Disabled parking in California info please?

Bri1

Hello,

My disabled Daughter has a blue UK disabled parking badge, I was looking for advice regarding travelling to California, do they currently have any reciprocal arrangements for travellers form the UK, or other concessions, if so what do I need to do before we travel?

Spursman180

Bri1 wrote: »

Hello,

My disabled Daughter has a blue UK disabled parking badge, I was looking for advice regarding travelling to California, do they currently have any reciprocal arrangements for travellers form the UK, or other concessions, if so what do I need to do before we travel?

An extract from www.focusondisability.org.uk

USA
Apart from the other information here please read the letter I gratefully received from a disabled traveller in the USA outlining his experience..

Hi David,

I've just returned from a year's travelling and driving in the US. I am disabled and found that simply dropping an email to the local driving authority for whatever state I was in - enquiring as to whether I could use my blue badge or not - every time resulted in a yes response from those concerned. The only such email I can still find in my email account is from Massachusetts but I know that Washington State, Oregon and California all definitely responded the same way. I also travelled extensively in Idaho, Wyoming, Montanam Colorado, Maine and in Canada in British Columbia, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia. In none of these places did I ever receive a parking ticket for using a disabled bay.

I like the reassurance of dropping the local driving authority a line first as if I ever then received a ticket I would simply return the ticket with a copy of the email and say that I had been authorised to use the bay.

Not sure if you can include any of this on your great site. Just thought you may like to hear one person's experiences.

Kind regards,
C R
We understand there is no national system of parking concessions for disabled people and that most States operate their own individual schemes. The type of badges used and the concessions provided are not standardised and vary considerably.
We also understand that it is entirely at the discretion of the authorities in each State as to whether or not disabled motorists' badges issued in other countries are recognised, or indeed whether a local temporary badge can be issued. Whilst our information is that most States do their best to accommodate disabled visitors from the UK, they are not obliged to do so.
In the meantime, if you are planning a visit to the USA you may find it useful to contact an organisation such as:
The American Automobile Association
1000 AAA Drive MS no. 20
Heathrow, Florida
FL32746-5043 USA
Tel: +1 (407) 444 8036
Alternatively you may find the following numbers useful:
Visit USA Association
0891 600 530

US Travel & Tourism Administration
09069 101 020

US Embassy
020 7499 9000

UK badges are not valid for use in Florida. However, if your badge is presented to any county tax collector's office, along with some form of photographic identification, such as a passport, a 90-day temporary permit will be issued for a fee of $15.

Hope it helps

Bri1

Just to let anyone know, have just received a temporary California disabled visitors placard from the central office in Sacremento, you just download a form from the Calif Dept of transportation site, get it validated via your doctor then send away in the post.

Deefitz

Anyone going to Florida can now apply online, here's the info I used:

Email received:....
Please be advised that all correspondence should now be directed to Samantha at [EMAIL="sjewell@osceola.org"]sjewell@osceola.org[/EMAIL] or Holly at [EMAIL="hmccommon@osceola.org"] hmccommon@osceola.org[/EMAIL] . We are now handling issuance of temporary parking permits for out of country residents. We look forward to assisting you in your needs. If you are unable to reach us or do not receive a response within 24 hours, please email [EMAIL="webinfo@osceola.org"]webinfo@osceola.org[/EMAIL] or call our main office at (407) 742-4000.

You may apply for a temporary disabled parking permit through our office if you will be visiting our state from another country. To receive the disabled parking permit by mail before your trip, please provide the following for the disabled individual:

· [FONT=&quot]A copy of your valid parking placard/badge (front and back)[/FONT]
· [FONT=&quot]A copy of your valid passport including the picture and biography page (not the visa)[/FONT]
· [FONT=&quot]Your home address and telephone number[/FONT]
· [FONT=&quot]The temporary address you will use while staying in Florida[/FONT]
· [FONT=&quot]The date of your arrival and departure[/FONT]

• $15.00 in US Funds -- Money order, check, or debit/credit card (American Express, Discover or MasterCard) is acceptable. There is a 2.5 % service fee if using credit or debit card. (If you wish to mail a check or money order, please make payable to Patsy Heffner, CFC) Unfortunately, as of May 1, 2009, we NO LONGER ACCEPT VISA.[FONT=&quot][/FONT]

*** Please do not email your credit card details as email correspondence is public record.

The above requirements may be mailed to:

Patsy Heffner Tax Collector
Attn: Samantha or Holly
1300 9th Street, Ste. 101-B
St. Cloud, FL 34769

If you prefer, you may email the documents as scanned attachments. You may also fax the information to (407) 892-8076. We will email a confirmation that documents have been received and are acceptable. Please call (407) 742-3879 or (407) 742-3883 to speak with us, between the hours of 8 am - 4:30 pm Monday through Friday with payment details if you wish to pay with credit. If you are unable to reach us directly regarding payments, please call Tina or Debbie at (407) 742-3880 or (407) 742-3884. Thank you and have a beautiful day!


Sincerely,

Samantha Jewell

[FONT=&quot]Samantha Jewell[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]St. Cloud Branch Manager[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Osceola[/FONT][FONT=&quot] County Tax Collector[/FONT]

(407) 742-3879

Fax: (407) 892-8076

[EMAIL="sjewell@osceola.org"]sjewell@osceola.org[/EMAIL]

<img alt="Description: Tax Collector Colored Seal" border="0" height="86" width="86">[FONT=&quot][/FONT]

P[FONT=&quot] [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail[/FONT] [FONT=&quot][/FONT]

Hope this helps anyone disabled going to Florida.

C_Mababejive

I dont think you;ll find it a big issue anyway. The USA was made for cars and there are usually mega car parking spaces free everywhere.

Bri1

C_Mababejive wrote: »

I dont think you;ll find it a big issue anyway. The USA was made for cars and there are usually mega car parking spaces free everywhere.

Not in the cities though, lots of on street parking meters usually only for very short term without a badge.

Biggles

We just took our Blue Badge and displayed it prominently everywhere we went (Colorado, Utah & Arizona) and had no problems.

Definitely don't send any payment to get one.

Bri1

The one for California was free, I am suspicious of mention of a charge for one in Florida, sounds a bit like an agency doing it on behalf of, I'd check direct with the dept of Motor vehicles every time, when I spoke to the California one they indicated that there was a risk that the Euro badge may well not be recognised/accepted by some law enforcement officers & that the risk would be mine if a fine was issued, as the local one was free seemed daft not to.