Disability Placard / Plate — Free Metered Parking and Time-Limit Exemption
Indiana Code §9-18.5-8-5 (formerly §9-14-5-7) provides that a vehicle displaying a valid disability parking placard or disability plate is exempt from paying any parking meter fee and is exempt from any parking-time limit on a street, highway, or in a public lot — provided the vehicle is being used by or transporting the person to whom the placard or plate was issued. Local ordinances cannot override this state exemption. Tickets for expired meter or over-time on a vehicle displaying a valid placard must be dismissed. Combined with the federal ADA Title II, this creates a powerful, almost automatic defense.
Legal basis
Indiana Code §9-18.5-8-5; IC 9-21-17 (parking for persons with disabilities); 42 U.S.C. §12132 (ADA Title II)
Sample appeal wording
TO: [Parking Violations Bureau] RE: Citation [TICKET_NUMBER] — ADA / Indiana Disability Parking Exemption I request dismissal under Indiana Code §9-18.5-8-5, which exempts vehicles displaying a valid disability placard or plate from parking meter fees and parking-time limitations on public streets, highways, and lots. My vehicle ([PLATE]) displayed valid disability placard #[PLACARD_NUMBER] (issued [DATE], expires [DATE]) on [VIOLATION_DATE]. I am the placard holder / I was transporting the placard holder ([NAME]). The citation for [meter expired / over-time] is barred by IC 9-18.5-8-5 and 42 U.S.C. §12132. Evidence attached: (1) BMV placard registration; (2) medical authorization; (3) photograph of placard displayed. Signed, [FULL_NAME] Date: [DATE]
Replace [PARKING DATE], [NtK DATE] etc. with your own dates before sending.
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- Indiana Code §9-18.5-8-5
- Indiana Code §9-21-17
- Americans with Disabilities Act Title II