§ 16-135. Handicapped parking.

(a)

Identification required. It shall be prohibited to park any motor vehicle which is not bearing registration plates or decals issued to a handicapped person, as defined by chapter 9½, section 1-159.1, pursuant to chapter 95½, sections 3-616, 11-1301.1 or 11-1301.2, or to a disabled veteran, pursuant to chapter 95½, section 3-609, as evidence that the vehicle is operated by or for a handicapped person or disabled veteran, in any parking place, including any private or public off-street parking facility, specifically reserved by the posting of an official sign as designated under chapter 95½, section 11-301 for motor vehicles bearing such registration plates. Any motor vehicle bearing a handicapped license plate or a handicapped parking decal or device containing the international symbol of access issued to handicapped persons by any local authority, state, district, territory or foreign country shall be recognized by state and local authorities as a valid license plate or device and receive the same parking privileges as residents of this state.

(b)

Authority to remove violators. Any person owning or operating any public or private off-street parking facility may, after notifying the city police department, remove or cause to be removed to the nearest garage or other place of safety any vehicle parked within a stall or space reserved for use by the handicapped which does not display handicapped registration plates or a special decal or device as required under this section.

(c)

General fine. Except as provided in paragraph (d) of this section, any person found guilty of violating the provisions of this section shall be fined one hundred dollars ($100.00) in addition to any costs or charges connected with the removal or storage of any motor vehicle authorized under this section.

(d)

Notice; payment of fine in satisfaction of violation. Each police officer shall attach to any vehicle parking in violation of this article a notice that such vehicle has been so illegally parked and instruct the operator to report to the city police department in regard to such violations. Each such person may, within twenty-four (24) hours of the time when such notice was attached to such vehicle, pay as a penalty for and in full satisfaction of such violation the sum of fifty dollars ($50.00) and within forty-eight (48) hours the sum of seventy-five dollars ($75.00). The failure of such person to make such payment within forty-eight (48) hours shall render such person subject to the penalties herein provided in paragraph (c) of this section for the violations of the provisions of this article.

(Ord. No. 1-91, § 11, 1-15-91)