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Avoiding a ticket for parking in an accessible parking spot sounds easier than it is. If you don’t have a valid accessible parking permit in New Jersey, don’t park in an accessible parking spot. That’s it, right? Wrong.
It’s not always easy to tell which spaces are reserved for accessible parking. To make matters more complicated, it doesn’t matter whether the driver is accessible or not, only whether they have the necessary permit. That means accessible drivers can still get tickets for parking in accessible spaces if they don’t have a proper permit.
Who Can Park in an Accessible Spot in NJ
Accessible parking spaces are reserved for those people with accessible parking permits and plates. Regardless of any disability, condition, or illness that you may have, you are not allowed to park in an accessible parking space unless you have the proper plates and permits.
What Are the Penalties for Parking in an Accessible Spot?
The penalties for an accessible parking violation can be quite severe, including steep fines and more. These violations are considered non-criminal traffic infractions, which means that you cannot go to jail and will not get a criminal record for a conviction.
Since these are non-moving violations (parking violations, to be specific), you will not have to worry about your insurance provider finding out and increasing your premiums. However, the financial costs of the other penalties can still break the bank.
Fines
The fine for most traffic infractions in New Jersey varies depending on the number of prior convictions you have on your record. Somebody with a squeaky clean driving record who finds themselves convicted of illegally parking in an accessible parking spot will be forced to pay a fine of $250.
For each conviction after that, the fine becomes “a minimum” of $250, with the government allowed to increase that fine as they see fit within the confines of the law.
Vehicle Impoundment
All accessible parking zones are 24-hour tow-away zones. 24-hour tow-away zones enable property owners to tow vehicles that are illegally parked. This towing is done at the owner’s expense.
In other words, if you illegally park in an accessible parking space, the property owner can call to have your vehicle towed. If your vehicle is towed, you will have to pay the towing company the towing fee before they will release your vehicle to you. This towing fee is in addition to the fine on your ticket and can not be used to reduce your ticket’s fine amount.
Community Service
If this is your first conviction for parking in an accessible parking spot without the proper plates and permits, you will not have to worry about court-ordered community services. Fines and potential towing fees will be the worst of your problem.
However, for second and subsequent violations, the court can order up to 90 days of mandatory community service. This community service can take on many forms, such as the common street cleaning crew you may have seen on TV.
Can You Plead Down an Accessible Spot Ticket?
That’s a tricky question. Yes, you can plead down an accessible parking spot ticket. But no, you are not likely to get the chance. When it comes to plea bargaining (the process of pleading down a ticket), the judge has the final say in whether to accept the deal. In towns like Secaucus, Jersey City, and Hoboken, judges have become notorious for denying plea deals for parking in accessible parking spaces.
The best way to plead down an accessible parking space ticket in New Jersey is to hire a lawyer through the WinIt app. A lawyer may be able to present your case in a way that shows the judge that you are not a problematic person in need of maximum punishments.
Without a lawyer, however, you are quite literally on your own.
How Do I Get an Accessible Placard in NJ
To get an accessible parking placard in New Jersey, you have to successfully complete the application process and be approved by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC). The most important part of the process is securing proof of disability and showing that proof to the state.
Start by completing Form SP-41, the “Application for Vehicle License Plates and/or Placard for Persons with a Disability.” Include a copy of your vehicle’s registration, driver license, and other evidence. Form SP-41A provides a checklist of instructions for you to follow while enduring the application process.
FAQs about Accessible Parking Tickets in NJ
And that about covers it! As a general rule of thumb, never park in an accessible parking space unless your vehicle has the proper plates and permits displayed as required by law. Otherwise, you’re just asking for a ticket.
If you still have any questions or concerns about accessible parking tickets in New Jersey, comment below and our team of traffic ticket experts will respond with answers as soon as possible.
I Have an Accessible Placard but It Wasn’t in Place When I Got the Ticket, What Happens?
This question needs to be answered on a case-by-case basis. Oftentimes, a skilled lawyer will be able to take your valid placard to court and use it as evidence to get your ticket dismissed. Next time, try to make a note to remember to display your placard in its proper place to avoid this hassle.
I Got Ticketed While Using a Relative’s Accessible Parking Sticker / Placard, Am I Guilty?
If this is the case, talk to your lawyer before saying anything about it to the judge. This could have a seriously negative impact on your case. The reason being that most judges and prosecutors in New Jersey harbor a harsh disdain for anybody who fraudulently uses accessible parking placards for their own self gain.
The Accessible Spot Wasn’t Clearly Marked, Can I Have the Ticket Thrown Out?
The law requires accessible parking spaces to be clearly marked. Spaces that are not clearly marked can be easily confused for ordinary parking spaces. A skilled lawyer can use this information to show that any reasonable person could have made the same mistake, an argument that is often strong enough to win a case.
Can I Be Ticked If I Wasn’t Parked in the Accessible Spot but Was Just Sitting in the Car?
Yes. The law on accessible parking spaces covers both standing and parking. Standing is when the car is in park but powered on with an operator behind the wheel. Parking is when the car is in park, powered down, and with nobody operating it. Both standing and parking are illegal in accessible parking spaces without the proper plates and permits.
Will I Get Points on My License for an Accessible Parking Ticket?
No. Accessible parking tickets are classified as non-moving violations. More specifically, these are parking violations. And parking violations almost never lead to insurance increases.
