Section 52. Designated Handicapped Parking 14-52
Section 52. Designated Handicapped Parking 14-52 A. Designated parking spaces for vehicles owned and operated by disable veteran, or by handicapped persons and bearing the distinctive number place, or placards authorized by Massachusetts General Laws Annotated Chapter 90 Section 2 or distinctive number plate, or placards or other devices authorized and issued for the same purpose by any other state, country, province, or territory shall be provided in public and private off- street parking areas. B. Any person or body that has lawful control of a public or private way, or of improved or enclosed property used as off-street parking areas for business, shopping, malls, theaters, auditoriums, sporting or recreational facilities, cultural centers, multi-unit residential dwellings for rent or lease for any term, or for any other area, where the public has a right of access as invitees or licensees shall be required to reserve spaces in said off- street parking areas for any vehicle owned an/or operated by a disabled veteran or handicapped person whose vehicle displays the distinguishing license plate or placard authorized by Section A according to the following formula: Total Spaces Required Handicapped Parking 15 - 25 1 space 26 - 40 2 spaces 41 - 75 3 spaces 70 - 100 4 spaces 101 - 150 5 spaces 151 - 200 6 spaces 201 - 300 7 spaces 301 - 400 8 spaces 401 - 500 9 spaces 14-52 Inserted under article 35, ATM May 14, 1997. 73 501 or more 2% of total spaces Outpatient Medical Facilities: 10% of total spaces Facilities specializing in treatment of, or services for people with mobility impairments: 20 % of total spaces C. Designated handicapped parking spaces shall be placed, constructed and sized as follows: 1) Accessible space, shall be level. 2) Accessible spaces shall be at least 8 feet wide with level access aisles at lease 5 feet wide marked on pavement. 3) Access aisles shall be designated by “slashes” or “crosshatches” permanently marked on pavement. 4) Parking areas not paved shall allow the same dimensions for each handicapped parking space as paved areas. 5) Two accessible spaces may share a common aisle. These spaces should be in a location providing the shortest route of travel to an accessible entrance. If there is more than one accessible entrance, the spaces shall be located near each accessible entrance. 6) Sidewalks at such spaces shall have curb cuts at each access aisle constructed so that a handicapped person is not required to enter the flow of traffic to access the curb cut. D. One in eight designated handicapped parking spaces with a minimum of one shall be designated as “van accessible”. Van accessible spaces shall be eight feet wide with an aisle eight feet wide allowing a van to operate a lift. Alternatively all spaces may be “universal” spaces eleven feet wide with an access aisle five feet wide. E. There shall be an above grade sign at each designated handicapped parking space. The bottom of the sign shall not be lower than five feet from the ground. The top of the sign shall not be more than eight feet from the ground. The sign shall show at minimum the "International Symbol of Access” in white on a blue background or in blue on a white 74 background. All “van accessible” Handicapped spaces shall be marked as such either on the above grade sign or directly below it using the words “Van Accessible” in white on a blue background or blue on a white background. All signs and markings shall be subject to the approval of the Chief of Police or the Chief’s designee. F. The leaving of unauthorized vehicles within parking spaces designated for use by disabled veterans or handicapped persons as authorized by Section A and B, or in such a manner as to obstruct a curb cut or ramp designed for use by handicapped persons as a means of access to a public way or to a place to which members of the public have rights of access as invitees or licensees shall be prohibited. G. The penalty for violations of Sections A, B, C, D, or E shall be ten dollars ($10.00) per day per violation after the person or body having lawful control of the ways or property described in Section B has been given written notice and not less than thirty (30) days to comply. H. The penalty for violations of Section F shall be one hundred dollars ($100.00). The vehicle(s) may be removed pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 266, Section 120D. Violators shall be cited in accordance with Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 90, Sections 20A and 2QA ½. I. Violations of Sections A, B, C, D, or E shall be enforced by the Police Department or by the Building Commissioner under the procedure for Non Criminal Disposition of violations of municipal regulations, pursuant to MGL Chapter 40 Section 21D.