257.675 Stopping, standing, or parking of vehicle; requirements; signs; traffic control orders; hearing; windshield placard; certificate of identification for disabled person; special registration plates; courtesy required; free parking sticker; display; confiscation; false statement, deception, or fraud as misdemeanor; penalty; violation as civil infraction; cancellation, revocation, or suspension; driver's, chauffeur's, or state personal identification card number. Sec. 675. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this section and this chapter, a vehicle stopped or parked upon a highway or street shall be stopped or parked with the wheels of the vehicle parallel to the roadway and within 12 inches of any curb existing at the right of the vehicle. (2) A local authority may by ordinance permit parking of a vehicle on a 1-way roadway with the vehicle's left wheels adjacent to and within 12 inches of any curb existing at the left of the vehicle. (3) A local authority may by ordinance permit angle parking on a roadway, except that angle parking shall not be permitted on a state trunk line highway. (4) The state transportation commission with respect to state trunk line highways and the board of county road commissioners with respect to county roads, acting jointly with the director of the department of state police, may place signs prohibiting or restricting the stopping, standing, or parking of vehicles on a highway where in the opinion of the officials as determined by an engineering survey, the stopping, standing, or parking is dangerous to those using the highway or where the stopping, standing, or parking of vehicles would unduly interfere with the free movement of traffic on the highway or street. The signs shall be official signs and a person shall not stop, stand, or park a vehicle in violation of the restrictions stated on the signs. The signs shall be installed only after a proper traffic order is filed with the county clerk. Upon the application to the state transportation commission by a home rule city affected by an order, opportunity shall be given to the city for a hearing before the state transportation commission, pursuant to the administrative procedures act of 1969, 1969 PA 306, MCL 24.201 to 24.328, except when an ordinance of the home rule city prohibits or restricts the parking of vehicles on a state trunk line highway; when the home rule city, by lawfully authorized official action, requests the state transportation department to prohibit or restrict parking on a state trunk line highway; or when the home rule city enters into a construction agreement with the state transportation department providing for the prohibition or restriction of parking on a state trunk line highway during or after the period of construction. Traffic control orders, so long as they affect parking upon a state trunk line highway within the corporate limits of a home rule city, are considered "rules" within the meaning of the administrative procedures act of 1969, 1969 PA 306, MCL 24.201 to 24.328, and upon application for a hearing by a home rule city, the proceedings before the state transportation commission shall be considered a "contested case" within the meaning of that act. (5) A disabled person may apply, on a form prescribed by the secretary of state, for a serially numbered nontransferable temporary or permanent windshield placard for the personal use of the disabled person. An individual who has a religious objection to having a medical examination by a physician may personally apply at a branch office of the secretary of state for a serially numbered nontransferable temporary or permanent windshield placard for the personal use of the disabled individual. If it appears obvious that the individual has a qualifying disability, the individual shall not be required to present a medical statement attesting to the disability. The application for and the issuance of the serially numbered nontransferable temporary or permanent windshield placard is subject to all of the following: (a) The secretary of state may issue to a disabled person with a temporary disability a temporary windshield placard that is valid for a period of not more than 6 months. (b) The secretary of state may issue to a disabled person with a permanent disability an original or renewal permanent windshield placard that is valid for at least 4 years. (c) An original certificate of identification or permanent windshield placard shall expire on the disabled person's fifth birthday after the date of issuance. (d) A renewal permanent windshield placard shall expire on the disabled person's fourth birthday after the date of renewal. (e) A person holding a certificate of identification or permanent windshield placard at any time within 45 days before the expiration of his or her certificate or placard may make application for a new or renewal placard as provided for in this section. However, if the person will be out of state during the 45 days immediately preceding expiration of the certificate or placard or for other good cause shown cannot apply for a placard within the 45-day period, application for a new or renewal placard may be made not more than 6 months before expiration of the certificate or placard. A placard issued or renewed under this subdivision shall expire as provided for in this subsection. (f) Upon application in the manner prescribed by the secretary of state for replacement of a lost, stolen, or destroyed certificate or placard described in this section, a disabled person or organization that provides specialized services to disabled persons may be issued a placard that in substance duplicates the original certificate or placard for a fee of $10.00. (g) A certificate or placard described in this section may be used by a person other than the disabled person for the sole purpose of transporting the disabled person. An organization that provides specialized services to disabled persons may apply for and receive a permanent windshield placard to be used in any motor vehicle actually transporting a disabled person. If the organization ceases to transport disabled persons, the placard shall be returned to the secretary of state for cancellation and destruction. (6) A disabled person with a certificate of identification, windshield placard, special registration plates issued under section 803d, a special registration plate issued under section 803f that has a tab for persons with disabilities attached, a certificate of identification or windshield placard from another state, or special registration plates from another state issued for persons with disabilities is entitled to courtesy in the parking of a vehicle. The courtesy shall relieve the disabled person or the person transporting the disabled person from liability for a violation with respect to parking, other than in violation of this act. A local authority may by ordinance prohibit parking on a street or highway to create a fire lane or to provide for the accommodation of heavy traffic during morning and afternoon rush hours, and the privileges extending to veterans and physically disabled persons under this subsection do not supersede that ordinance. (7) An application for an initial free parking sticker shall contain a certification by a physician licensed to practice in this state attesting to the nature and estimated duration of the applicant's disabling condition and verifying that the applicant qualifies for a free parking sticker. An individual who has a religious objection to having a medical examination by a physician may personally apply at a branch office of the secretary of state for an initial free parking sticker. If it appears obvious that the individual is unable to do 1 or more of the acts listed in subdivisions (a) to (d), the individual shall not be required to present a certification by a physician attesting to the nature and estimated duration of the applicant's disabling condition or verifying that the applicant qualifies for a free parking sticker. The applicant qualifies for a free parking sticker if the applicant is a licensed driver and the physician certifies or, if an individual is not required to have a certification by a physician, it is obvious that the applicant is unable to do 1 or more of the following: (a) Manage, manipulate, or insert coins, or obtain tickets or tokens in parking meters or ticket machines in parking lots or parking structures, due to the lack of fine motor control of both hands. (b) Reach above his or her head to a height of 42 inches from the ground, due to a lack of finger, hand, or upper extremity strength or mobility. (c) Approach a parking meter due to his or her use of a wheelchair or other device. (d) Walk more than 20 feet due to an orthopedic, neurological, cardiovascular, or lung condition in which the degree of debilitation is so severe that it almost completely impedes the ability to walk. (8) To be entitled to free parking in a metered space or in a publicly owned parking structure or area, a vehicle must properly display 1 of the following: (a) A windshield placard bearing a free parking sticker issued pursuant to this act. (b) A valid certificate of identification issued before the effective date of this act. (c) A valid windshield placard issued by another state. (d) A certificate of identification issued by another state. (e) A license plate for persons with disabilities issued by another state. (f) A special registration plate with a tab for persons with disabilities attached issued by another state. (9) A vehicle that does not properly display 1 of the items listed in subsection (8) is not entitled to free parking in a metered parking space or in a publicly owned parking area or structure, and the disabled person or vehicle operator shall pay all parking fees and may be responsible for a civil infraction. (10) Blindness that is not accompanied by an incapacity described in subsection (7) does not entitle a person to a free parking sticker. (11) The secretary of state shall attach a free parking sticker, in contrasting colors, to the windshield placard of a person certified as having an incapacity described in subsection (7). (12) A windshield placard issued under this section shall be displayed on the interior rearview mirror of the vehicle or, if there is no interior rearview mirror, on the lower left corner of the dashboard while the vehicle is parked or being parked by or under the direction of a disabled person pursuant to this section. (13) A certificate of identification issued before February 11, 1992 shall be displayed on the lower left corner of the dashboard of the parked vehicle. (14) Upon conviction of an offense involving a violation of the special privileges conferred upon a holder of a certificate of identification, windshield placard, or free parking sticker, a magistrate or judge trying the case, as a part of any penalty imposed, may confiscate the serially numbered certificate of identification, windshield placard, or free parking sticker and return the confiscated item or items to the secretary of state together with a certified copy of the sentence imposed. Upon receipt of a certificate of identification, windshield placard, or free parking sticker from a judge or magistrate, the secretary of state shall cancel and destroy the certificate, placard, or sticker, and the disabled person to whom it was issued shall not receive another certificate, placard, or sticker until he or she submits a completed application and presents a current medical statement attesting to his or her condition. A law enforcement officer who observes a misuse of a certificate of identification, windshield placard, or free parking sticker may immediately confiscate the certificate, placard, or sticker and forward it with a copy of his or her report to the secretary of state. (15) A person who intentionally makes a false statement of material fact or commits or attempts to commit a deception or fraud on a medical statement attesting to a disability, submitted in support of an application for a certificate of identification, windshield placard, free parking sticker, special registration plate, or tab for persons with disabilities under this section, section 803d, or section 803f, is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not more than $500.00 or imprisonment for not more than 30 days, or both. (16) A person who commits or attempts to commit a deception or fraud by 1 or more of the following methods is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than $500.00 or imprisonment for not more than 30 days, or both: (a) Using a certificate of identification, windshield placard, or free parking sticker issued under this section or by another state to provide transportation to a disabled person, when the person is not providing transportation to a disabled person. (b) Altering, modifying, or selling a certificate of identification, windshield placard, or free parking sticker issued under this section or by another state. (c) Copying or forging a certificate of identification, windshield placard, or free parking sticker described in this section or selling a copied or forged certificate, placard, or sticker described in this section. In the case of a violation of this subdivision, the fine described in this subsection shall be not less than $250.00. (d) Using a copied or forged certificate of identification, windshield placard, or free parking sticker described in this section. (e) Making a false statement of material fact to obtain or assist an individual in obtaining a certificate, placard, or sticker described in this section, a special registration plate under section 803d, or a tab for persons with disabilities under section 803f. (f) Knowingly using or displaying a certificate, placard, or sticker described in this section that has been canceled by the secretary of state. (17) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a person who violates this section is responsible for a civil infraction. (18) A certificate of identification issued before October 1, 1994 and containing an expiration date is valid for free parking in a space controlled or regulated by a meter on a public highway or in a publicly owned parking area or structure when the time for parking indicated on the meter has expired, or in a parking space clearly identified by an official sign as being reserved for use by disabled persons that is on public property or private property available for public use, until the expiration date printed on the certificate. The certificate expires and shall be canceled on its expiration date. (19) A certificate of identification issued before the effective date of this act that does not contain an expiration date expires and shall be canceled on October 1, 1994. (20) A certificate of identification shall not be issued or renewed by the secretary of state after October 1, 1994. (21) The secretary of state may cancel, revoke, or suspend a windshield placard, free parking sticker, or certificate of identification under any of the following circumstances: (a) The secretary of state determines that a windshield placard, free parking sticker, or certificate of identification was fraudulently or erroneously issued. (b) The secretary of state determines that a person has made or is making an unlawful use of his or her windshield placard, free parking sticker, or certificate of identification. (c) The secretary of state determines that a check or draft used to pay the required fee is not paid on its first presentation and is not paid upon reasonable notice or demand or that the required fee is paid by an invalid credit card. (d) The secretary of state determines that the person is no longer eligible to receive or use a windshield placard, free parking sticker, or certificate of identification. (e) The secretary of state determines that the owner has committed an offense under this act involving a windshield placard, free parking sticker, or certificate of identification. (f) A person has violated this act and the secretary of state is authorized under this act to cancel, revoke, or suspend a windshield placard, free parking sticker, or certificate of identification for that violation. (g) The secretary of state receives notice from another state or foreign country that a windshield placard, free parking sticker, or certificate of identification issued by the secretary of state has been surrendered by the owner or seized in conformity with the laws of that other state or foreign country, or has been improperly used or displayed in violation of the laws of that other state or foreign country. (22) Before a cancellation, revocation, or suspension under subsection (21), the person affected thereby shall be given notice and an opportunity to be heard. (23) A windshield placard issued to a disabled person shall bear the disabled person's driver's or chauffeur's license number or the number on his or her official state personal identification card issued under 1972 PA 222, MCL 28.291 to 28.300.

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