Bill would require photo on Nevada handicap parking permits

By Michelle Rindels, Associated Press

Published Thursday, March 12, 2015 | 1:05 p.m.

Updated Thursday, March 12, 2015 | 5:15 p.m.

CARSON CITY — Nevada lawmakers are considering a bill aimed at preventing able-bodied people from taking up prime parking spaces meant for people with disabilities.

Democratic Assemblyman Richard Carrillo is sponsoring AB204, which would require handicap parking permits to be accompanied by a photo as an extra measure to curb abuse.

"These things are stolen, resold. It's a bigger issue than I realized," Carrillo said Thursday during a meeting of the Assembly Committee on Transportation. "That's the point of the bill — to make sure the misuse of the placard is kept down to a minimum."

The original bill would require the permits to be printed with a driver's license photo and feature a removable sleeve obscuring the photo for privacy. Permit holders would be required to show the placard if requested by a police officer.

Carrillo said the personalization would help prevent fraud by prompting people to think twice before using someone else's permit.

But Nevada's Department of Motor Vehicles estimated that implementing the change would cost more than $134,000 in the first year, considering the one-time costs for reprogramming computer systems. Current placards cost 16 cents apiece, while the new one would cost 91 cents apiece.

Carrillo proposed the cheaper alternative of printing the photo on accompanying paperwork, saying the issue was too important to be sidelined over a price tag.

"Anytime an able-bodied person fraudulently uses a parking placard, they are potentially limiting someone else's access," Carrillo said.

The committee did not vote on the bill Thursday.