It is a criminal offense in every state to misuse a handicap parking placard—or to otherwise block access to a handicap accessible parking space, aisle, ramp, curb cut, or architectural improvement designed to provide access for people with disabilities. Misuse may take many forms, and laws vary from state to state, but it is generally a crime:

• to park a vehicle in a handicap accessible parking space without displaying the appropriate plate or placard—even if a driver or a passenger of the vehicle has a disability;

• to park a vehicle in an accessible space when neither the driver or any passenger has a disability, even if the vehicle displays the appropriate plate or placard;

• to park a vehicle with a placard or plate that is expired;

• to park a vehicle with a placard or plate that belongs to someone who is not a driver or a passenger in the vehicle;

• to lend a parking placard to an individual without a disability who uses that placard to violate state law;

• to steal or counterfeit a parking placard or license plate;

• to park a car in such a way that it blocks access to an accessible parking space, an access aisle, or any architectural improvement that provides access for people with disabilities, such as a ramp or a curb cut.

Laws prohibiting the misuse of handicap parking placards are generally located in a state’s statutes—often in the vehicle code, transportation code, or penal or criminal code.

In Montana (MT), it is illegal to misuse handicap parking placards or to obstruct access to handicap accessible parking spaces and related access features. Montana law, specifically under the Montana Code Annotated (MCA), outlines various offenses related to handicap parking. These include parking in a designated accessible parking space without a valid placard or license plate, using an expired placard or plate, using a placard or plate issued to another person who is not present, lending a placard to someone without a disability for misuse, and creating obstructions to accessible parking spaces or access aisles. Violations can result in fines and other penalties. The regulations are designed to ensure that individuals with disabilities have access to parking spaces that accommodate their needs, and to deter fraudulent use of disability parking privileges.