SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2214

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninetieth General Court
(2017-2018)

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SECTION 1.  Section 2 of chapter 90 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2016 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “handicapped”, in line 303, the following words:- ; and provided further, that the registrar may, at the registrar’s discretion, waive the requirement that an agency of the commonwealth prominently display the name of the agency on any such vehicle.  Nothing in this paragraph shall permit an employee of an agency or political subdivision of the commonwealth or of an organization or institution to park such a vehicle in a designated handicapped parking space when not transporting a handicapped person. 

SECTION 2. The ninth paragraph of said section 2 of said chapter 90, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the seventh sentence the following sentence:- Obstruction of the placard number or expiration date, including the failure to display the placard in a way that makes the placard number or expiration date readily visible through the windshield or the failure to follow instructions printed on the placard, shall be punished by a fine of $50.

SECTION 3.  Said ninth paragraph of said section 2 of said chapter 90, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting after the eighth sentence the following sentence:- The registrar may require documents or information from an applicant to verify information contained in an application for a handicapped plate or placard and may refuse to process the application until such documentation or information is provided to the registrar by the applicant.

SECTION 4. Said section 2 of said chapter 90, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 330, the word “shall” and inserting in place thereof  the following words:- , including the use or display of a handicapped plate or placard belonging to a deceased person, shall.

SECTION 5.  Said section 2 of said chapter 90, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 335, the figure “30” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- 60.

SECTION 6.  Said section 2 of said chapter 90, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 336, the figure “90” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- 120.

SECTION 7.  The ninth paragraph of said section 2 of said chapter 90, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the twelfth sentence the following 6 sentences:- The registrar may investigate allegations that an individual has falsely obtained a handicapped plate or placard or is using a handicapped plate or placard without meeting eligibility requirements. Upon a finding of ineligibility or that a handicapped plate or placard was falsely obtained, the registrar may, in addition to any other penalties authorized by this chapter, revoke the handicapped plate or placard.  An application for a handicapped plate or placard or a report of a lost or stolen handicapped plate or placard shall be made under the penalties of perjury.  A person who intentionally makes a false statement related to their eligibility in an application for a handicapped plate or placard, including for the renewal of a handicapped plate or placard or when reporting a handicapped plate or placard lost or stolen, shall be subject to a fine of $500 for a first offense and $1,000 for a second or subsequent offense.  The registrar shall require the return of a handicapped plate or placard that has been revoked or canceled.  Whoever fails to return a handicapped plate or placard that has been revoked or canceled shall be subject to a fine of $100.

SECTION 8.  Section 24B of said chapter 90, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “vehicles”, in line 30, the following words:- , a special parking identification disability placard.

SECTION 9.  Said section 24B of said chapter 90, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting after the word “vehicles”, in line 32, the following words:- , a special parking identification placard under section 2.

SECTION 10.  Said section 24B of said chapter 90, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting after the word “operate”, in line 34, the following words:- , special parking identification placards under section 2.

SECTION 11.  Said section 24B of said chapter 90, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting after the word “vehicles”, in lines 45 and 50, the following words, in each instance:- or a special parking identification placard under section 2.

SECTION 12.  Said section 24B of said chapter 90, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting after the word “license”, in line 48, the following words:- , permit or placard.

SECTION 13.  This act shall take effect on July 1, 2018.