2006 Minnesota Statutes

169.346 DISABILITY PARKING AREAS; CRITERIA, ENFORCEMENT.
    Subdivision 1. Disability parking space prohibitions. A person shall not:
(1) park a motor vehicle in or obstruct access to a parking space or associated access aisle
designated and reserved for the physically disabled, on either private or public property;
(2) park a motor vehicle in or obstruct access to an area designated by a local governmental
unit as a transfer zone for disabled persons;
(3) alter a certificate;
(4) exercise the parking privilege provided in section 169.345, unless:
(i) that person is a physically disabled person as defined in section 169.345, subdivision 2, or
the person is transporting or parking a motor vehicle for a physically disabled person; and
(ii) the motor vehicle visibly displays one of the following: a disability plate issued under
section 168.021, a certificate issued under section 169.345, a permit valid for 30 days issued
under section 168.021 or 169.345, or an equivalent certificate, insignia, or plate issued by another
state, a foreign country, or one of its political subdivisions; or
(5) park a motor vehicle in an area used as a regular route transit stopping point where a
transit vehicle that is accessible to the physically disabled regularly stops and a sign that bears
the international symbol of access in white on blue is posted. A sign posted under this clause
may display other information relating to the regular route transit service. For purposes of this
clause, an area used as a regular route transit stopping point consists of the 80 feet immediately
preceding the sign described in this clause.
    Subd. 2. Disability parking space signs. (a) Parking spaces reserved for physically disabled
persons must be designated and identified by the posting of signs incorporating the international
symbol of access in white on blue and indicating that violators are subject to a fine of up to
$200. These parking spaces are reserved for disabled persons with motor vehicles displaying the
required certificate, plates, permit valid for 30 days, or insignia.
(b) For purposes of this subdivision, a parking space that is clearly identified as reserved
for physically disabled persons by a permanently posted sign that does not meet all design
standards, is considered designated and reserved for physically disabled persons. A sign posted
for the purpose of this section must be visible from inside a motor vehicle parked in the space,
be kept clear of snow or other obstructions which block its visibility, and be nonmovable or
only movable by authorized persons.
    Subd. 2a. Parking space free of obstruction; penalty. The owner or manager of the
property on which the designated parking space is located shall ensure that the parking space and
associated access aisle are kept free of obstruction. If the owner or manager does not have the
parking space properly posted or allows the parking space or access aisle to be blocked by snow,
merchandise, or similar obstructions for 24 hours after receiving a warning from a peace officer,
the owner or manager is guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a fine of up to $500.
    Subd. 3. Misdemeanor; enforcement. A person who violates subdivision 1 is guilty of a
misdemeanor and must be fined not less than $100 and not more than $200. This subdivision
must be enforced in the same manner as parking ordinances or regulations in the governmental
subdivision in which the violation occurs. Law enforcement officers may tag motor vehicles
parked on either private or public property in violation of subdivision 1. Parking enforcement
employees or agents of statutory or home rule charter cities or towns may tag or otherwise issue
citations for motor vehicles parked on public property in violation of subdivision 1. If a holder
of a disability certificate or disability plates allows a person who is not otherwise eligible to
use the certificate or plates, then the holder is not eligible to be issued or to use a disability
certificate or plates for 12 months after the date of violation. A physically disabled person, or a
person parking a motor vehicle for a disabled person, who is charged with violating subdivision 1
because the person parked in a parking space for physically disabled persons without the required
certificate, license plates, or permit must not be convicted if the person produces in court or
before the court appearance the required certificate, permit, or evidence that the person has been
issued plates under section 168.021, and demonstrates entitlement to the certificate, plates, or
permit at the time of arrest or tagging.
    Subd. 4. Local ordinance; citizen enforcement program. A statutory or home rule charter
city may, by ordinance, establish a program to enforce the parking restrictions of this section or
any similar local ordinance, relating to parking spaces for the physically disabled, by using
citizen volunteers to issue citations to violators. The ordinance shall contain a process for training
program participants in the requirements of the law, the method of issuing citations, and other
related matters. Program participants who satisfy the training requirements of the ordinance are
authorized to issue citations for violations of this section and are exempt from any other training
or licensure requirements imposed on law enforcement officers by chapter 626.
    Subd. 5. Local ordinance; long-term parking. A statutory or home rule charter city may
enact an ordinance establishing a permit program for long-term parking.
History: 1977 c 205 s 1; 1979 c 31 s 3; 1979 c 277 s 5-7; 1983 c 24 s 1; 1986 c 444; 1987 c
355 s 8; 1990 c 482 s 2; 1990 c 497 s 12; 1991 c 301 s 5,6; 1992 c 424 s 1; 1993 c 83 s 3; 1993 c
98 s 6-8; 1993 c 130 s 1; 1994 c 495 s 1; 1999 c 238 art 2 s 19,20; 2005 c 64 s 8-11