Disabled Parking Placards

The Elgin Police Department is able to provide temporary disabled parking placards to Elgin residents. There is no charge for this service. 

 Who is eligible?

Any Elgin resident is eligible to receive a disabled parking placard if he or she is unable to walk 200 feet without stopping to rest and:

• cannot walk without the assistance of another person, prosthetic device, wheelchair, or other assistive device;
• is restricted by lung disease to such a degree that forced (respiratory) expiratory volume (FEV) in 1 second, when measured by spirometry, is less than 1 liter;
• must use portable oxygen;
• have a Class III or Class IV cardiac condition according to standards set by the American Heart Association, or be severely limited in the ability to walk due to an arthritic, neurological, or orthopedic condition.

How do I obtain a disability parking placard?

An applicant must complete the Persons with Disabilities Certification for Parking Placard. Part one will be completed by the applicant. Your physician must complete section two. Once completed, stop in the police department on Wednesday's between 8:00 am and 12:00 pm to obtain your placard. If you are unable to come during these hours please contact 847-289-2573 to schedule an appointment. 

How long are these handicap placards valid?

These placards are for valid for 90 days. If applying for a permanent placard or disability plates you can use this placard to park in the spaces until you receive your permanent placard from the Secretary of the State Office. Once you receive the new placard/license plate, the temporary placard will no longer be valid.

Can I to park in a meter parking/ time limit parking?

You can park in metered parking, but you are still responsible for paying the required fees and /or stay within the allotted time limit.

If I own more than one vehicle can I get a placard for each vehicle?

Only one disability parking placard will be issued to an applicant. A placard issued may be used in any vehicle, provided the placard holder is either a driver or passenger and will be entering or exiting the vehicle while it is parking in the designated disability parking space. Placards are non-transferable. The authorized holder of the placard must be present at the time parking privileges are being used. Violators are subject to a $600 fine, a driver's license suspension, and suspension/revocation of the disability placard.

Placards must be displayed in clear view, hanging from the rear view mirror or on the dashboard. Disability placards do not allow authorized holders to park in restricted parking areas.

Police have clear authority to enforce the provisions of the Parking Program from Persons with Disabilities on private property such as at a mall, grocery or retail store.

Upon request of a police officer, a parking program user must present photo identification to verify that he/she is authorized holder of the disability placard.

Are the placards honored only in Elgin?

The placards are valid in Illinois. Every state has different rules; when a placard owner travels, they would need to check with the state that they are traveling to in order to verify validity.