Disability Plates - Texas only allows 1 plate per Operator! Is the Law the same in your State? What's Your Opinion?

[Ages]

I recently purchased my 1st Spyder, a 2024 RT Sea to Sky. I'm 62 and disabled due to an Ankle Replacement that didn't go right and left me cane dependent.

I went to register my Spyder at my local Texas DMV Office. Much to my surprise they would only give me handicapped disability plates for my Spyder if I surrendered my handicapped disability plates from my Pick-up truck. To make a long story short, Texas for some reason will only allow an operator to possess 1 disability license plate and any other vehicle they own must use a placard displayed through the windshield, usually hung from one's mirror.

Quite frankly, I'm more than a bit irritated by this and will be sending correspondence to my Federal and State Legislators to try and get the law to allow handicapped people to be granted more than one disability plate. A friend of mine told me that if you are a disabled veteran the State allows you to have two handicapped license plates, any owned vehicle beyond that would have to have a placard. To me, disabled is disabled, it shouldn't matter whether one is a disabled veteran or not, every handicapped operator should be entitled to at least two handicapped license plates IMHO.

Obviously one won't be hanging a placard from their Spyder. The disability license plate would have to go on the Spyder. Most people who are not handicapped will probably think that this is no big deal. On the other hand, handicapped operators will certainly be able to relate to the frustration of traveling to your destination only to discover that you've left your placard in your other vehicle, which becomes a real "pain" when you have to walk a long distance to enter a store or local business. Is the law the same in your State?

 

[Ages]

Just tried to register my 2024 RT Sea to Sky at my local Texas DMV. Sadly they would only issue me a handicap MC plate if I surrendered my Pick-up Truck handicapped plate. I find it ridiculous that Texas will only allow a handicapped operator one plate and one placard, unless you are a disabled veteran. I'm told that if you are a disabled veteran you are allowed two handicapped license plates. Handicapped is handicapped, it shouldn't matter whether or not one is a disabled veteran. BTW, I firmly support disabled veterans.

 

[Bfromla]

Congrats & welcome. Don’t know 'bout veteran status getting two plates. But ya, LoUiSiAna is the same - one plate & 2 hanging cards. Not really much issues I guess - you can only drive one at a time any way right? In any instance where you don’t have either - say, you rode somewhere with a bud - simply leave your handicap ID on the dash somewhere visible, ours do not provide personal info just a pic & validation of your status, with an expiration date. Keep your hangers somewhere in your vehicles, the glove box or wherever. Permanent hanging on your mirrors, the sun will fade them & you can even "Block vision" your vision. As can anything hanging from rear view mirrors, according to driving instructors, Air fresheners included.

 

[Bangorbob]

Nevada is 2 placards 1 plate or 1 placard and all other vehicles can have plates.

 

[Bfromla]

There are ways. Sorry misplaced pics at the moment. One person had sandwiched place card between some thick clear plastic with a hole to fit lock through. I personally tried removing & mounting with windshield bolts - personally not happy with results. Prefer plates.

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[2dogs]

Mexifornia, one plate two placards. Plate on my F350 because they don't charge any weight fees. Saves $$$$. My Spyder had a placard stolen and the Dept of Motor Vehicles replaced it and told me placards are the most reported stolen item in their inventory. Go figure? A buddy of mine has a Tri-glide with a with a DV plate. He avoids parking it in disabled spots because of too much vandalism to his trike. Again, go figure? I think aholes are being born and raised now in greater numbers than normal honest people. But then again, I could be wrong on that one.

 

[RayBJ]

Like my pappy used to say, "There are more horse's asses in the world than horses".

 

[2dogs]

A thought. How about laminating a DV placard into the bottom portion of the spyder's windshield? Don't use that portion of the windshield to see through anyway. Yea, nay?

 

[Dasmoetorhead]

Just tried to register my 2024 RT Sea to Sky at my local Texas DMV. Sadly they would only issue me a handicap MC plate if I surrendered my Pick-up Truck handicapped plate. I find it ridiculous that Texas will only allow a handicapped operator one plate and one placard, unless you are a disabled veteran. I'm told that if you are a disabled veteran you are allowed two handicapped license plates. Handicapped is handicapped, it shouldn't matter whether or not one is a disabled veteran. BTW, I firmly support disabled veterans.

If it was me and the law hadn't changed, I'd put the plate on the Spyder & and hang the placard on my pickup. Reason would be because the plate on the Spyder is less likely to walk off than trying to attach a placard somehow.

 

[Ages]

If it was me and the law hadn't changed, I'd put the plate on the Spyder & and hang the placard on my pickup. Reason would be because the plate on the Spyder is less likely to walk off than trying to attach a placard somehow.

True, but if they can allow others to have two handicapped plates for separate vehicles then they should allow all handicapped people to have two plates as well. Hopefully we can get the law changed.

 

[Peter Aawen]

Here in South Oz (& I'm pretty sure the rest of Oz is the same), once proven 'qualified', you can get issued (once you pay for it) ONE (1) 'Hanging placard', which is effectively a 300mm/1' long x 100mm/4" wide hanger with a tiny holographic ID box and a placcy sleeve/spot for a 'Disability Parking Permit' ID type card which MUST be displayed in/with the Hanging Placard to be valid. Either by itself is not valid, and if you display either by themselves, it's still pretty certain that you'll be fined for 'Parking in a Disability Parking spot without displaying both the Placard & ID'. (Do you really need to ask me how I found that out! )

This placard thing is pretty large, which might be OK if you drive a car all the time, but it's almost impossible to find anywhere on the Spyder to put it &/or hang it. However, I discovered that:
1). It's not illegal to 'customise' the placard and cut the hook part off the top, effectively trimming the thing down to 150mm x 100mm in size; and
2). As long as the words 'Disability Parking Permit' and the holographic square are still visible on the hanger & the ID type card displaying the matching permit number is clearly visible, you're good to go and legit!

So now my cut down 'hanger' slides into the gap between the RT's windscreen support frame & the screen itself, where it's clearly displaying all the necessary and not easily removable by any of the low-life types who seem to delight in just making life harder for others. And it's small enough/easy enough for me to remove & take with me when I drive anything else, where I can leave it on the dash top or slide it into the corner of the windscreen whenever I park - IF I can ever find a vacant disability car park slot!

 

[Ages]

A thought. How about laminating a DV placard into the bottom portion of the spyder's windshield? Don't use that portion of the windshield to see through anyway. Yea, nay?

That's an option. I'd rather see the law changed to allow all handicapped people to have two plates for separate vehicles.

 

[Ages]

Mexifornia, one plate two placards. Plate on my F350 because they don't charge any weight fees. Saves $$$$. My Spyder had a placard stolen and the Dept of Motor Vehicles replaced it and told me placards are the most reported stolen item in their inventory. Go figure? A buddy of mine has a Tri-glide with a with a DV plate. He avoids parking it in disabled spots because of too much vandalism to his trike. Again, go figure? I think aholes are being born and raised now in greater numbers than normal honest people. But then again, I could be wrong on that one.

I bought my truck in Maine and drove it back to Texas. Along the way I stopped at a Holiday Inn Express in Tennesse. Almost all of the parking slots were taken, there were multiple slots taken by pick-ups with trailers. I saw a Handicapped spot not to far from the front entrance. I had dealer paper tags on my truck. They don't issue paper dealer handicapped tags. I parked in the Handicapped space, went in and asked the manager if that would be ok, being that I am handicapped. The Manager told me it was fine for me to park there. Turns out they had a bunch of construction workers staying at the hotel. The next morning when I went to leave somebody had drilled a long screw into the sidewall of my rear tire. Must of thought I wasn't handicapped. I threw on the spare and had to buy a new tire at the local dealership. Had to far to go.

 

[Bfromla]

I bought my truck in Maine and drove it back to Texas. Along the way I stopped at a Holiday Inn Express in Tennesse. Almost all of the parking slots were taken, there were multiple slots taken by pick-ups with trailers. I saw a Handicapped spot not to far from the front entrance. I had dealer paper tags on my truck. They don't issue paper dealer handicapped tags. I parked in the Handicapped space, went in and asked the manager if that would be ok, being that I am handicapped. The Manager told me it was fine for me to park there. Turns out they had a bunch of construction workers staying at the hotel. The next morning when I went to leave somebody had drilled a long screw into the sidewall of my rear tire. Must of thought I wasn't handicapped. I threw on the spare and had to buy a new tire at the local dealership. Had to far to go.

Sorry to hear. I have had only 1 questionable encounter, upon parking in only available spot - someone firmly shouted out “Not motorcycle parking” & began to... (nothing threatening). I calmly waited, removing helmet, & the Sir, checking surroundings. When they arrived - I thanked them for pointing out, plz look at my tags, & notice the dent work on the skull. I was able to share what GOD has got me through & I am still able to enjoy. Thanked them again for taking effort in pointing out handicap parking & trying keeping non handicap from taking, also informed them of the loading zones (slash areas beside parking) often ignored but just as restricted & NEEDED for lifts & opening doors wide enough.

 

[Haze]

In Washington state I have a Disability Plate on the rear of the Spyder.
I also made a reduced size (50%) copy of my Hang Tag and laminated it to the inside lower right corner of my windshield.
Overkill, maybe but haven't had any issues.

 

[Air Force PAO]

Hmmm... I live in Hays County, TEXAS. I am 60% disabled by VA. I have a disabled plate for my Equinox and a disabled plate for my 2016 RT. The Equinox plate was free. The Spyder cost me $3. Both plates have the "wheelchair" symbol.

@Ages, in Texas the DMV is where you get driver licenses. The County Tax Assessor is where you register your vehicle and get license plates.

What county are you in?

 

[racoon]

I just checked the Tennessee BMV site, and it says you can have multiple handicap license plates, but only the first one is free. You have to pay the normal fees for any additional plates.

It does say you can also register for multiple placards/hang tags for use in vehicles that don't have handicap plates.

 

[Ages]

Hmmm... I live in Hays County, TEXAS. I am 60% disabled by VA. I have a disabled plate for my Equinox and a disabled plate for my 2016 RT. The Equinox plate was free. The Spyder cost me $3. Both plates have the "wheelchair" symbol.

@Ages, in Texas the DMV is where you get driver licenses. The County Tax Assessor is where you register your vehicle and get license plates.

What county are you in?

It was the the County Tax Assessor, not DMV, my terminology was incorrect. I believe you were able to obtain multiple disability plates because you are a Disabled Veteran. They should allow the same for all disabled people. I'm certainly not knocking Disabled Veterans, I have nothing but the utmost respect for all who have served in our military. I served my Country in Federal Law Enforcement for 25 years until my on the job injury took me out.

 

[Raven]

Saw a blond park in a handicap spot.
She gets out and seemed healthy to us.
When it was pointed out to her that she was parked in a handicap spot, we got a one fingered salute.
Then one of the smartasses (who might have me) says. Sorry, I didn't realize you are handicapped, you must be a natural Blond.

 

[Cobranut]

I just checked VA DMV and it appears you can only get one plate and one placard. I have a placard, and was planning on getting disabled plates for the three cars that I regularly drive, plus the Spyder, as well as a few placards to keep in my other vehicles.
I'm getting CRS, and it's a pain to go searching vehicles for my placard, or as usual, realizing it's not in the car I'm driving at the time.
It's already illegal for anyone else to use your placard, and it's required that I carry the disabled ID card as well, so I don't see the point in further inconveniencing those by limiting the number of plates and placards.
This restriction should be eliminated in all states.