Parking placard won't come in time...

[Pooh2]

Sadly, not every state is so Handicapped Placard-friendly. In Oklahoma (where the wind does indeed come sweeping down the plains, but nothing else moves quickly) it can take 4 to 6 weeks to get your new parking placard. Your doctor must complete the paperwork, and then you send it in with the required fee, and then you wait... I put a reminder in my calendar 3 months prior to my card expiring (to add insult to injury, we have to renew every 5 years) to allow enough time.

They charge you a fee for having a walking disability??!! Yikes!!
We did get charged $4 getting a replacement after losing it on vacation but the initial placard is no charge.

 

[DisneyOma]

My doctor fills it out, signs it. I take that paperwork to the DMV with ID and pick up my placard.

What review would you want? Keeping in mind that the person that needs the placard is without it until the process is complete.

My guess is that the DMV would call the office to confirm that the paperwork is valid. It's pretty easy to create/fake that kind of stuff. Lots of disability fraud out there.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Yeah I was thinking if you can get your doctor to give you the paperwork filled out you can take that and probably get your placard the same day.

My mom has a handicap placard (and plate) and all we had to do for hers was get her doctor to fill out the form, have it notarized (they did that at the hospital her doctors office is in) and then we just took that form to the tag office and they issued the placard and plate we did that all in one day, there was no wait time.

I'm sure it's different in other areas, but I'd certainly look into the process and find out if there's a way for you to speed things up, five weeks should be more than enough time I think.

Yup, that's exactly what we did also. However, here in Texas, there's no identifier on the placard to prove it's mine. My mother, in Massachusetts, has her photo on the placard for instance. There's just a number on the placard, and Texas records would indicate that it's for me. But what about Florida?

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

My guess is that the DMV would call the office to confirm that the paperwork is valid. It's pretty easy to create/fake that kind of stuff. Lots of disability fraud out there.

You can hardly get any time with the doctor yourself, but you expect him or her to answer questions about whether or not he signed a piece of paper?

Our state may call. But it is after the fact. And they can't verify that the paperwork is valid. At least not with my doctor. His office didn't know that he filled it out. I brought the blank paperwork in, he filled it out, and I took it with me. There is no record of him doing it. In fact, I've had a number of placards. And they have never been completed by the office. It has always been directly with the doctor.

 

[BabyFu18]

Yup, that's exactly what we did also. However, here in Texas, there's no identifier on the placard to prove it's mine. My mother, in Massachusetts, has her photo on the placard for instance. There's just a number on the placard, and Texas records would indicate that it's for me. But what about Florida?

Not sure about FL but in GA there are no pictures on the placards, they have the persons name on them and a issued number (which is I guess a way for it to be attached to a certain person as well) and an expiration date (4 years for a permanent placard), there is no fee associated with a placard (temporary or permanent).

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

Not sure about FL but in GA there are no pictures on the placards, they have the persons name on them and a issued number (which is I guess a way for it to be attached to a certain person as well) and an expiration date (4 years for a permanent placard), there is no fees associated with a placard (temporary or permanent).

It is the same here in Alabama.

 

[mamabunny]

Yep - there is a fee in Oklahoma. It's not too bad - I think it was under $15 last time? but it is all part of the "fun" of getting your placard here. I think it may help deter people who don't really need one (they *want* one, but don't need one) and it's also because my state still has not learned how to diversify it's industries, so cheap gas at the pump means silly little fees and taxes on *everything* here LOL

Oklahoma uses a plastic hangtag that has a column for the month of expiration on one side, and the year of expiration on the other. They use a hole punch to indicate when the tag expires by punching out the year and month. Ours have a serialized number assigned to them and that number is in a large, bold font so that the number can be checked by law enforcement to help prevent fraud. There is no name or picture on the placard itself, although your name is visible in the State's database of currently "active" placards

Oklahoma also has an option for Handicapped plates, but the last few years they have limited those while they revamped the application process. Those cost the same as a standard license plate, but come with the additional "bonus" of extra paperwork and a lengthy wait for your renewed plate every year. They aren't very popular for that reason...

As another person stated here, my doctor doesn't keep a copy of the form he fills out for my placard. (I keep one, just in case there is any question, but I am a packrat by nature so...) He does note it in my medical records that he signed it on X day, but that's it.

It's interesting to see the differences in how the states handle something that I had always assumed was the same everywhere. I'm truly envious of the folks who can walk in to the DMV to get their placard!

 

[camper06]

We live in central NY. To get my husband's placard, the doctor filled out his portion of the form, my DH filled out the rest and we took it to city hall to get the placard. We were told that only if you are getting the license plates would you have to go to DMV and it does take longer. The placard has the date it expires and the last three numbers of his drivers license number on it.

 

[ammag]

Interesting about the NY state one....we also have a NYC card which is confusing to me. I might just take this to my cardiologist as she's much more responsible/ responsive.

 

[SueM in MN]

Interesting about the NY state one....we also have a NYC card which is confusing to me. I might just take this to my cardiologist as she's much more responsible/ responsive.

From what I have read, NYC has separate handicapped parking permits and rules because of the difficulties with parking in the city.
So, someone could have an NYC permit, but not a New York State one or vice versa.

Not sure about FL but in GA there are no pictures on the placards, they have the persons name on them and a issued number (which is I guess a way for it to be attached to a certain person as well) and an expiration date (4 years for a permanent placard), there is no fee associated with a placard (temporary or permanent).

What is similar from state to state is the health requirements to obtain a handicapped permit, the period of time for temporary and for permanent.
All states also agreed to include certain elements on the handicapped permits. That included things like color for temporary and permanent, expiration date and a way to positively identify the person the permit was issued to.

I don't know what Wisconsin has now, but my daughter got her first handicapped permit in Wisconsin. They included name and date of birth (or a least birth year, I don't remember for sure). Some states include a picture.

We now live in Minnesota and the permit includes only a number. I have been told the reason they do not include a name, picture or birthdate is safety. Someone getting the information off the handicapped parking permit while it is displayed in the vehicle could figure out where the permit holder lives. Because the person is disabled, they might be an easy target for criminals.
Minnesota police don't need that information on the hangtag because they can easily access name, address, date of birth from the department website.
If the person has either a MN Driver's License or a MN ID card, that could also be accessed by police to get a picture.

 

[kaytieeldr]

We now live in Minnesota and the permit includes only a number. I have been told the reason they do not include a name, picture or birthdate is safety.

Massachusetts HP placards include a picture and name along with the number and expiration date, and come with a small sleeve to hide the information from prying eyes. A placard with just a number would seem so much more open to fraud, no?

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

Sorry to read that your permit has been delayed. From the UK so can't comment on that. I was thinking as a workaround if you had the budget you could do the preferred parking ( it is extra money I know you shouldn't have to ) but I think it allowa you closer to the entrance. Just a thought.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

Massachusetts HP placards include a picture and name along with the number and expiration date, and come with a small sleeve to hide the information from prying eyes. A placard with just a number would seem so much more open to fraud, no?

You seem very concerned about fraud.

We have just a number and an expiration date. Police can look up the number. Or they can ask me for the paperwork. The paperwork has my name and address.

One thing to remember, civilians can't ask to see the paperwork. Or ask what is wrong with you. Your diagnosis is between you and your doctor.

 

[lanejudy]

I think fraud associated with parking hangtags is a very real thing, be that fraudently obtained or simply fraudently used. While I don't have any statistics it would seem that around here law enforcement is not very likely to question one unless there are other extenuating circumstances, so the "verifying" information (whether available on the card or in a database) doesn't make a lot of difference. In today's digital age where it's relatively easy to duplicate official documents, I suppose there is a black market for hangtags that are fake, especially if it isn't easy to identify the owner. However, I would think the more common fraud is people who either use temporary hangtags that past the expiration date and/or belong to a friend or family member. When I was a kid, I knew a family with a hangtag that was legitimately obtained for handicapped child, but the mom would use it even when the child was not with her. You would think someone in that situation would have a better appreciation for those who need the reserved spaces, but apparently not.

To answer OP's question, as many have already stated... I'm a rule-follower and would not risk using another person's hangtag. The risk is real and could have serious implications. If you have another physician who could verify need for a hangtag (you mention a cardiologist as well as another expert specialist) -- I would recommend doing the request through the physician most accessible to you and most responsive to your needs. If the "expert specialist" is semi-retired with very limited availability, it may be time to start looking for another expert specialist. I know those can be hard to locate, but at some point he may no longer be available at all which leaves you stuck if you haven't at least started to look for alternative offices. Good luck!

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[kaytieeldr]

However, I would think the more common fraud is people who either use temporary hangtags that past the expiration date and/or belong to a friend or family member. When I was a kid, I knew a family with a hangtag that was legitimately obtained for handicapped child, but the mom would use it even when the child was not with her. You would think someone in that situation would have a better appreciation for those who need the reserved spaces, but apparently not.

You would think. I wonder how many people realize that the person to whom placard was issued has to be exiting or entering the vehicle - not just in it - to be eligible to park in a handicap space.

 

[kaytieeldr]

You seem very concerned about fraud.

We have just a number and an expiration date. Police can look up the number. Or they can ask me for the paperwork. The paperwork has my name and address.

One thing to remember, civilians can't ask to see the paperwork. Or ask what is wrong with you. Your diagnosis is between you and your doctor.

Well, sure I'm concerned about fraudulent use. The number of placards/plates drastically exceeds the number of spaces nationally.

With the name and photograph readily available on the placard, we have zero need to carry or produce additional paperwork. Just move the sleeve (if used) if there are any issues. And I'm relatively certain civilians actively employed by a business can require proof that the right person is using the placard before allowing access to handicapped parking.

 

[SueM in MN]

Well, sure I'm concerned about fraudulent use. The number of placards/plates drastically exceeds the number of spaces nationally.

With the name and photograph readily available on the placard, we have zero need to carry or produce additional paperwork. Just move the sleeve (if used) if there are any issues. And I'm relatively certain civilians actively employed by a business can require proof that the right person is using the placard before allowing access to handicapped parking.

I am concerned about fraud - we personally have found all spaces full. Sometimes we've had to park far away in an area with many vacant spots and hope no one parks next to us so we can put our ramp down when we return. Other times, we've just left because we could not park.
I don't have any idea whether people were fraudulently parking there or there just happened to be a large number of people with valid parking permits there at the same time. It's not my right to judge.

I personally am glad that Minnesota does not include a name and photo for the security reasons I mentioned.
The name and photo can make it easy to identify the person and mark them as a vulnerable person who could be an easy target for crime, either in the parking lot (watch for the person in the picture) or in their home (sometimes Google is not your friend).
There are websites set up specifically for 'concerned civilians' to 'out' people they think are fraudulently using a handicapped parking permit. In some cases, their 'report' includes a photo of the vehicle and of the handicapped parking permit. People have been hunted down and harassed for that. In some cases, they were parking there because they were picking up the person the permit was issued to (that is an appropriate use) and in some cases, they were targeted for 'not appearing disabled' even though they were.

I'm certain (at least in Minnesota) that civilians can't require proof of it being the person named on the permit before allowing parking. That would be likely considered harassment and I'm quite certain the business would get sued.
I have had several situations where I asked a business to intervene because while we were in the store someone blocked us in by parking in the access area. They had to call the police.
It's in the hands of the police, who are able to write a ticket or confiscate the permit.

Two of the bigger things things all states do now to combat fraud is expiration dates, which are prominently displayed on the permit. Now, permanent handicapped parking permits expire after 5 years and temporary after 6 months as the standard in each state.
Previous to that, in many states, the permanent ones never expired and temporary could be very long.

 

[DisneyOma]

You can hardly get any time with the doctor yourself, but you expect him or her to answer questions about whether or not he signed a piece of paper?

Our state may call. But it is after the fact. And they can't verify that the paperwork is valid. At least not with my doctor. His office didn't know that he filled it out. I brought the blank paperwork in, he filled it out, and I took it with me. There is no record of him doing it. In fact, I've had a number of placards. And they have never been completed by the office. It has always been directly with the doctor.

My doctor's office uses a database that all staff can access. Your medical record doesn't show that you have a placard?

From what I have read, NYC has separate handicapped parking permits and rules because of the difficulties with parking in the city.
So, someone could have an NYC permit, but not a New York State one or vice versa.

What is similar from state to state is the health requirements to obtain a handicapped permit, the period of time for temporary and for permanent.
All states also agreed to include certain elements on the handicapped permits. That included things like color for temporary and permanent, expiration date and a way to positively identify the person the permit was issued to.

I don't know what Wisconsin has now, but my daughter got her first handicapped permit in Wisconsin. They included name and date of birth (or a least birth year, I don't remember for sure). Some states include a picture.

We now live in Minnesota and the permit includes only a number. I have been told the reason they do not include a name, picture or birthdate is safety. Someone getting the information off the handicapped parking permit while it is displayed in the vehicle could figure out where the permit holder lives. Because the person is disabled, they might be an easy target for criminals.
Minnesota police don't need that information on the hangtag because they can easily access name, address, date of birth from the department website.
If the person has either a MN Driver's License or a MN ID card, that could also be accessed by police to get a picture.

This:

Massachusetts HP placards include a picture and name along with the number and expiration date, and come with a small sleeve to hide the information from prying eyes. A placard with just a number would seem so much more open to fraud, no?

I think the sleeve works very well. I've seen them on numerous tags, and my friend's health aide service makes sure her clients and staff use them all the time.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

My doctor's office uses a database that all staff can access. Your medical record doesn't show that you have a placard?.

Probably not.

To add: I saw my doctor under a separate medical scenario. Those records are not part of my medical record.

 

[OurBigTrip]

You would think. I wonder how many people realize that the person to whom placard was issued has to be exiting or entering the vehicle - not just in it - to be eligible to park in a handicap space.

That likely depends on the state. In Virginia, the person to whom the placard was issued has to be in the car in order to park in a handicapped spot. Nothing at all about them having to exit or enter the car.