Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — As an increasing number of people have become eligible for handicap parking permits in recent years, one legislator hopes a new bill will preserve spots for those who use wheelchairs.
Rep. Jeff Stenquist, R-Draper, said a constituent reached out to tell him of an issue he has while trying to park and get in and out of his car with his wheelchair when handicap spaces run out.
The constituent inspired HB213, which would create an additional permit for those with wheelchairs or certain walking disabilities only. It would require businesses to allocate at least one out of six handicapped spaces for people with that specific permit.
Since the Americans with Disabilities Act passed, more people have become eligible for handicapped parking permits.
In Utah, the Division of Motor Vehicles offers handicapped permits to those with certain disabilities that make them unable to walk 200 feet without stopping to rest; those who need help to walk; and those who are restricted by lung disease, heart disease or need portable oxygen.
"So, oftentimes these handicapped parking spaces are taken up," Stenquist said, adding that his constituent often can't find an accessible place to park.
Amy Webb knows that experience well.
As a mother of a young daughter who uses a wheelchair, she's faced stressful moments trying to figure out how to keep her daughter safe.
"We've had times where, even going to a movie theater, and there's just no accessible spots, let alone a van accessible spot, before COVID," Webb said.
Sometimes, she's had to park in a regular spot. When they return to their car, they hope that no one has parked next to them on the ramp side. If they do, it means her daughter has to wait in the road for her to pull the van out of the space.
"I have to make sure she's not behind a car where someone's going to be pulling out," Webb explained.
She noted that not every child can maneuver their wheelchair on their own, increasing safety concerns.
The family now lives in Ohio but used to live in Provo. She said she sees concerns overall with respect to handicapped parking spaces and bathroom stalls.
"I also think, for me, one of the bigger issues, in general, is just trying to create an awareness for the general public about accessible spaces and that they're not for you. If you don't need them, don't use them," Webb said.
Often, she'll notice that those without a wheelchair use the wheelchair-accessible bathroom stalls, and those with handicapped permits but without vans will park in van spaces.
Compared to regular spaces, all handicapped spaces are wider — not just those with van accessibility, Stenquist noted. Unlike Webb, his constituent is able to park in any handicapped space, which allows him to get in and out of his car.
But often all those spaces will be taken.
In those instances, he will sometimes park in a regular spot that doesn't have other cars parked next to it. But when he returns to his car, others will have taken the neighboring parking spot — meaning he doesn't have enough room to get back into his vehicle.
"And so then it's a real problem because he's got to maybe find someone to help him move his car," Stenquist explained.
He said the intent of the bill isn't to require businesses to create additional handicap spaces but to ensure they hold at least one space for those who need them most. The rest of the spaces will still be available for those with other qualifying conditions.
Smaller businesses with less than six handicap spaces will also need to designate one space to those with wheelchair-accessible permits.
Stenquist said he's received a lot of positive feedback from the disabled community, and he has spoken with advocates, as well as experts in architecture and designing disabled parking to come up with the right balance.
