§ 10-3-1242. Parking in spaces reserved for persons with a disability.

(a)

It shall be unlawful:

(1)

for any person to park a vehicle that does not display disabled parking license plates, or an organizational, permanent or temporary removable windshield placard, issued by the department of motor vehicles, or by another state or country, for the purpose of identifying vehicles permitted to use parking spaces reserved for persons with a disability, in a parking space reserved for persons with a disability; or

(2)

for any person who is not limited or impaired in his ability to walk to park a vehicle that displays disabled parking license plates, or an organizational, permanent or temporary removable windshield placard, issued by the department of motor vehicles, or by another state or country, for the purpose of identifying vehicles permitted to use parking spaces reserved for persons with a disability, in a parking space that is reserved for persons with a disability, except when transporting a person with such a disability in the vehicle.

(b)

In any prosecution charging a violation of this section, proof that the vehicle described in the parking ticket, citation or summons was parked in violation of the section, together with proof of the registered owner of the vehicle at the time of the violation, shall constitute prima facie evidence that the registered owner of the vehicle was the person who committed the violation.

(c)

The penalty for the violation of this section shall be a fine of $500.

(d)

Parking spaces reserved for persons with a disability shall be identified by above-grade signs meeting the requirements of section 36-99.11 of the Code of Virginia (1950), as amended; provided, that no violation of this section shall be dismissed because of a property owner's failure to comply strictly with those requirements, so long as the parking space in question is clearly distinguishable as a space reserved for persons with a disability. (Ord. No. 3933, 6/14/97, Sec. 2; Ord. No. 4597, 6/13/09, Sec. 2)