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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>62827</law_id><section_number>46.2-1242</section_number><catch_line>Parking in spaces reserved for persons with disabilities; local ordinances; penalty</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>16.1-69.40:1</reference><reference>46.2-1243</reference><reference>46.2-1244</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="46.2">Motor Vehicles</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="III">Operation</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="12.1">Parking for Persons With Disabilities</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> 1. No <span class="dictionary">vehicles</span> other than those displaying <span class="dictionary">disabled parking license plates</span>, organizational removable windshield placards, permanent removable windshield placards, or temporary removable windshield placards issued under &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Issuance of disabled parking placards" href="/46.2-1241/">46.2-1241</a>, or DV <span class="dictionary">disabled parking license plates</span> issued under subsection B of &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Special license plates for certain disabled veterans; fees" href="/46.2-739/">46.2-739</a>, shall be parked in any parking spaces reserved for persons with disabilities. <a id="paragraph-229025" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-1242/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> No person without a disability that limits or impairs his ability to walk shall park a <span class="dictionary">vehicle</span> with <span class="dictionary">disabled parking license plates</span>, organizational removable windshield placards, permanent removable windshield placards, temporary removable windshield placards, or DV <span class="dictionary">disabled parking license plates</span> issued under subsection B of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Special license plates for certain disabled veterans; fees" href="/46.2-739/">46.2-739</a> in a parking space reserved for persons with disabilities that limit or impair their ability to walk except when transporting a disabled person in the <span class="dictionary">vehicle</span>. <a id="paragraph-229026" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-1242/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> No <span class="dictionary">vehicle</span> shall be parked in any striped access aisle adjacent to a parking space reserved for persons with disabilities. <a id="paragraph-229027" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-1242/#A3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> A <span class="dictionary">summons</span> or parking ticket for the <span class="dictionary">offense</span> may be issued by <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officers</span>, uniformed <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement <span class="dictionary">department</span> employees, or volunteers acting pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Volunteer disabled parking enforcement units" href="/46.2-1244/">46.2-1244</a> without the necessity of a warrant&#x2019;s being obtained by the <span class="dictionary">owner</span> of any private parking area. <a id="paragraph-229028" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-1242/#A4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A5" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> Parking a <span class="dictionary">vehicle</span> in a space reserved for persons with disabilities or in a striped access aisle in violation of this section shall be punishable by a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $500. <a id="paragraph-229029" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-1242/#A5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> The <span class="dictionary">governing body</span> of any county, city, or town may, by <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span>, provide that it shall be unlawful for a <span class="dictionary">vehicle</span> not displaying <span class="dictionary">disabled parking license plates</span>, an organizational removable windshield placard, a permanent removable windshield placard, or a temporary removable windshield placard issued under &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Issuance of disabled parking placards" href="/46.2-1241/">46.2-1241</a>, or DV <span class="dictionary">disabled parking license plates</span> issued under subsection B of &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Special license plates for certain disabled veterans; fees" href="/46.2-739/">46.2-739</a>, to be parked in a parking space reserved for persons with disabilities that limit or impair their ability to walk or for a person who is not limited or impaired in his ability to walk to park a <span class="dictionary">vehicle</span> in a parking space so designated except when transporting a person with such a disability in the <span class="dictionary">vehicle</span>. If there is a placard within a <span class="dictionary">vehicle</span> utilizing a parking space reserved for persons with disabilities, but that placard is not displayed as required pursuant to subsection E of &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Issuance of disabled parking placards" href="/46.2-1241/">46.2-1241</a>, such <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> may provide for a fine less than that imposed under this section. The <span class="dictionary">governing body</span> of any county, city, or town may, by <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span>, provide that no <span class="dictionary">vehicle</span> shall be parked in any striped access aisle adjacent to a parking space reserved for persons with disabilities. <a id="paragraph-229030" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-1242/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Any local <span class="dictionary">governing body</span>, by such <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span>, may assess and retain a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $500 for its violation. <a id="paragraph-229031" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-1242/#B1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> The <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> may further provide that a <span class="dictionary">summons</span> or parking ticket for the <span class="dictionary">offense</span> may be issued by <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officers</span>, volunteers serving in units established pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Volunteer disabled parking enforcement units" href="/46.2-1244/">46.2-1244</a>, and other uniformed personnel employed by the locality to enforce parking regulations without the necessity of a warrant&#x2019;s being obtained by the <span class="dictionary">owner</span> of the private parking area. <a id="paragraph-229032" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-1242/#B2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> In any <span class="dictionary">prosecution</span> charging a violation of this section or an <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> adopted pursuant to this section, proof that the <span class="dictionary">vehicle</span> described in the complaint, <span class="dictionary">summons</span>, parking ticket, <span class="dictionary">citation</span>, or warrant was parked in violation of this section or the <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span>, together with proof that the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> was at the time the registered <span class="dictionary">owner</span> of the <span class="dictionary">vehicle</span>, as required by Chapter 6 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Owner to secure registration and certificate of title or certificate of ownership" href="/46.2-600/">46.2-600</a> et seq.), shall constitute prima facie <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> that the registered <span class="dictionary">owner</span> of the <span class="dictionary">vehicle</span> was the person who committed the violation. <a id="paragraph-229033" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-1242/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> No violation of this section or an <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> adopted pursuant to this section shall be dismissed for a property <span class="dictionary">owner</span>&#x2019;s failure to comply strictly with the requirements for disabled parking signs set forth in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Identification of disabled parking spaces by above grade signage" href="/36-99.11/">36-99.11</a>, provided the space is clearly distinguishable as a parking space reserved for persons with disabilities that limit or impair their ability to walk. <a id="paragraph-229034" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-1242/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1997, cc. 783, 904; 2008, c. 715; 2019, c. 557.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
