New rule requires renewals of disabled parking placards

CALIFORNIA DMV

Under a state law cracking down on misuse of disabled parking placards, renewal notices went out in December to millions of Californians.

The protocol, in effect under SB 611, was enacted in 2017. It requires holders of permanent placards to submit a signed renewal every six years. Previously, the Department of Motor Vehicles renewed permanent placards automatically with no action required by customers.

Those who get the notice can send in a signature on the paper notice or submit an electronic signature by scanning a QR code on the notice or going to dmv.ca.gov/dpp.

New placards started going out in February; the old ones expire on June 30, 2023.

Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation by then-state Sen. Jerry Hill to help prevent abuse and tighten oversight of the DMV’s parking placard and license plate program for motorists with disabilities.

The law was triggered by an audit revealing that up to 35,000 parking placards in use were in the names of deceased people and 26,000 were to holders over the age of 100, though California had just 8,000 centenarians in 2014.

“We must block scofflaws and fraudsters from gaming the DMV’s placard and license plate program for drivers with disabilities and ensure that the motorists who need this important program have access to its benefits,” Hill wrote in a statement in 2017. “These changes to state law, along with changes recently made by the DMV, will go a long way toward reducing fraud and abuse.” DMV Placard Facts

• Beginning in December, the DMV mailed renewal notices to approximately 2 million permanent placard holders, who can skip signing and sending the paper notice back to the DMV by providing an electronic signature online.

• This can be done by scanning the QR code on the notice or through the online option at dmv.ca.gov/dpp.

• Whether online or by mail —there is no need to visit an office—placard holders must provide a signed response, or they will not receive their new placard before their current one expires on June 30, 2023.

• The DMV began mailing new placards in February to customers who have completed the process.

• Permanent placard holders will receive a renewal notice every six years. •The DMV has taken steps to offer more digital services. Most DMV tasks do not require an office visit.

• The DMV encourages customers to use its online services and other service channels to complete transactions, including eligible driver’s license and vehicle registration renewals.

• Customers can also use the Service Advisor on the DMV website to learn their options to complete DMV tasks.

• To sign up for paperless vehicle registration and driver’s license renewal notices, customers must sign in or create a secure online account at dmv.ca.gov and then opt in.

—from the California DMV