Earlier this year, following approval by the Council of the District of Columbia and Mayor Anthony A. Williams, Congress passed DC LAW 13-279 (Individuals With Disabilities Parking Reform Amendment Act Of 2000). The new law sets limits on the amount of free parking available to cars bearing handicap license plates or hanging placards.

The change is intended to ensure that residential areas and short-term metered spaces are not overburdened by all-day parking. Additionally, it is anticipated that the law will also curb fraudulent use of handicap plates and placards by non-disabled drivers. In the past, vehicles with a handicap designation could park free for an unlimited period of time in any legal, on-street space. Following a 30-day warning period, which begins Monday, July 23, the new regulation will be fully enforced beginning Monday, August 20.

"We want to send a message that DC, particularly our vibrant downtown, is open for business," said Williams. "To make that welcome genuine, we need to offer an acceptable number of parking spaces."

District residents holding either handicap license plates or a hanging placard - as well as disabled commuters and visitors to the city - should note the following changes:

• Free, unlimited parking in time-restricted spaces is no longer allowed.
• Everyone must now adhere to the two-hour parking limit in designated residential neighborhoods.
• Persons with DC-issued handicap tags or placards may park free in any other space for double the amount of time permitted by the sign or meter. Following the free period, posted time limits and/or meter fees apply.
• Disabled drivers from other states must obtain a DC-issued placard from DMV to take advantage of free on-street parking. Otherwise, posted time limits and/or meter fees apply.

The District Department of Public Works (DPW) and the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) are jointly launching a public education effort to inform residents, commuters and visitors affected by the change. First, the city's 15,000 parking meters are being relabeled with new decals to reflect the revised parking rules. Then, for a full month before enforcement of the law begins, DPW parking officers will issue pink "Warning Tickets" to vehicles bearing a handicap designation. Information will be available at all DMV satellite offices, as well as on agency Web sites. Click here for more information about the new parking law. Additionally, business organizations, city agencies, community groups, hospitality and travel associations will be notified.

District Councilmember Carol Schwartz said, "This law is a win-win. Legitimately disabled people will still get a limited amount of free parking, and parking spaces will open up for both residents and shoppers."