. Section 3 of P.L.1949, c.280 (C.39:4-206) is amended to read as follows:

    3. The director shall issue to such applicant, also, a placard of such size and design as shall be determined by the director in consultation with the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services in the Department of Labor, indicating that a handicapped person identification card has been issued to the person designated therein, which shall be displayed in such manner as the director shall determine on the motor vehicle used to transport the handicapped person, when the vehicle is parked overtime or in special parking places established for use by handicapped persons.

    Notwithstanding any provision of this act to the contrary, the chief of police of each municipality in this State shall issue to any person who has temporarily lost the use of one or more limbs or is temporarily disabled as to be unable to ambulate without the aid of an assisting device or whose mobility is otherwise temporarily limited, as certified by a physician with a plenary license to practice medicine and surgery or a podiatrist licensed to practice in this State or a bordering state, or a physician stationed at a military or naval installation located in this State who is licensed to practice in any state, a temporary placard of not more than six months' duration. Each temporary handicapped placard issued under the provisions of this section shall set forth the date on which it shall become invalid.

    The temporary placard shall be granted upon written certification by a physician with a plenary license to practice medicine and surgery or a podiatrist licensed to practice in this State or a bordering state or a physician stationed at a military or naval installation located in this State who is licensed to practice in any state that the person meets the conditions constituting temporary disability as provided in this section. This certification shall be provided on a standard form to be developed by the director in consultation with local chiefs of police and representatives of the handicapped. The form shall contain only those conditions constituting temporary disability as are provided in this section. The physical presence of the handicapped person shall not be required for the issuance of a temporary handicapped placard.

    The placard may be renewed one time at the discretion of the issuing authority for a period of not more than six months' duration. The placard shall be displayed on the motor vehicle used by the temporarily handicapped person and shall give the person the right to park overtime or to use special parking places established for use by handicapped persons in any municipality of this State.

    The fee for the issuance of such temporary or permanent placard issued pursuant to this section shall be $4.00 and payable to the Director of the Division of Motor Vehicles.

    The director may, in addition, issue license plates bearing the national wheelchair symbol for:

    a. Not more than two motor vehicles owned, operated or leased by a handicapped person or by any person furnishing transportation on his behalf; or

    b. Any two motorcycles owned, operated or leased by a handicapped person.

    The fee for the issuance of such plates shall be $10.00 for each vehicle.

(cf: P.L.1993, c.277, s.1)

    3. This act shall take effect on the first day of the third month after enactment.

Permits all licensed physicians at military or naval installations to certify persons with disabilities for handicapped parking privileges.