Heads up Texans, especially those parking in the handicap spots. There's a new law that goes into effect September 1 that addresses who and who can't park in a handicap spot.

September Brings Change

Turns out that not everybody that can park in a handicap accessible spot needs to. In fact, there are plenty of people who don't need to, but do anyway. It's become such a problem that starting September 1st, things will change for the better.

Got a Doctor's Note?

According to the DAV Department of Texas website, essentially the new law will require those with Texas Disabled Veteran license plates to hang their ADA placard in their vehicle to be able to park in ADA parking spaces.

Also, starting Dec 1, 2021 the DMV will require every recipient to get the ADA placard application signed by their doctors. The Department of Motor Vehicles will no longer issue it automatically.

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If You Don't Need to Park There, Don't Park There

The problem is that many people with the DV plates are parking in these spots even if they really don't need to. Anne Robinson, a disabled veteran, tells News 4 San Antonio"If you’re borrowing your parent’s car that has DV plates or a placard or something you don’t intend to cause any harm or do something to somebody but parking there just for a couple of minutes it really affects a whole lot of folks so we ask that you honor those spots and leave it for those of us who need them.”

The new law that Gov. Abbott signed will require anyone who parks in a handicap spot to have the handicap symbol on a placard that hangs from the rearview mirror or have the symbol on their license plate.

Keeping It Simple

Robinson says getting the new placard should be pretty easy, “It’ll be very simple. All you have to do is get the form, have your physician fill it out and just take it right up. If you qualify for it there’s no extra stuff to do. We just want to ensure that those parking spots are there for those who need them and save them for those who might need them in the future.”

The new law will go into effect September 1, 2021 and will help assure that the mobility impaired folks that need these spaces can get them. As it should be.

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