Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-253a
(a) For the purposes of this section:
(2) “Removable windshield placard” means a two-sided, hanger-style placard which bears on both of its sides:
(b) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall accept applications and renewal applications for removable windshield placards from (1) any person who is blind, as defined in section 1-1f; (2) any person with disabilities; (3) any parent or guardian of any person who is blind or any person with disabilities, if such person is under eighteen years of age at the time of application; (4) any parent or guardian of any person who is blind or any person with disabilities, if such person is unable to request or complete an application; and (5) any organization which meets criteria established by the commissioner and which certifies to the commissioner's satisfaction that the vehicle for which a placard is requested is primarily used to transport persons who are blind or persons with disabilities. Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, on and after October 1, 2011, the commissioner shall not accept applications for special license plates, but shall accept renewal applications for such plates that were issued prior to October 1, 2011. No person shall be issued a placard in accordance with this section unless such person is the holder of a valid motor vehicle operator's license, or identification card issued in accordance with the provisions of section 1-1h. The commissioner may adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, for the issuance of placards to persons who, by reason of hardship, do not hold or cannot obtain an operator's license or identification card. The commissioner shall maintain a record of each placard issued to any such person. Such applications and renewal applications shall be on a form prescribed by the commissioner. The application and renewal application shall include:
(d)
(g) The Office of the State Traffic Administration, on any state highway, or local traffic authority, on any highway or street under its control, shall establish parking spaces in parking areas for twenty or more cars in which parking shall be prohibited to all motor vehicles except vehicles displaying a special license plate or a placard issued pursuant to this section. Parking spaces in which parking shall be prohibited to all motor vehicles except vehicles displaying such special plate or placard shall be established in private parking areas for two hundred or more cars according to the following schedule:
| Total Number of Parking Lot Spaces | Number of Special Parking Spaces Required |
| 0 – 200 | Exempt |
| 201 – 1000 | 1.0% |
| 1001 – 2000 | 10 plus 0.8% of spaces |
| over 1000 | |
| 2001 – 3000 | 18 plus 0.6% of spaces |
| over 2000 | |
| 3001 – 4000 | 24 plus 0.4% of spaces |
| over 3000 | |
| 4001 or more | 28 plus 0.2% of spaces |
| over 4000 |
All such spaces shall be designated as reserved for exclusive use by persons who are blind and persons with disabilities and identified by the use of signs in accordance with subsection (h) of this section. Such parking spaces shall be adjacent to curb cuts or other unobstructed methods permitting sidewalk access to a person who is blind or a person with disabilities and shall be fifteen feet wide, including three feet of cross hatch, or be parallel to a sidewalk. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply (1) in the event the State Building Code imposes more stringent requirements as to the size of the private parking area in which special parking spaces are required or as to the number of special parking spaces required, or (2) in the event a municipal ordinance imposes more stringent requirements as to the size of existing private parking areas in which special parking spaces are required or as to the number of special parking spaces required.
(l)
See Sec. 14-325b re refueling privileges for handicapped persons.
(P.A. 76-427, S. 1–3; P.A. 77-366, S. 1, 2; P.A. 79-144; P.A. 80-367, S. 1–3; 80-466, S. 23, 25; P.A. 81-172, S. 14; P.A. 82-420, S. 1, 4; P.A. 83-412, S. 2, 5; P.A. 84-377, S. 1, 4; 84-546, S. 44, 173; P.A. 85-206; P.A. 86-103; 86-388, S. 27, 31; P.A. 87-304, S. 3; P.A. 88-32, S. 1, 2; P.A. 89-74, S. 2; P.A. 90-300, S. 1, 2, 8; P.A. 94-189, S. 16; P.A. 95-325, S. 12, 16; P.A. 99-268, S. 24, 25, 34, 44; P.A. 00-169, S. 18, 19, 22, 34, 36; P.A. 02-70, S. 55; P.A. 04-199, S. 19; 04-237, S. 1; P.A. 06-130, S. 14; P.A. 07-52, S. 1; P.A. 08-184, S. 14; P.A. 09-11, S. 1; 09-187, S. 37; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7, S. 105; P.A. 10-110, S. 24; P.A. 11-44, S. 45; 11-213, S. 39; P.A. 12-132, S. 22; June 12 Sp. Sess. P.A. 12-1, S. 64; P.A. 13-282, S. 3; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 15-5, S. 224; P.A. 16-78, S. 3–5; P.A. 17-79, S. 23; 17-230, S. 4; P.A. 19-119, S. 11, 12; 19-157, S. 37; 19-161, S. 37; P.A. 21-106, S. 36; P.A. 23-40, S. 33–35; P.A. 24-20, S. 43.)
History: P.A. 77-366 included reference to vehicles with special license plates in Subsec. (c) and clarified parking permission for vehicles with special plates in Subsec. (e); P.A. 79-144 greatly expanded provisions, revising Subsec. (a), inserting new Subsec. (b), revising former Subsec. (b) and redesignating it as (c), inserting new Subsec. (d), revising former Subsec. (c) and redesignating it as (e), deleting former Subsecs. (d) and (e), inserting new Subsecs. (f) to (i), replacing former provision for $99 maximum fine with statement that violation is an infraction in former Subsec. (f) and redesignating it as Subsec. (j); P.A. 80-367 amended Subsec. (c) to delete reference to plates in provision re display and to add provision prohibiting use of plate for special parking privileges when car not conveying handicapped person and amended Subsec. (e) to add provisions re parking spaces in parking areas for two hundred or more cars; P.A. 80-466 replaced references to set of plates in Subsec. (b) with reference to single plate; P.A. 81-172 amended Subsec. (a) by providing for a five-year, rather than one-year validity period for a special parking identification card; P.A. 82-420 allowed nonprofit organizations that transport handicapped persons to obtain special parking identification cards; P.A. 83-412 deleted all references to nonprofit organizations which transport handicapped persons, thereby eliminating their parking privileges, provided for the phase-out of the special “HP” license plate and its replacement by a special international symbol of access license plate and provided that the provisions of Subsec. (e) are not applicable where an ordinance or state building code specifies more stringent requirements re size of parking area or number of special parking spaces; P.A. 84-377 amended Subsec. (a) to provide for a fee of $2 for the original issuance and renewal of special parking identification cards, a period of validity of two, rather than five, years for such cards and different colors for renewal cards, specific information in the physician's certification of impairment of ability to walk, authorization for commissioner to require additional certification, submission of notarized statement or personal appearance by applicant to request identification and issuance of temporary special parking identification cards, amended Subsec. (b) to provide that special license plates may bear letters or any combination of numerals or letters and that identification issued be returned upon death or change in legal residence to another state, amended Subsec. (d) to provide for towing of vehicles parked in violation of Subsec. (d) for third or subsequent time and impounding of such vehicles, amended Subsec. (f) to require a warning and the international symbol of access in above grade signs, and amended Subsec. (g) to insert new language re required vertical clearance for parking garages or terminals constructed on and after October 1, 1985, relettering remaining Subsecs. accordingly; P.A. 84-546 made technical change in Subsec. (j); P.A. 85-206 amended Subsec. (g), requiring that parking spaces in garages or terminals conform with the requirements of Subsec. (f); P.A. 86-103 permitted the issuance of special parking identification cards to blind persons and permitted the issuance of special license plates to handicapped persons who own motorcycles; P.A. 86-388 amended Subsecs. (a) to (c), inclusive, substituting “number” plate for license plate and including reference to issuance of a set of plates in accordance with provisions of Sec. 14-21b(a); P.A. 87-304 amended Subsec. (b) to increase fee for issuance of special number plate from $5 to $10 and exempt any handicapped person who transfers an unexpired registration and replaces number plate with special plate from payment of fees for transfer or replacement; P.A. 88-32 amended Subsec. (a) to require M.D. certification of blindness or “permanent” impairment of ability to walk only at time of original application and amended Subsec. (k) to require that the fine for violation of Subsec. (d) be a minimum of $85; P.A. 89-74 amended Subsec. (a) to permit optometrists to certify blindness at the time of original application and to delete requirement that permanent impairment of walking ability be certified at time original application is made; P.A. 90-300 amended Subsec. (e) to add two subdivision designations in the last sentence re exceptions and to insert new language as Subdiv. (2) “in the event a municipal ordinance imposes more stringent requirements as to the size of existing private parking areas ...” and amended Subsec. (g) to insert “public” before “parking garage or terminal” and “as defined in the state building code” thereafter, to require that vertical clearance be provided at a primary entrance and to add language concerning an exemption granted pursuant to Sec. 29-269(b); P.A. 94-189 substantially revised provisions of section deleting former Subsecs. (a), (b), (c) and (j) re special parking identification cards and license plates with new provisions, relettering former Subsecs. (d), (e), (f), (g), (h), (i) and (k) accordingly and making technical changes; P.A. 95-325 amended Subsec. (f) to specify when ambulances transporting patients may park in reserved area, effective July 13, 1995; P.A. 99-268 amended Subsec. (b) by allowing the commissioner to accept discharge papers of a disabled veteran for establishing that such veteran meets the definition of a person with disabilities which limit or impair the ability to walk, amended Subsec. (e) to revise provisions re parking without penalty in legally permissible parking areas for unlimited periods of time, notwithstanding periods indicated by parking meters or signs, and amended Subsec. (h) by increasing designated parking space size from 15 feet wide, including 3 feet of cross hatch, to 16 feet wide, including 7 feet of cross hatch, and by requiring parking space signs to indicate the minimum fine for a violation of Subsec. (f); P.A. 00-169 amended Subsec. (a)(2) by removing provision stating a placard is valid for a period of five years from the date of issuance, Subsec. (b) by deleting reference to the $5 fee re applications and renewal applications for special license plates and removable windshield placards, and by adding a provision requiring a $5 fee for temporary removable windshield placard, effective October 1, 2000, and Subsec. (h) by changing parking space size requirements from “sixteen feet wide including seven feet of cross hatch” to “fifteen feet wide including three feet of cross hatch”, effective June 1, 2000, and revised effective date of P.A. 99-268 but without affecting this section; P.A. 02-70 amended Subsec. (b) to make a technical change, effective July 1, 2002; P.A. 04-199 amended Subsec. (b) to permit advanced practice registered nurse to certify disabilities which limit or impair ability to walk re applications for special license plates and removable windshield placards and to certify that such disabilities meet definition under federal law, effective July 1, 2004; P.A. 04-237 amended Subsec. (h) to insert “and prior to October 1, 2004,” and to add requirements re parking spaces for passenger motor vehicles and passenger vans designated for the handicapped, and amended Subsec. (i) to make a technical change, to provide that requirement re 9 feet 6 inches' vertical clearance for public parking garages or terminals apply to those constructed under a building permit application filed on or after October 1, 1985, and prior to October 1, 2004, and to add 8 feet 2 inches vertical clearance requirements for public parking garages or terminals constructed under a building permit application filed on or after October 1, 2004; P.A. 06-130 amended Subsec. (b) to provide that commissioner is not required to issue more than one placard per applicant, amended Subsec. (d) by removing requirement that commissioner issue an additional placard to an applicant who has no special license plates and made a technical change in Subsec. (l), effective June 2, 2006; P.A. 07-52 amended Subsec. (l) by replacing infraction and minimum fine provisions with a fine of $150 for a first violation and a fine of $250 for a subsequent violation; P.A. 08-184 amended Subsec. (b) by adding “physician's assistant” to health care providers who may issue certification of disability; P.A. 09-11 made a technical change in Subsec. (b); P.A. 09-187 added Subsec. (a)(4) to define “persons with disabilities”, amended Subsec. (b) to add provision re applications from parent or guardian if person is unable to request or complete application, establish requirements for issuance of placards on and after January 1, 2010, add requirement re record, replace former certification language with provision re certification of legal blindness from board, and limit issuance to 1 placard per applicant, amended Subsec. (c) to limit issuance of plates to 2 vehicles per person, added new Subsecs. (m) to (o) re issuance, renewal and cancellation of placards, redesignated existing Subsec. (m) as Subsec. (p), changed “removable windshield placard” to “placard”, “blind persons” to “persons who are blind” and “handicapped person” to “person with disabilities” throughout, and made conforming and technical changes, effective July 8, 2009; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7 amended Subsec. (b) by authorizing certification of disability from a physician's assistant or advanced practice registered nurse, effective October 5, 2009; P.A. 10-110 amended Subsec. (a)(4) to revise reference to 23 CFR by replacing “Part” with “Section” and amended Subsec. (b) to restate application and renewal application process for persons with disabilities and persons with blindness and to provide that any person who makes a required certification shall sign application under penalty of false statement, effective June 5, 2010; P.A. 11-44 amended Subsec. (b) by replacing “Board of Education and Services for the Blind” with “Bureau of Rehabilitative Services” and replacing “commissioner” with “Commissioner of Motor Vehicles”, effective July 1, 2011 (Revisor's note: In Subsec. (b), a reference to “handicapped driver training unit” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “driver training unit for persons with disabilities” to conform with changes made by P.A. 11-44, S. 46); P.A. 11-213 amended Subsec. (b) to authorize renewal of special plates issued prior to October 1, 2011, prohibit issuance of new special plates for motor vehicles on and after October 1, 2011, and make conforming changes, and amended Subsec. (c) to replace “motor vehicle” with “motorcycle”, authorize issuance and renewal of windshield placards and special plates for motorcycles, and make conforming and technical changes; P.A. 12-132 amended Subsec. (g) by replacing “State Traffic Commission” with “Office of the State Traffic Administration”, effective July 1, 2012; June 12 Sp. Sess. P.A. 12-1 amended Subsec. (b) by replacing “Bureau of Rehabilitative Services” with “Department of Rehabilitation Services”, effective July 1, 2012; P.A. 13-282 amended Subsec. (f) to add provision re municipal police officer who observes violation to issue written warning or summons; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 15-5 amended Subsec. (l) by designating existing provisions as Subdiv. (1) and adding Subdiv. (2) re dumping snow in a special parking space; P.A. 16-78 amended Subsec. (a) by adding Subdiv. (5) defining “symbol of access”, amended Subsecs. (a) and (c) by replacing “international symbol of access” and “international access symbol” with “symbol of access” and amended Subsec. (h) by adding provisions re requirements for parking space sign replaced, repaired or erected on and after January 1, 2017, effective January 1, 2017; P.A. 17-79 amended Subsec. (b) by deleting former Subpara. (A) re certification that applicant is disabled, redesignating existing Subpara. (B) re certification that applicant meets the definition of a person with a disability which limits or impairs ability to walk as Subpara. (A), and adding new Subpara. (B) re veteran with post-traumatic stress disorder and who meets definition of person with a disability, effective June 27, 2017; P.A. 17-230 amended Subsec. (h) by replacing “2004” with “2017”, adding “or parallel to a sidewalk on a public highway”, deleting reference to January 1, 2017, and making technical changes; P.A. 19-119 amended Subsec. (e) to add “or the cross hatch abutting such spaces”, amended Subsec. (f) to designate existing provision re parking in reserved public or private areas as Subdiv. (1), add Subdiv. (2) re use of cross hatch and make technical and conforming changes, amended Subsec. (l)(1) and (2) to increase fine for first violation from $150 to $250 and increase fine for subsequent violation from $250 to $500; P.A. 19-157 amended Subsec. (b) by replacing “Department of Rehabilitation Services” with “Department of Aging and Disability Services”; P.A. 19-161 amended Subsec. (b) to add provision re issuance of placard to applicant who is parent or guardian of person who is blind or person with disabilities and such person is under 18 years of age; P.A. 21-106 amended Subsec. (b) to remove “if such person is under eighteen at the time of application” re issuance of placard to applicant who is parent or guardian of person who is blind or person with disabilities; P.A. 23-40 amended Subsec. (a) by redefining “removable windshield placard”, amended Subsec. (d) by designating existing provision as Subdiv. (1) and adding Subdiv. (2) re content of placard issued on and after October 1, 2023, and re validity of placard issued prior to October 1, 2023, and amended Subsec. (o) by increasing check of state registration of deaths from periodically to monthly; P.A. 24-20 amended Subsec. (a) to add Subdiv. (6) to define “health care professional” and made a technical change and amended Subsec. (b) to add provision re certification issued by health care professional to be based upon assessment of medical history and current medical condition, replace “physician assistant” with “licensed physician assistant” in Subdiv. (5)(A) and made technical changes.