Urging the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to establish a more complete rationale for issuing placards based on mobility impairment.

WHEREAS, The Department of Transportation (PennDOT) establishes all traffic regulations in the Commonwealth including the regulation of parking for physically handicapped and disabled or severely disabled veterans; and

WHEREAS, The City of Philadelphia has limited ability to interpret PennDOT's traffic regulations regarding parking for physically handicapped and disabled or severely disabled veterans; and

WHEREAS, The current system of review by PennDOT for the granting of handicap license plates and placards has been called into question by members of the disabled community; and

WHEREAS, In 2000, after extensive debate and discussions with disabled rights advocacy groups, the largest disabled veterans' association (EPVA), the Parking Authority, and other city officials, the City reformed parking regulations for vehicles with handicap placards and license plates, exceeding the standards adopted by the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, All handicap advocacy groups applauded the eventual handicap parking legislation as truly addressing their concerns about parking in the City; and

WHEREAS, In recent months, a local veterans association raised the issue of making it easier for severely disabled veterans to park in the City. Recognizing their concerns and our desire to work with the men and women who valiantly served our country; now therefore,

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That PennDOT clarifies its current parking regulations for handicap and disabled or severely disabled veterans, and be it further resolved that in the interim the Philadelphia Parking Authority investigate methods to accommodate those veterans displaying severely disabled veterans placards or license plates.

End