Disability Parking Enforcement
Jackson County Sheriff’s Office has a Disability Parking Enforcement program under ORS 811.632, which allows volunteers to be trained and write handicap parking violation citations. A renewable, temporary, or family disabled person parking permit allows the holder, or another person transporting the holder, to park in a disabled parking space, with the exception of the wheelchair user spaces. A wheelchair placard allows the holder or driver to park in spaces marked for wheelchair use. Wheelchair placards have a medium blue background, display the words “Wheelchair User” on the lower portion of the permit, and a large white "W" in the upper right-hand corner.
Family program placards are dark blue, and regular disabled person parking permits are medium blue without the wheelchair notations. The family program and program placards (for use as a part of program for transporting persons with disabilities, such as an adult foster home) are valid for eight years. The temporary placard is valid for the length of time the physician deems necessary, not to exceed 6 months. An individual disabled person parking permit must be renewed when the license or ID card is renewed, and a certificate of disability must be submitted each time the permit is renewed.
Disabled Veteran plates do not allow parking in disabled person parking spaces. These plates honor the sacrifices made by veterans. Oregon recognizes disabled person parking permits issued by other states. Permits that were held by a deceased person should be returned to DMV immediately.
The following violations apply whether the vehicle is parked on private or public property:
No valid placard or placard not displayed. It is unlawful for a person without a permit to park in space reserved for persons with disabilities: ORS 811.615. A first offense is a Class C fine of $165, and second and subsequent offenses are a Class A fine of $440. The statute also provides that the vehicle must “conspicuously display” the parking permit: ORS 811.615(1)(a). If the volunteer enforcement officer cannot clearly see the permit number at the top, the punched expiration month and year on both sides, and the expiration date written at the bottom, a citation will be written. A citation can also be written if a person parks on the cross hatched or striped white lines designating the access aisle for wheel chairs, walkers, van lifts, etc., even if there is a valid permit displayed: ORS 811.615(1)(b). If the volunteer enforcement officer does not witness the person parking or driving the vehicle, the citation will be written to the registered owner of the vehicle: ORS 811.615(3). The presumption that the registered owner was driving can be rebutted in court.
Invalid or altered placard. It is Class A $440 fine violation to use an altered, stolen, illegible or mutilated placard; or one issued to a person who is deceased at the time of the citation; or a photocopy of valid permit: ORS 811.627. Permits that were held by a deceased person should be returned to DMV; mutilated, illegible, and broken permits should be replaced; and expiration dates cannot be altered for any reason. It is a violation for a person who does not have a disability, or who is not transporting the holder of a disabled person parking permit, to use a disabled person parking permit: ORS 811.625. A first offense is a Class C fine of $165, and second and subsequent offenses are a Class A fine of $440.
