Florida Statute 316.1955 | Lawyer Caselaw & Research

The 2024 Florida Statutes

Title XXIII
MOTOR VEHICLES

Chapter 316
STATE UNIFORM TRAFFIC CONTROL

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F.S. 316.1955

316.1955 Enforcement of parking requirements for persons who have disabilities.—

(1) It is unlawful for any person to stop, stand, or park a vehicle within, or to obstruct, any such specially designated and marked parking space provided in accordance with s. 553.5041, unless the vehicle displays a disabled parking permit issued under s. 316.1958 or s. 320.0848 or a license plate issued under s. 320.084, s. 320.0842, s. 320.0843, or s. 320.0845, and the vehicle is transporting the person to whom the displayed permit is issued. The violation may not be dismissed for failure of the marking on the parking space to comply with s. 553.5041 if the space is in general compliance and is clearly distinguishable as a designated accessible parking space for people who have disabilities. Only a warning may be issued for unlawfully parking in a space designated for persons with disabilities if there is no above-grade sign as provided in s. 553.5041.

(a) Whenever a law enforcement officer, a parking enforcement specialist, or the owner or lessee of the space finds a vehicle in violation of this subsection, that officer, owner, or lessor shall have the vehicle in violation removed to any lawful parking space or facility or require the operator or other person in charge of the vehicle immediately to remove the unauthorized vehicle from the parking space. Whenever any vehicle is removed under this section to a storage lot, garage, or other safe parking space, the cost of the removal and parking constitutes a lien against the vehicle.

(b) The officer or specialist shall charge the operator or other person in charge of the vehicle in violation with a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as provided in s. 316.008(4) or s. 318.18(6). The owner of a leased vehicle is not responsible for a violation of this section if the vehicle is registered in the name of the lessee.

(c) All convictions for violations of this section must be reported to the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles by the clerk of the court.

(d) A law enforcement officer or a parking enforcement specialist has the right to demand to be shown the person’s disabled parking permit and driver license or state identification card when investigating the possibility of a violation of this section. If such a request is refused, the person in charge of the vehicle may be charged with resisting an officer without violence, as provided in s. 843.02.

(2) It is unlawful for any person to obstruct the path of travel to an accessible parking space, curb cut, or access aisle by standing or parking a vehicle within any such designated area. The violator is subject to the same penalties as are imposed for illegally parking in a space that is designated as an accessible parking space for persons who have disabilities.

(3) Any person who is chauffeuring a person who has a disability is allowed, without need for a disabled parking permit or a special license plate, to stand temporarily in any such parking space, for the purpose of loading or unloading the person who has a disability. A penalty may not be imposed upon the driver for such temporary standing.

(4)(a) A vehicle that is transporting a person who has a disability and that has been granted a permit under s. 320.0848(1)(a) may be parked for a maximum of 30 minutes in any parking space reserved for persons who have disabilities.

(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), a theme park or an entertainment complex as defined in s. 509.013(9) which provides parking in designated areas for persons who have disabilities may allow any vehicle that is transporting a person who has a disability to remain parked in a space reserved for persons who have disabilities throughout the period the theme park is open to the public for that day.

History.—s. 1, ch. 75-105; s. 1, ch. 76-31; s. 2, ch. 77-83; s. 1, ch. 77-444; ss. 1, 8, ch. 79-82; s. 123, ch. 79-400; s. 1, ch. 80-196; s. 2, ch. 84-234; s. 2, ch. 85-227; s. 1, ch. 87-225; s. 22, ch. 90-330; s. 80, ch. 91-221; s. 3, ch. 93-183; s. 2, ch. 96-200; s. 25, ch. 96-350; s. 8, ch. 97-76; s. 1, ch. 98-202; s. 89, ch. 99-13; s. 146, ch. 99-248; s. 16, ch. 2000-141; s. 10, ch. 2006-290.

Note.—Former s. 316.165.

F.S. 316.1955 on Google Scholar

F.S. 316.1955 on Casetext

Amendments to 316.1955

Arrestable Offenses / Crimes under Fla. Stat. 316.1955

Level: Degree
Misdemeanor/Felony: First/Second/Third

Current data shows no reason an arrest or criminal charge should have occurred directly under Florida Statute 316.1955.

Civil Citations / Citable Offenses under S316.1955

R or S next to points is Mandatory Revocation or Suspension

S316.1955 Park Handicapped Zone - Points on Drivers License: 0

S316.1955 (1) HANDICAP parking area - illegally parking in space (see local county ordinance for fines other than stated) (CITATION MUST BE HAND DELIVERED TO DRIVER) (If proof of a valid permit/plate or affidavit that owner was present a dismissal fee up to $7.50* can be paid. (Warning only if there is no above grade sign) (If charging with resisting without violence when refusing to show parking permit, charge should be for 843.02 not 316.1955). *Dismissal fee based on 318.18(6). - Points on Drivers License: 0

S316.1955 (2) HANDICAP parking - obstructing access to parking space - Points on Drivers License: 0

Annotations, Discussions, Cases:

Cases Citing Statute 316.1955

Total Results: 7

State of Florida v. Marlon Manuel Diaz

Court: Fla. Dist. Ct. App. | Date Filed: 2024-09-13T00:00:00-07:00

Snippet: after Diaz was stopped for violating section 316.1955, Florida Statutes (2022). In pertinent part, this…violence, as provided in s. 843.02. § 316.1955(1)(d), Fla. Stat. (2022). unemployed from his…pursuant to any of the statutes described in section 316.1955(1). After Diaz began driving away, the deputies…card reflecting a disability or handicap. See § 316.1955(1)(d), Fla. Stat. Diaz told the deputies that …The court further explained that under section 316.1955(3), Florida Statutes, a person may temporarily

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Court: Fla. Att'y Gen. | Date Filed: 1999-11-02T23:53:00-08:00

Snippet: privileges and other privileges provided under ss. 316. 1955, 316. 1964, and526.141(5)(a).2 (e.s.) * * * (e…lieu of a disabled parking permit." Section 316. 1955(3), Florida Statutes, provides that if parking

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Court: Fla. Att'y Gen. | Date Filed: 1991-04-16T00:53:00-07:00

Snippet: Law Dictionary 1272 (rev. 4th ed.). 12 See, ss. 316.1955 and 316.1956, F.S. (1990 Supp.). 13 It was my

Metropolitan Dade County v. Department of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles

Court: Fla. Dist. Ct. App. | Date Filed: 1990-10-31T00:00:00-08:00

Citation: 570 So. 2d 1021, 1990 Fla. App. LEXIS 8414, 1990 WL 168331

Snippet: such parking spaces shall be as provided in s. 316.-1955(2)(c). Ch. 89-97, § 3, Laws of Fla. . We have

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Court: Fla. Att'y Gen. | Date Filed: 1990-04-27T00:53:00-07:00

Snippet: such parking spaces shall be as provided in s. 316.1955(2)(c). In light of the foregoing statute, you

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Court: Fla. Att'y Gen. | Date Filed: 1984-01-09T23:53:00-08:00

Snippet: parking spaces for the physically disabled. Section 316.1955, F.S., requires state agencies and political subdivisions…specially designed and marked parking spaces. See, ss 316.1955(5)(b) and 316.1956(3), F.S. It is clear that the… yet s 316.1956 remained discretionary while s 316.1955 remained mandatory. See, Chs. 77-83, 77-444 and

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Court: Fla. Att'y Gen. | Date Filed: 1979-04-02T23:53:00-08:00

Snippet: Attorney Gainesville QUESTION: Pursuant to s. 316.1955(6), F. S., is a law enforcement officer required…violation, punishable by a $15 civil penalty. Section 316.1955, F. S., requires a minimum number of specially…question concerns the enforcement provisions of s. 316.1955(6), which reads as follows: (6) It is a violation…whether the officer has the option of utilizing s. 316.1955(6)(a) or (b). It might be noted that paragraph…Too, in reviewing the legislative history of s. 316.1955, F. S., it is noted that the pertinent subsection