SERVICELINK Resource Center of BELKNAP COUNTY
August 2, 2010
Information and Referral on Aging, Chronic Illness and Disability
ServiceLink of Belknap County, 67 Water St, Suite 105; Laconia, NH 03246
ServiceLink is sponsored by the Lakes Region Partnership for Public Health, many other community agencies, and citizens of Belknap County, and is funded through a grant by the Bureau of Elderly and Adult Services.
Dear Nancy,
My dad is 89. He uses oxygen 24/7, which means that every time I take him out, he has to bring along a portable tank—sometimes two if I think there is a chance we may be out longer than planned. He does not go out a lot anymore, but he does like to occasionally go to the grocery store and he does have at least one doctor’s appointment every month or so. He can walk ok, but walking any distance is becoming more and more difficult—especially since he has to pull the oxygen cart as well. I was wondering how I can get a handicapped plate for my car so that we can take advantage of parking spaces closer to the entrance of a building. Will you please point me in the right direction? Matthew
Dear Matthew,
According to the New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles website, because your dad is uses portable oxygen, he is considered eligible for a Disabled Person placard, which you can hang from your rearview mirror while parking in a handicapped spot.
In New Hampshire, drivers must be certified by licensed health personnel to have impaired mobility (or a condition that significantly interferes with mobility) in order to qualify for “Disability” status. According to the Governor’s Commission on Disability, a person is considered disabled is he or she:
•Cannot walk without the use of: (or receiving assistance from) a brace, cane, crutch, another person, prosthetic device, wheelchair or other assistance device.
•Is restricted by lung disease (There is a specific guidelines that must be met in order to qualify under this category)
•Uses portable oxygen, as in your dad’s case
•Has a heart condition that limits the person’s ability to function according to standards set by the American Heart Association
•Is severely limited in the ability to walk due to an arthritic, neurological, orthopedic or other medically disabling condition
Disabled persons can obtain a placard or license plates, which allows them to park in handicapped parking spots whenever they are the driver or the passenger in the vehicle. In your dad’s case, since he does not own a vehicle, he would be issued a placard to hang from the rearview mirror when the car is parked in a handicapped parking spot. This will allow him to ride in any vehicle—not just yours. The placard should be removed from the rearview mirror when the vehicle is moving. There is no cost for a placard. They are valid for five years—but a new one will be automatically mailed to your dad when it is time for renewal. Make sure the Division of Motor Vehicles is aware of any name or address changes.
If a person has a disability that is not permanent, they may be eligible for a temporary placard which is valid for up to six months. They are red with white letters. They are also free of charge.
Permanent Disabled Person license plates cost $8; special vanity plates cost $33.
To apply for a Disabled Person license plate or placard you can download and complete the Application for Walking Disability Privileges from this link: http://www.nh.gov/safety/divisions/dmv/forms/rdmv130.pdf . (Or call 271-2275 and request one be mailed to you.) Then have your physician sign the medical certification portion of the form. If you own your own vehicle, you must provide the current registration card in you r name or documents that prove the vehicle is registered in your name, as well as any registration fees that may be due on the vehicle. You must also surrender your current license plates. Mail the completed form, along with any applicable fees, to the address on the form. You may also obtain either the plates or the placard by taking the completed from to a local Division of Motor Vehicle office. You will receive your plates or placard within about two weeks. You will also receive an authorization form verifying your eligibility for the plates or placard, which you must carry with you when in the vehicle and present upon request to law enforcement officers or other authorized persons.
Please remember that any misuse of abuse of a placard or disability license plate is a misdemeanor. Offenders can get fines of up to $250 and/or imprisonment in county jail!
Hope this is helpful, Matthew! Please let me know if I can be of further assistance to you or your dad in any way! Nancy
