Deerfield Beach, a beautiful coastal city, including areas around Pioneer Park, provides designated parking spaces for individuals with disabilities. To ensure compliance and avoid penalties, it’s crucial to understand and adhere to the local disabled parking regulations. This guide outlines the essential rules for disabled parking in Deerfield Beach, focusing on on-street and parking lot scenarios.
Key Regulations for Disabled Parking in Deerfield Beach
Displaying Your Disabled Placard
The most fundamental rule is the visible display of your disabled parking placard. Whether you are parked in a designated disabled parking space, you must visibly hang your disabled placard from your rearview mirror throughout your entire parking duration. Failure to display the placard clearly will result in a parking citation with a significant fine of $250.00.
On-Street Parking and Complimentary Hours
For on-street, non-designated parking spaces, disabled individuals are entitled to complimentary parking for a maximum of four hours. To avail of this, you need to register your vehicle license plate at a nearby multi-space parking meter. It’s important to note that exceeding the four-hour complimentary period will require payment at the prevailing parking rates. Crucially, registering your license plate is mandatory even for complimentary parking. Failure to register your license plate will lead to a parking ticket and a $30.00 fine.
Parking Lots and Payment Requirements
It is critical to understand that the four-hour complimentary parking benefit applies only to on-street parking spaces. Complimentary parking is not available in any parking lot in Deerfield Beach. If you park in a non-handicap space within a parking lot, you are required to pay the standard parking rates, regardless of having a disabled placard. However, designated disabled parking spaces in parking lots require only the visible display of the placard and do not necessitate license plate registration or payment unless parking time exceeds any posted limits for all users.
How to Register Your License Plate at a Meter for On-Street Complimentary Parking
If parking on-street in a non-designated space and wishing to utilize the complimentary four hours:
- Ensure your Disabled Placard is visibly hanging from your rearview mirror.
- Locate the nearest multi-space parking meter or use the ParkMobile mobile app for registration.
- At the meter, select the blue DISABLED PARKING option on the screen.
- Carefully enter your vehicle’s license plate number into the meter.
- Confirm the entered license plate by pressing NEXT. If you need to correct it, press BACK.
- Upon successful registration, the meter will issue a receipt confirming your four hours of complimentary parking. Always ensure you receive a receipt; NO RECEIPT = NO TRANSACTION.
Important Reminders:
- If you are parked in a designated disabled parking space, registration at the meter is not required. Simply display your placard.
- License plate registration for complimentary parking is only for on-street, non-designated parking spaces.
- In parking lots, always pay the prevailing rates if parked in a non-disabled space.
Exceptions to Registration and Payment
Certain vehicle types are exempt from these registration and payment requirements, including:
- Vehicles equipped with specialized foot/hand controls.
- Vehicles with ramps for accessibility.
- Vehicles displaying a ‘DV’ (disabled veteran) license plate.
- Vehicles possessing a valid Florida toll exemption permit.
These exceptions are based on Florida State Statutes (F.S.S. 316.1964(8)).
Conclusion
Navigating parking regulations with a disability in Deerfield Beach, particularly around popular areas like Pioneer Park, requires attention to these specific rules. By properly displaying your placard, understanding the on-street and parking lot differences, and registering your license plate when necessary, you can ensure a hassle-free parking experience and avoid unnecessary fines. Always prioritize checking for any updated regulations from the City of Deerfield Beach for the most current information.
