(a) Parking Privileges; Exemptions. A motor vehicle bearing a registration plate, special decal or device issued by the State or any other jurisdiction designating that the vehicle is operated by or for a handicapped person or a disabled veteran, and which is being operated by or for a handicapped person or a disabled veteran, shall be exempt from any State statute or local ordinance imposing time limitations on parking, except limitations of one-half hour or less, on any City street or highway and on any City-owned or leased parking lot or parking place. Any motor vehicle bearing any such registration plate, decal or device which is being operated by or for a handicapped person or a disabled veteran may be parked, in addition to any other lawful place, in any parking place specifically reserved for such vehicles by the posting of a sign. Parking privileges granted as provided in this section are strictly limited to the persons to whom the special registration plates, special decals or devices are issued and to qualified operators acting under the express direction and in the presence of the handicapped person or disabled veteran. Such parking privileges granted by this subsection are also extended to motor vehicles of not-for-profit organizations used for the transportation of handicapped persons and/or disabled veterans when any such motor vehicle displays any such registration plate, special decal or device and when such motor vehicle is being used for the transportation of one or more handicapped persons and/or disabled veterans. This subsection shall not permit the parking of any motor vehicle in violation of the provisions of Section 480.03. This subsection shall not permit the parking of any motor vehicle in violation of an official sign expressly prohibiting parking at any time or during certain hours in the area controlled by the sign. When using the parking privileges for persons with disabilities, the parking decal or device must be displayed properly in the vehicle where it is clearly visible to law enforcement personnel, either hanging from the rearview mirror or placed on the dashboard of the vehicle in clear view.
(b) Unauthorized Use of Reserved Parking Places. No person shall park any motor vehicle in any parking place, including any private or public off-street parking facility, specifically reserved, by the posting of a sign, for a handicapped person or disabled veteran, or a motor vehicle bearing a registration plate, decal or device designating that the vehicle is operated by or for a handicapped person and/or a disabled veteran, unless the parked motor vehicle is operated by a handicapped person or disabled person or by a qualified operator acting under the express direction, and in the presence of, a handicapped person or a disabled veteran. The owner of a privately-owned parking place in which a motor vehicle is parked in violation of this subsection, after notifying the police, may remove it or cause it to be removed to the nearest garage or other place of safety, and the police may remove or cause to be removed any motor vehicle parked in any City-owned parking place in violation of this subsection to the nearest garage or other place of safety.
(c) Officers Authorized to Remove Vehicles. Whenever any police officer finds a vehicle parked in violation of any of the provisions of this section, such officer is hereby authorized to move such vehicle, or require the driver or other person in charge of the vehicle to move the same, to a position off the roadway where it may be lawfully parked. This provision shall not limit the authority of the officer to require that the vehicle be towed to a garage or to a place of safety.
(d) Designation of Parking Spaces. Parking spaces reserved for handicapped persons and disabled veterans shall be properly posted by an official sign in accordance with the provisions of the Illinois Accessibility Code, as set forth in Title 71, Part 400 of the Illinois Administrative Code, and the American National Standard for Buildings and Facilities, published by the American National Standards Institute, Inc. and commonly known as ANSI A117.1-1986, "Providing Accessibility and Usability for Physically Handicapped People," as amended and in accordance with 625 ILCS 5/11-1301.3. It shall not be a defense to a charge under this section that either the sign posted pursuant to this section or the intended accessible parking place does not comply with the technical requirements of this section if a reasonable person would be made aware by the sign or notice on or near the parking place that the place is reserved for a person with disabilities. In addition to those spaces required pursuant to the above, parking spaces shall be designated as follows:
(1) Left intentionally blank.
(2) Bauscher Avenue, east side, 188 feet north of East Empire Street to 213 feet north of East Empire Street.
(3) Beach Street (Avenue D), south side, 120 feet west of Waddell.
(4) Beach Street (Avenue D), south side, 145 feet west of Waddell.
(5) Beach Street (Avenue D), south side, 215 feet west of Waddell.
(6) Beach Street, (Avenue D), south side, 300 feet west of Waddell.
(7) Chicago Avenue, west side, 40 feet south of Stephenson Street.
(8) Clark Street, north side, 90 feet east of S. Walnut Avenue to 115 feet east of S. Walnut Avenue.
(9) Elk Street (west), north side, 110 feet east of S. Pine Avenue.
(10) Elk Street (west), south side, 50 feet west of S. Blackhawk Avenue to 80 feet west of S. Blackhawk Avenue.
(11) Galena Avenue, north side, 115 feet west of Carroll Avenue.
(12) Galena Avenue, north side, 135 feet west of Carroll Avenue.
(13) Galena Avenue, east side, 40 feet north of Pleasant.
(14) E. Jackson Street, south side, 98 feet east of S. Galena Avenue.
(15) S. Oak Avenue, west side, 170 feet south of Homer Street (916 S. Oak Ave.).
(16) Prospect Terrace, south side, 225 feet west of South Float Avenue;
(17) Spring Street, south side, 20 feet west of Galena Avenue.
(18) State Street, east side, 375 feet south of East Pleasant Avenue to 419 feet south of East Pleasant Avenue.
(19) Stephenson Street, north side, 50 feet west of Walnut.
(20) W. Stephenson Street, north side, 315 feet west of Harlem (1146 W. Stephenson St.).
(e) The owner or occupant of any property which is required under subsection (d) hereof to display any handicapped parking sign shall ensure that such sign is in compliance with current state signage requirements. Correction of the sign, specifically including, but not limited to the fine amount, must be completed within ninety days of the effective date of Ordinance No. 2007-71. A violation of this section shall be punishable by a fine not to exceed one hundred dollars ($100.00) for each day the handicapped parking sign has not been corrected.
(1977 Code §§ 49-122A, 49-128; Ord. 88-67. Passed 11-21-88; Ord. 89-6. Passed 2-20-89; Ord. 93-93. Passed 12-6-93; Ord. 97-13. Passed 4-21-97; Ord. 97-76. Passed 1-5-98; Ord. 98-67. Passed 11-2-98; Ord. 2001-58. Passed 12-3-01; Ord. 2006-12. Passed 3-20-06; Ord. 2007-50. Passed 6-18-07; Ord. 2007-71. Passed 10-15-07; Ord. 2008-54. Passed 10-6-08; Ord. 2009-70. Passed 1-4-10; Ord. 2010-05. Passed 1-4-10; Ord. 2010-14. Passed 2-16-10; Ord. 2010-15. Passed 3-15-10; Ord. 2011-65. Passed 11-21-11; Ord. 2011-67. Passed 12-5-11; Ord. 2012-12. Passed 1-17-12; Ord. 2013-15. Passed 3-18-13; Ord. 2013-36. Passed 8-5-13; Ord. 2014-06. Passed 1-13-14; Ord. 2015-27. Passed 5-18-15; Ord. 2019-35. Passed 6-17-19; Ord. 2021-28. Passed 7-6-21; Ord. 2022-73. Passed 12-19-22; Ord. 2023-07. Passed 3-6-23; Ord. 2023-17. Passed 3-20-23.)