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Maryland driving lesson · Restrictions & Penalties

Disability parking spaces, plates & placards

A 2-minute lesson from the Maryland course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.

Read time
2 minutes
Course unit
Restrictions & Penalties
Checkpoint questions
6
Source pages
49, 50

Disability parking spaces, access aisles and curb cuts exist so people with disabilities can get in and out of vehicles. Misusing them brings big fines, and some spots are off-limits even with a placard.

Accessible facility
International symbol of access

Know the rule

You may park in a disability space only with an MVA-issued disability plate or placard, and only when the person who qualified for it is the driver or a passenger.

Handbook p. 49 ↗

Citations may be issued for:

  • Parking in a disability space without the plate/placard and qualifying person present
  • Parking in front of or blocking any part of a curb cut, even with a plate or placard
  • Parking on any part of an access aisle, even with a plate or placard
  • Using a placard after its expiration date
  • Using a plate/placard without the person with the disability and proper ID
  • Any fraud or misrepresentation when applying for a plate or placard
Handbook p. 49 ↗

Access aisle

The area next to a disability parking space that people in wheelchairs or other mobility devices use to get in and out of their vehicle.

Handbook p. 50 ↗

Know the rule

A valid disability plate or placard never allows parking on an access aisle or blocking a curb cut.

Handbook p. 49 ↗

Know the rule

You can receive big fines for illegally using disability parking spaces, plates and placards.

Handbook p. 49 ↗

Put it into practice

You're driving your grandmother's car, which has a disability placard, but she's at home. You may not park in a disability space. The qualifying person must be the driver or a passenger.

Check your understanding

Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.

When can you legally park in a disability parking space?
  1. Anytime the space is empty
  2. If you park for less than 10 minutes
  3. If you display any handicap symbol
  4. When you have a disability plate/placard and the qualified person is in the vehicle

Answer: When you have a disability plate/placard and the qualified person is in the vehicle

You may only park in a disability space if you have a disability plate or placard and the qualified person is the driver or a passenger.

Handbook p. 49 ↗
Can you park in front of a curb cut even with a valid disability placard?
  1. No, it's a violation even with a placard
  2. Yes, as long as you display a valid placard
  3. Yes, if no wheelchair users are nearby
  4. Yes, for stops under five minutes

Answer: No, it's a violation even with a placard

Parking in front of or blocking any part of a curb cut is a violation even if you have a valid disability plate or placard.

Handbook p. 49 ↗
What is an access aisle next to a disability parking space used for?
  1. Extra parking for compact cars
  2. Wheelchair users getting in or out
  3. A fire lane for emergency vehicles
  4. A pedestrian crosswalk

Answer: Wheelchair users getting in or out

An access aisle is the space next to a disability parking spot used by people in wheelchairs or mobility devices to enter and exit vehicles.

Handbook p. 50 ↗
Is it legal to use a disability placard after its expiration date?
  1. Yes, for up to 30 days after expiration
  2. Yes, as long as it's renewed within a year
  3. No, it's a citable violation
  4. Yes, if the vehicle owner has any disability

Answer: No, it's a citable violation

Using a disability placard after its expiration date is listed as a citable violation.

Handbook p. 50 ↗
You can be cited for parking on any part of an access aisle, even with a valid disability plate.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: True

Parking on an access aisle next to a disability space is a violation, even with a valid plate or placard.

Handbook p. 50 ↗
Using a disability license plate or placard without proper identification and without the qualified person present is legal.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: False

Using a disability plate or placard without the qualified person present and proper identification is a citable violation.

Handbook p. 50 ↗
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