When I need a handicap placard in New Mexico, how can I get one?

Handicap placards are crucial for individuals with disabilities, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), allowing them to park in designated spaces. However, there are common misconceptions about their use and the process to obtain them.

How to Obtain a Handicap Placard

Getting a handicap placard is a straightforward process. Applicants can visit the MVD Online website, print the necessary form, and then have it completed by their physician.

Eligibility for a handicap placard includes several conditions:

• Inability to walk 100 feet without stopping to rest
• Need for a brace, cane, crutch, prosthetic device, wheelchair, or other assistive device to walk
• Severe lung disease limiting forced respiratory volume to less than one liter or arterial oxygen tension below 60 millimeters on room air at rest
• Use of portable oxygen
• Severe cardiac condition
• Significant difficulty walking due to arthritic, neurologic, or orthopedic conditions, including inability to climb or descend more than 10 stairs

The physician will also determine if the placard should be permanent or temporary. Temporary placards can be issued for up to one year.

Once the form is completed, it can be submitted to any MVD office, where the placard can be printed and used immediately. “The state provides handicap placards free of charge,” says Juliet Casalduc, deputy director of central operations for the Motor Vehicle Division. “There is no cost associated with obtaining one.”

Rules for Using Handicap Placards in Albuquerque

Handicap placards are valid for use in designated handicapped parking spots. However, the person to whom the placard is issued must be present in the vehicle for it to be valid. “For example, my mom has a mobility placard. I can only use it when my mom is with me because the placard is assigned to her, not to the person driving,” explains Casalduc. The Albuquerque Police Department imposes a $350 fine for improper use of a handicap placard.

The form notes that law enforcement officials have access to information on each issued placard and may request identification to confirm the placard holder’s eligibility. Generally, the photo included with the placard is sufficient for identification.

For more information, visit the MVD website.