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City to Start Enforcing New Disability Parking Law Thursday, Rahm Says

By DNAinfo Staff on January 15, 2014 12:47pm  | Updated on January 15, 2014 12:48pm

 Free metered parking will be available only to those with placards issued based on a doctor's statement.
Free metered parking will be available only to those with placards issued based on a doctor's statement.
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DNAinfo files/Serena Dai

CHICAGO — The city on Thursday will start enforcing a state law giving free metered parking only to those drivers who get special disability placards from their doctors.

Even if a driver has disability plates, parking without the yellow and gray placards from the Secretary of State's office will be ticketed $65 Downtown and $50 elsewhere if the meters aren't fed.

The state law went into effect on Jan. 1, but the city offered a 15-day grace period.

Previously, cars with any type of disability-related placard were able to park in a metered spot for free indefinitely.

To qualify for the new placards, doctors must attest that the driver in question has issues with one of the following:

 A sign on Lake Street Downtown explains the new handicapped parking regulations.
A sign on Lake Street Downtown explains the new handicapped parking regulations.
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DNAinfo/Angela Myers

• Feeding parking meters "due to the lack of fine motor control of both hands."

• Feeding meters because they need to use a wheelchair.

• Reaching above their heads "to a height of 42 inches above the ground."

• Walking more than 20 feet due to an orthopedic, neurological, cardiovascular or lung condition.