301.143. Parking space for physically disabled may be established by political subdivisions and others, signs--violations--enforcement--penalty.

MISSOURI STATUTES AND CODES

301.143. Parking space for physically disabled may be established by political subdivisions and others, signs--violations--enforcement--penalty.

Parking space for physically disabled may be established by politicalsubdivisions and others, signs--violations--enforcement--penalty.

301.143. 1. As used in this section, the term "vehicle" shall havethe same meaning given it in section 301.010, and the term "physicallydisabled" shall have the same meaning given it in section 301.142.

2. Political subdivisions of the state may by ordinance or resolutiondesignate parking spaces for the exclusive use of vehicles which display adistinguishing license plate or card issued pursuant to section 301.071 or301.142. Owners of private property used for public parking shall alsodesignate parking spaces for the exclusive use of vehicles which display adistinguishing license plate or card issued pursuant to section 301.071 or301.142. Whenever a political subdivision or owner of private property sodesignates a parking space, the space shall be indicated by a sign uponwhich shall be inscribed the international symbol of accessibility andshall also include any appropriate wording to indicate that the space isreserved for the exclusive use of vehicles which display a distinguishinglicense plate or card. The sign described in this subsection shall alsostate, or an additional sign shall be posted below or adjacent to the signstating, the following: "$50 to $300 fine.".

3. Any political subdivision, by ordinance or resolution, and anyperson or corporation in lawful possession of a public off-street parkingfacility or any other owner of private property may designate reservedparking spaces for the exclusive use of vehicles which display adistinguishing license plate or card issued pursuant to section 301.071 or301.142 as close as possible to the nearest accessible entrance. Suchdesignation shall be made by posting immediately adjacent to, and visiblefrom, each space, a sign upon which is inscribed the international symbolof accessibility, and may also include any appropriate wording to indicatethat the space is reserved for the exclusive use of vehicles which displaya distinguishing license plate or card.

4. The local police or sheriff's department may cause the removal ofany vehicle not displaying a distinguishing license plate or card on whichis inscribed the international symbol of accessibility and the word"disabled" issued pursuant to section 301.142 or a "disabled veteran"license plate issued pursuant to section 301.071 or a distinguishinglicense plate or card issued by any other state from a space designated forphysically disabled persons if there is posted immediately adjacent to, andreadily visible from, such space a sign on which is inscribed theinternational symbol of accessibility and may include any appropriatewording to indicate that the space is reserved for the exclusive use ofvehicles which display a distinguishing license plate or card. Any personwho parks in a space reserved for physically disabled persons and is notdisplaying distinguishing license plates or a card is guilty of aninfraction and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine of notless than fifty dollars nor more than three hundred dollars. Any vehiclewhich has been removed and which is not properly claimed within thirty daysthereafter shall be considered to be an abandoned vehicle.

5. Spaces designated for use by vehicles displaying thedistinguishing "disabled" license plate issued pursuant to section 301.142or 301.071 shall meet the requirements of the federal Americans withDisabilities Act, as amended, and any rules or regulations establishedpursuant thereto. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this section,on-street parking spaces designated by political subdivisions inresidential areas for the exclusive use of vehicles displaying adistinguishing license plate or card issued pursuant to section 301.071 or301.142 shall meet the requirements of the federal Americans withDisabilities Act pursuant to this subsection and any such space shall haveclearly and visibly painted upon it the international symbol ofaccessibility and any curb adjacent to the space shall be clearly andvisibly painted blue.

6. Any person who, without authorization, uses a distinguishinglicense plate or card issued pursuant to section 301.071 or 301.142 to parkin a parking space reserved under authority of this section shall be guiltyof a class B misdemeanor.

7. Law enforcement officials may enter upon private property open topublic use to enforce the provisions of this section and section 301.142,including private property designated by the owner of such property for theexclusive use of vehicles which display a distinguishing license plate orcard issued pursuant to section 301.071 or 301.142.

8. Nonconforming signs or spaces otherwise required pursuant to thissection which are in use prior to August 28, 1997, shall not be inviolation of this section during the useful life of such signs or spaces.Under no circumstances shall the useful life of the nonconforming signs orspaces be extended by means other than those means used to maintain anysign or space on the owner's property which is not used for vehiclesdisplaying a disabled license plate.