31-5-501. Authority to place signs prohibiting, regulating or restricting parking; handicapped parking; obedience to signs required; free parking areas.

(a) The highway department with respect to highways under its jurisdiction, and boards of county commissioners of the counties or any duly appointed board of trustees of any fairgrounds, airports, parks, pleasure grounds or recreational systems or other duly constituted state or local public boards, with respect to public lands under their supervision and control, may place signs prohibiting, regulating the time of or restricting the parking of vehicles where in the opinion of the commission or board having jurisdiction thereof, parking is dangerous to those using highways, public ways or areas where the parking of vehicles would unduly interfere with the free movement of traffic thereon, or where it is necessary to regulate parking for the welfare of the general public or for the proper use of public lands.

(b) Signs reserving parking spaces for the handicapped in public places under the jurisdiction of the government agencies described in subsection (a) of this section or placed on private property by the real property owner pursuant to W.S. 31-5-111 shall be constructed of durable material, contain the international symbol of accessibility, be no less than twelve inches (12") by eighteen inches (18") in size and be placed above ground level so as to be visible at all times and not be obscured by a vehicle parked in that space. Parking spaces for the handicapped shall be located on the shortest possible accessible circulation route to an accessible entrance of the building. In public parking lots of ten (10) or more parking spaces, at least two percent (2%) of the total number of available parking spaces but not less than one (1) space shall be reserved for the handicapped. Handicapped parking spaces shall allow easy entrance and exit for wheelchairs, to include signage and any cross-hatched handicapped vehicle access markings that may be adjacent to the handicapped parking space, and be located on a level surface.

(c) The signs specified under this section and W.S. 31-5-111(b) shall be official signs and it is unlawful for any person to willfully park a vehicle in violation of the restrictions, regulations or prohibitions stated on the signs. This subsection shall not prohibit use of handicapped parking spaces provided under subsection (b) of this section by a person issued a distinctive handicapped license plate or transferable identification card by another state and displaying the plate or card on a vehicle used by this person.

(d) For public convenience, commissioners or boards having jurisdiction to regulate parking of vehicles shall provide free parking areas adequate to accommodate at least twenty percent (20%) of the number of vehicle parking spaces for which a fee is charged.