(a) For the purposes of this section:
(1) “Special license plate” means a license plate displaying the symbol of access in a size identical to that of the letters or numerals on the plate and in a color that contrasts with the background color of the plate;
(2) “Removable windshield placard” means a two-sided, hanger-style placard which bears on both of its sides: (A) The symbol of access in a height of three inches or more centered on such placard and colored white on a blue background; (B) a unique identification number; (C) a date of expiration; (D) a statement indicating that the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles issued such placard; and (E) the words “Accessibility Parking Permit”;
(3) “Temporary removable windshield placard” means a placard that is the same as a removable windshield placard except that the symbol of access appears on a red background;
(4) “Person with disabilities” means a person with disabilities which limit or impair the ability to walk, as defined in 23 CFR 1235.2;
(5) “Symbol of access” means the symbol designated by the Commissioner of Administrative Services pursuant to section 29-269b used to indicate access for persons with disabilities; and
(6) “Health care professional” means a licensed physician, licensed physician assistant, advanced practice registered nurse licensed in accordance with the provisions of chapter 378, psychiatrist who is employed by, or under contract with, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, ophthalmologist or optometrist.
(b) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall accept applications and renewal applications for removable windshield placards from (1) any person who is blind, as defined in section 1-1f ; (2) any person with disabilities; (3) any parent or guardian of any person who is blind or any person with disabilities, if such person is under eighteen years of age at the time of application; (4) any parent or guardian of any person who is blind or any person with disabilities, if such person is unable to request or complete an application; and (5) any organization which meets criteria established by the commissioner and which certifies to the commissioner's satisfaction that the vehicle for which a placard is requested is primarily used to transport persons who are blind or persons with disabilities. Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, on and after October 1, 2011, the commissioner shall not accept applications for special license plates, but shall accept renewal applications for such plates that were issued prior to October 1, 2011. No person shall be issued a placard in accordance with this section unless such person is the holder of a valid motor vehicle operator's license, or identification card issued in accordance with the provisions of section 1-1h . The commissioner may adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, for the issuance of placards to persons who, by reason of hardship, do not hold or cannot obtain an operator's license or identification card. The commissioner shall maintain a record of each placard issued to any such person. Such applications and renewal applications shall be on a form prescribed by the commissioner. The application and renewal application shall include: (A) Certification by a licensed physician, a licensed physician assistant, an advanced practice registered nurse licensed in accordance with the provisions of chapter 378, or a member of the driver training unit for persons with disabilities established pursuant to section 14-11b , that the applicant meets the definition of a person with a disability which limits or impairs the ability to walk, as defined in 23 CFR 1235.2, as amended from time to time; or (B) certification by a psychiatrist who is employed by, or under contract with, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs that the applicant (i) is a veteran, as defined in subsection (a) of section 27-103 , who has post-traumatic stress disorder certified as service-connected by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, and (ii) meets the definition of a person with a disability which limits or impairs the ability to walk, as defined in 23 CFR 1235.2, as amended from time to time. In the case of persons who are blind, the application or renewal application shall include certification of legal blindness made by the Department of Aging and Disability Services, an ophthalmologist or an optometrist. Any certification issued by a health care professional pursuant to this section shall be based upon such person's professional opinion after having completed a medically reasonable assessment of the applicant's medical history and current medical condition made in the course of a bona fide health care professional-patient relationship. Any person who makes a certification required by this subsection shall sign the application or renewal application under penalty of false statement pursuant to section 53a-157b . The commissioner, in said commissioner's discretion, may accept the discharge papers of a disabled veteran, as defined in section 14-254 , in lieu of such certification. The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles may require additional certification at the time of the original application or at any time thereafter. If a person who has been requested to submit additional certification fails to do so within thirty days of the request, or if such additional certification is deemed by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles to be unfavorable to the applicant, the commissioner may refuse to issue or, if already issued, suspend or revoke such special license plate or placard. The commissioner shall not issue more than one placard per applicant, except the commissioner shall issue one placard to each applicant who is a parent or guardian of any person who is blind or any person with disabilities, provided no more than two such placards shall be issued on behalf of such person. The fee for the issuance of a temporary removable windshield placard shall be five dollars. Any person whose application has been denied or whose special license plate or placard has been suspended or revoked shall be afforded an opportunity for a hearing in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54.
(c) Any person who meets the requirements to obtain a removable windshield placard pursuant to subsection (b) of this section and who has a motorcycle registered in such person's name shall be issued, upon approval of the application, number plates in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of section 14-21b , which shall bear letters or numerals or any combination thereof followed by the symbol of access. The registration of any motorcycle for which a special license plate is issued shall expire and be renewed as provided in section 14-22 and be subject to the fee provisions of section 14-49 . No person shall be issued such number plates for the registration of more than two motorcycles. Any person eligible to obtain a special license plate pursuant to this section who transfers the expired registration of a motorcycle owned by such person and replaces such number plate with a special license plate shall be exempt from payment of any fee for such transfer or replacement. A person who obtains a special plate or plates under this subsection may also obtain a removable windshield placard in accordance with subsection (b) of this section.
(d) (1) Any placard issued pursuant to this section shall be displayed by hanging it from the front windshield rearview mirror of the vehicle when utilizing a parking space reserved for persons who are blind and persons with disabilities. If there is no rearview mirror in such vehicle, the placard shall be displayed in clear view on the dashboard of such vehicle.
(2) On and after October 1, 2023, any placard issued pursuant to this section shall not bear the words “parking permit for persons with disabilities”. Any placard issued prior to October 1, 2023, that is otherwise valid, shall remain valid, according to its terms, until the expiration of such placard.
(e) Vehicles displaying a special license plate or a placard issued pursuant to this section or by authorities of other states or countries for the purpose of identifying vehicles permitted to utilize parking spaces reserved for persons who are blind and persons with disabilities, shall be allowed to park in an area where parking is legally permissible, for an unlimited period of time without penalty, notwithstanding the period of time indicated as lawful by any (1) parking meter, or (2) sign erected and maintained in accordance with the provisions of chapter 249, provided the operator of or a passenger in such motor vehicle is a person who is blind or a person with disabilities. A placard shall not be displayed on any motor vehicle when such vehicle is not being operated by or carrying as a passenger a person who is blind or a person with disabilities to whom the placard was issued. Vehicles bearing a special license plate shall not utilize parking spaces reserved for persons who are blind and persons with disabilities or the cross hatch abutting such spaces when such vehicles are not being operated by or carrying as a passenger a person who is blind or a person with disabilities to whom such special license plate was issued.
(f) Only motor vehicles displaying a plate or placard issued pursuant to this section shall be authorized to (1) park in public or private areas reserved for exclusive use by persons who are blind or persons with disabilities, and (2) to use the cross hatch abutting such areas, except that any ambulance, as defined in section 19a-175 , which is transporting a patient may park in such area for a period not to exceed fifteen minutes while assisting such patient. Any motor vehicle parked or using the cross hatch in violation of the provisions of this subsection for the third or subsequent time shall be subject to being towed from such designated area. Such vehicle shall be impounded until payment of any fines incurred is received. No person, firm or corporation engaged in the business of leasing or renting motor vehicles without drivers in this state may be held liable for any acts of the lessee constituting a violation of the provisions of this subsection. Any municipal police officer who observes a motor vehicle parked in violation of this subsection shall issue a written warning or a summons for such violation.
(g) The Office of the State Traffic Administration, on any state highway, or local traffic authority, on any highway or street under its control, shall establish parking spaces in parking areas for twenty or more cars in which parking shall be prohibited to all motor vehicles except vehicles displaying a special license plate or a placard issued pursuant to this section. Parking spaces in which parking shall be prohibited to all motor vehicles except vehicles displaying such special plate or placard shall be established in private parking areas for two hundred or more cars according to the following schedule: