For Immediate Release
Date: August 2, 2005
Contact: Maura Browning
Phone: (573) 751-8222

Department mails disabled plate and placard renewals

Plate and placard holders are reminded to keep “pink slip” with them

        JEFFERSON CITY – The Missouri Department of Revenue today announced that disabled plate and placard renewals were mailed to current disabled plate-holders and placard-holders on Monday, August 1.

        As a result of a state law signed by former Gov. Holden in 2004, the department will begin enforcing a new requirement for renewals.  Beginning August 1, 2005, the department requires a recent physician’s statement from Missourians who are renewing a disabled person license plate or placard.  Previously, the department required a physician’s statement only to obtain a new disabled plate or placard, and did not require updated physician’s statements at any subsequent renewals.

        The new law now requires that any applicant renewing a disabled person license plate or placard submit a new physician’s statement less than 90 days old at the time of plate or placard renewal.  A new physician’s statement (90 days old or less) will be required every four years thereafter.

        All disabled plate and placard renewals that expire during or after the month of August will require a new physician’s statement, regardless of when the applicant renews the plate or placard.  Additionally, a recent physician’s statement will be required for applicants whose disabled plate or placard expired before August 1 but was not renewed on time.

        To renew a disabled person placard, a customer is required to present:

• A signed renewal application, called a Disabled Person Placard Renewal Application (Form DOR-289D);
• A physician’s statement, called the Physician’s Statement for Disabled Person’s License Plates/Placard (Form DOR-1776) issued within 90 days of the renewal date; and 
• The placard fee ($4).

        Disabled person placards should be hung from the front, middle rearview mirror in a parked car.  It is unlawful to hang the placard from the rearview mirror when driving the vehicle.  Also, upon request from any law enforcement or peace officer, the driver or any occupant shall produce the validated pink receipt of the renewal application (Form DOR-289D) and photo identification of the disabled person.  Failure to produce the pink receipt and photo ID is a class A misdemeanor.  If the placard is used on different vehicles, the pink receipt must follow the placard.

         To renew a disabled person plate, a customer is required to present: 

• A signed renewal application, called a Renewal Application (Form DOR-289);
• A physician’s statement, called the Physician’s Statement for Disabled Person’s License Plates/Placard (Form DOR-1776) issued within 90 days of the renewal date;
• Registration and processing fees;
• Current vehicle insurance identification card;
• Original paid personal property tax receipt (two-year registrations require the previous two years’ receipts);
• Original safety inspection, if applicable; and
• Original emission inspection (St. Louis area only), if applicable.

        Upon request from any law enforcement or peace officer, the driver or any occupant shall produce the validated pink receipt of the renewal application (Form DOR-289) and photo identification of the disabled person.  Failure to produce the pink receipt and photo ID is a class A misdemeanor.

        Fraudulent application, renewal, procurement, or use of a disabled person placard or license plate is a misdemeanor.  Parking in a disabled parking space by a person not physically disabled or transporting a physically disabled person is also a misdemeanor.

        “The new requirements should lessen the likelihood that disabled plates and placards are being fraudulently obtained,” said department director Trish Vincent.  “Also, this gives us an opportunity to remind folks that it’s against the law to use disabled plates and placards fraudulently, even though they may have been obtained properly.  In other words, kids using grandma’s disabled plate to get a great parking spot at a concert when she’s not in the car with them should know they are breaking the law and there are consequences for that.”

        There are nearly 106,000 disabled plates and about 314,000 disabled placards currently active.

        If customers have questions about the requirements to renew a disabled person plate or placard, information is available on the department’s web site at www.dor.mo.gov or by calling (573) 751-4509.