A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to restrict parking in van‑accessible handicapped parking spaces to qualifying vans and to direct the division of motor vehicles to study ways to decrease the misuse of windshield placards issued to handicapped persons.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 20‑37.6 reads as rewritten:
"§ 20‑37.6.  Parking privileges for handicapped drivers and passengers.
(a)	General Parking. – Any vehicle that is driven by or is transporting a person who is handicapped and that displays a distinguishing license plate, a removable windshield placard, or a temporary removable windshield placard may be parked for unlimited periods in parking zones restricted as to the length of time parking is permitted. This provision has no application to those zones or during times in which the stopping, parking, or standing of all vehicles is prohibited or which are reserved for special types of vehicles. Except as provided in subsection (a1) of this section, any qualifying vehicle may park in spaces designated as restricted to vehicles driven by or transporting the handicapped.
(a1)	Van‑Accessible Parking. – Only a van that is driven by or is transporting a person who is handicapped and that displays a distinguishing license plate, a removable windshield placard, or a temporary removable windshield placard may park in spaces (i) designated as van‑accessible and (ii) restricted to vehicles driven by or transporting the handicapped.
(b)	Handicapped Car Owners; Distinguishing License Plates. – If the handicapped person is a registered owner of a vehicle, the owner may apply for and display a distinguishing license plate. This license plate shall be issued for the normal fee applicable to standard license plates. Any vehicle owner who qualifies for a distinguishing license plate may also receive one removable windshield placard.
…."
SECTION 2.  The Division of Motor Vehicles shall study ways to decrease the misuse of windshield placards issued to handicapped persons. Included within this study shall be the cost, feasibility, and advisability of (i) requiring the inclusion of more personally identifying information on the windshield placard, including a picture of the handicapped person who was issued the placard, (ii) linking the windshield placard to the handicapped person's drivers license or special identification card, and (iii) linking the windshield placard to the license plate issued to the handicapped person or the owner of the vehicle in which the handicapped person is or will be transported. The Division shall report its findings and recommendations, including any legislative proposals, to the Joint Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee on or before January 15, 2016.
SECTION 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law and applies to offenses committed on or after that date.