Temporary US Parking Badges

[yorkshiregirl]

Temporary US Parking Badges
Has anyone been to get one of the above please from the South Orlando Tag Agency at South Orange Blossom Trail? How long was the process and was it easy to find please?
We used our own UK Blue badge last visit but this is no longer valid for use in Florida according to the DVLA, Virgin and the American Tourist Board.
We are touring around Florida not staying only in Orlando?

 

[Revtel]

On page 39 of the 2007 Brit's Guide, it says that the UK badge is honoured in the US (although Simon still refers to the "orange" badge) We have certainly used it previously. I am not aware that this has changed. Do you have a reference for this?

 

[alisonbestford]

We used our blue badge, with no problems, last Easter but I have heard rumours of having to get extra ID (even before we travelled and used it successfully)

I was still under the impression that the original disabled badge was valid in the US with no extra paperwork

 

[alyssa'smom]

hi we are in orlando at the moment and using our blue badge without any problems, hope this helps

 

[natalielongstaff]

hi we are in orlando at the moment and using our blue badge without any problems, hope this helps

thats up to date info

 

[Minniespal]

thats up to date info

It certainly is.

 

[yorkshiregirl]

It appears that if you are staying in Orlando that you will most probably be ok.
If you are touring around Florida they may not recognize the UK Blue Badge. When we toured Massachusetts we rang and then faxed our details including photo of DH to a very helpful man in the government and we received a Disbaled Persons Parking Identification Placard which we hung from our mirror. It was checked on a number of occasions by the police when we parked using it.
As I said in original post 3 different agencies have confirmed that the UK Blue Badge is not recognized officially and you should go to the TAG centre to purchase a temporary US permit.
We do not go until July so would be interested to hear if any-one has toured Florida with no problems or otherwise.

 

[daipp]

From what I read on a thread concerning this issue last year (and I also spoke to a State Trooper about it last September) the following seems to be the case.

Your Blue Badge is perfectly acceptable and recognised within WDW.

Outside WDW, the rules changed (actually enforced would be more accurate) last year insomuch that some officers / parking attendants will turn a blind eye to the use of a EEC Blue Badge because you should now be using a locally issued parking permit - if my memory serves me correctly it costs $15.00.

One UK holiday-maker had to talk their way out of a $250 fine for not displaying one (if only similar were true here) at a shopping mall in Orlando.

For the sake of $15.00, we bought one last year.

David

 

[yorkshiregirl]

Hi David
Thank you for your reply. Was the process a pleasant experience? We were hoping to get ours the day we arrive but may be tired and DH may not be able to cope with much. It may be better for us to stay in Orlando overnight now and go first thing in the morning. We will head off down to South Florida before returning for 5 days in WDW

 

[daipp]

It was very straightforward from what my DW tells me - its her badge so she went in and I stayed outside in the car with the children.

David

 

[Slimey_snake]

Where in Orlando will you be able to purchase a disabled parking permit?

 

[daipp]

I found it !!

Take a look at this.....

http://www.hsmv.state.fl.us/dmv/disabled_pkg.html

This should cover your query.

David

 

[BingsingsWaltDisney]

Hi David

Thanks for that link it will be of use to me in the future.

cheers

 

[Revtel]

I found it !!

Take a look at this.....

http://www.hsmv.state.fl.us/dmv/disabled_pkg.html

This should cover your query.

David

Thanks for that, David. I had already found that link, but it is still does not answer the question.

The "temporary permit" is for a temporary disability which is likely to clear up, not for tourists visiting the state for a couple of weeks! There is no mention on that site, or any other that I can find, about the acceptability of EU (or any non US) blue badges.

Perhaps Simon can clarify the comment in his latest book that the UK badge is acceptable in Orlando.

 

[SimonV]

Hi folks. Our info, up to the issue of the last edition (Sep 06) was that the British blue badge was still valid, but that info may well have come from Disney, so we will check and get back to you. Obviously it is an important question and we need to get it right.

Simon

 

[syko]

I spoke to an officer yesterday and showed him my blue badge and asked him about it, as I have driven all over the states and never had a problem, he said that it was ok to use it, but to punch a hole in it and hang it from the rear view mirror, just like they do.

 

[daipp]

With so many conflicting opinions (including those from Police) I will continue to buy a permit for my wife for the sake of $15.00

David

 

[yorkshiregirl]

Bump Any official word yet?

 

[Ali and boyz]

we hire a mobility car which comes with the blue handicap parking placard but also take ours with us

 

[loadsapixiedust]

Consider where you will be parking before you decide whether you need a permit. If you only intend to visit theme parks, shopping malls and restaurants and to park at your villa or hotel, you won't need a permit. All of those places are private property, you would only need to have a permit if you intended to venture off the beaten track where your badge may not be familiar to locals or if you want to park on the public highway.
Most UK tourists won't need to worry about this.

The permit mentioned in the link already provided is intended for Florida residents

Disabled persons must have either a current Florida driver license or a Florida identification card issued by the Florida Division of Driver Licenses. The driver license or ID number must be affixed to the parking permit.

How would a UK resident supply this?