On December 14, 2022, at the request of Commissioner David Richardson, the City Commission referred the subject discussion (C4 F) to the Finance and Economic Resiliency Committee (FERC).

At the FERC meeting of February 17, 2023, the Committee discussed the subject item, and recommended that the City Commission engage with Pave Mobility via a license agreement for a pilot program to test its license plate recognition system at five (5) municipal parking lots for a minimum of three (3) months and a maximum of six (6) months. Furthermore, Commissioner Richardson requested that staff return to FERC with ideas on how to prevent the abuse of disabled placards.

During the February 17, 2023 FERC meeting, a related item, sponsored by Commissioner Fernandez, was also discussed. During the discussion, Commissioner Fernandez proposed the adoption of an optional city registration requirement for persons with disabled parking permits or license plates, to provide registered persons with extended free parking at on-street parking meters, beyond the maximum free parking period set forth in state law, to help curb the abuse and misuse of disabled parking permits. At the meeting, staff was directed to return to FERC to further discuss both items with the purpose of identifying the means to address disabled placard abuse.

At the March 27, 2023 City Commission meeting, the Commission adopted a resolution accepting the FERC’s recommendation and authorizing the City to enter into a pilot program with Pave Mobility as described above.

The Parking Department worked with the City Attorney’s Office to identify possible actions to help mitigate disabled placard abuse. Florida Statute 316.1964 authorizes counties and municipalities to charge parking rates to vehicles displaying a disabled parking placard at garages and lots, except for vehicles displaying a Florida Toll Exemption permit, vehicles displaying a disabled veteran license plate and vehicles with specialized equipment, such as ramps, lifts or foot or hand controls.

Miami-Dade County Code, 30-43(7)(c) also allows municipalities to charge vehicles displaying a disabled parking placard, except for the exemptions provided by Florida law (listed above). Based on the above, the City has the authority to charge vehicles displaying a disabled placard for parking in municipal lots and garages. For on-street parking, the City may impose time limits and fees for all persons, including those with disabled placards. All persons with disabled placards receive a maximum of four (4) hours free on-street parking but are bound by established time limits for on-street parking similar to all other persons.

In the case where the time limit exceeds four (4) hours, disabled placard holders can be limited to four (4) hours of free parking, but would be subject to the established fees for the hours that extend beyond four (4) hours. For example, if there is a two (2)-hour on-street maximum in a particular area, then a person with a disabled placard would be subject to the same two (2)-hour limit, but would get such two (2) hours free. However, if the established time limit exceeds four (4) hours, then the disabled placard holder gets a maximum of four (4) free hours, but then must pay for the remaining hours should the disabled placard holder park beyond those initial four (4) hours.

The City’s Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) coordinator is preparing to present this information to the City’s Disability Access Committee for discussion. The City’s ability to charge parking rates at lots and garages should be discussed further including options for a registration program and on-street time restrictions. Eliminating or limiting free parking for vehicles with disabled placards will reduce the financial incentive that contributes to disabled placard abuse. These efforts may free up designated accessible parking for those persons with legitimate need.