Tuesday, June 19, 2012

South Carolina Veterans Administration Handicapped Parking Rules

By Audrey Brown

Disabled veterans and certain surviving spouses living in South Carolina can receive special license plates and placards from the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles allowing them to park in marked handicapped spots. To park legally in a handicapped zone, the disabled person must be riding in or driving the vehicle.

Disabled veterans can receive a free, permanent Handicapped Disabled Veteran license plate. Along with a DMV application, the veteran must submit a form from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs certifying that he was totally and permanently disabled as a result of war, has lost the use of one or both legs or arms, or is virtually blind. He must also submit a prescription order with an original signature from his doctor. Each veteran can apply for two license plates for vehicles, two for motorcycles, or one of each. A surviving spouse who has been certified as disabled by her doctor can also receive a handicapped disabled veteran plate, unless she remarries.

South Carolina veterans who are Purple Heart recipients can receive South Carolina Purple Heart Disabled license plates. In addition to the DMV application, the veteran must submit a signed prescription order from his doctor certifying he is permanently disabled, as well as a letter from the Veterans Administration proving he is a Purple Heart recipient. The veteran can receive two license plates for vehicles, two for motorcycles, or one of each. There is no fee for Purple Heart plates, and they're available by mail only.

The applicant's doctor must complete a Physician's Statement at the bottom of the DMV application. Here the doctor must certify that the veteran or spouse can't walk 100 feet without stopping; must use a brace, crane, crutch, prosthetic device or wheelchair to get around; is restricted by lung disease; uses portable oxygen; has a severe, limiting heart condition; is hindered from walking due to an arthritic, neurological or orthopedic condition; or is blind.

Each disabled veteran and his disabled spouse may also buy one disabled veterans' placard to hang on a rear-view mirror. Each placard is valid for four years and costs $1. As of Jan. 1, 2010, any placard issued by the DMV must contain a photo of the person using the placard. Older placards that don't have a photo can be used until Dec. 31, 2012 or until they expire. After that, the veteran or spouse must submit a new application and doctor's statement to receive a new disabled photo placard.

Any veteran or surviving spouse who receives a disabled license plate or placard must also carry a registration certificate issued by the DMV. The certificate lists the names of all eligible disabled people from that household who are allowed to drive or ride in the vehicle. Drivers who park in a handicapped spot without this certificate are subject to citation.


http://www.lenderva.com

No comments:

Post a Comment