SSB 6155
In CommitteeSenate
Parking, person w/disability
Concerning special parking privileges for persons with disabilities.
This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
This bill strengthens oversight and enforcement of Washington’s special parking privileges for people with disabilities by updating placard/plate design, requiring regular database checks against death records, increasing penalties for misuse, and allowing law enforcement to use trained volunteers to issue citations. It also includes special provisions for veterans and sets a sunset date for one key provision.
- Requires special parking placards to include a serial number and expiration date, clearly visible from 10 feet away, and mandates how they must be displayed (rearview mirror or dashboard).
- Mandates that the Department of Licensing (DOL) match its database of parking permits with death records at least every 12 months to remove deceased individuals and prevent misuse.
- Increases penalties for misuse: unauthorized use, expired/forged placards, or parking without a valid placard now carry a $250 fine + $200 assessment, totaling $450 for improper display.
- Allows law enforcement agencies to appoint volunteers (age 21+) to issue citations for parking violations, with mandatory training and full legal authority.
- Requires renewal every 5 years for people with disabilities, and extends the validity of permits for qualifying veterans issued between October 1, 2030, and October 1, 2035, to cover the full five-year period.
- Adds new requirements for community restitution (40+ hours serving people with disabilities) for second or later violations, and limits courts to suspending no more than half of any fine.
Who is affected
- People with disabilities — People with disabilities who rely on accessible parking spaces; the bill updates how placards and plates are issued and displayed, adds stricter enforcement, and requires periodic renewal and verification of eligibility.
- Caregivers and family members — Families and caregivers who drive for individuals with disabilities; they must ensure placards are properly displayed and may face fines if rules are violated.
- Law enforcement and local governments — Law enforcement agencies and local governments; they gain new authority to enforce violations, appoint volunteers to issue citations, and collect fines with specific funding requirements.
- Veterans with disabilities — Veterans with disabilities; the bill includes special provisions for them, including extended validity periods for permits issued between 2030–2035 and reporting requirements on their participation.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for benefits
Potential Benefits (5)
Directs $100 of each $450 fine to the Accessible Communities Account, funding grants for special needs transportation — this directly benefits people with disabilities by improving mobility access and reducing transportation barriers.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 4(7)(a)(i)Requires DOL to match permit database with death records at least annually — this prevents fraudulent use of placards after death, protecting access for legitimate users and ensuring public trust in the system.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 2(2)Authorizes trained volunteers to issue citations with same legal force as peace officers — this expands enforcement capacity without increasing sworn personnel costs, helping jurisdictions with limited law enforcement resources.
Local GovernmentPeopleRef: Sec. 4(10)(b)Requires placards to include serial number and expiration date visible from 10 feet and displayed on rearview mirror/dashboard — improves visibility and reduces fraud, making enforcement more reliable and deterring misuse by non-disabled individuals.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 4(6)Mandates 5-year renewal for placards/plates — helps ensure eligibility is periodically verified, reducing long-term fraud and ensuring that people whose disabilities have improved or resolved do not retain access improperly.
Public SafetyLean peopleRef: Sec. 2(1)
Potential Concerns (5)
Increases fines for improper display of placards/plates to $450 total ($250 penalty + $200 assessment), with $300 of that going to state accounts or local law enforcement — effectively imposing a regressive penalty on low-income individuals who may lack resources to contest or pay the fine, especially for minor or unintentional violations like misplacement or temporary non-display.
FinancialPeopleRef: Sec. 4(6)Requires law enforcement agencies to provide training for volunteers before authorizing them to issue citations — a cost burden on small or under-resourced local agencies that may lack staff or budget for such training, potentially limiting implementation in rural or fiscally strained jurisdictions.
Local GovernmentPeopleRef: Sec. 4(10)(a)Mandates 40+ hours of community restitution for second or later violations, which may disproportionately impact low-income individuals who cannot afford to take time off work or lack access to transportation to fulfill the requirement — potentially leading to extended court involvement or wage garnishment.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 4(12)Limits courts to suspending no more than half of any fine, reducing judicial discretion to accommodate financial hardship — this may cause undue hardship for low-income individuals who cannot afford the full $450 penalty, especially for first-time or minor infractions.
FinancialLean peopleRef: Sec. 4(13)Allows volunteers to request ID or placard inspection and issue citations for refusal — while expanding enforcement capacity, this could lead to inconsistent application or potential over-policing in marginalized neighborhoods if training standards vary, though the bill includes mandatory training.
Public SafetyRef: Sec. 4(10)(c)
Who Is Most Affected
People with disabilities benefit from stronger protections against fraud and improved access to transportation funding, but may face increased scrutiny or administrative burden during renewal and potential fines if misusing (even unintentionally) or if placards are lost/stolen.
Caregivers and family members may face financial penalties for unintentional violations (e.g., forgetting to display placard), and must manage renewed documentation every 5 years — but benefit from reduced fraud and improved access reliability.
Law enforcement agencies gain expanded enforcement capacity via volunteers and new funding streams from fines, but must absorb training and administrative costs — rural or under-resourced departments may struggle with implementation.
Veterans with disabilities benefit from extended validity for permits issued between 2030–2035 and reporting requirements that track participation, but are subject to same renewal and enforcement rules as others.