A California Vehicle Code law has changed for 2008. Now a person with a disability who uses assistive equipment may park in two adjacent non disabled parking spaces in order to provide enough room to exit and maneuver once outside of their vehicle, if there is no accessible parking space available that is wide enough.

The law is now written to accommodate disabled persons who drive cars without ramps or lifts, but who still need extra room to open their door fully to make room for their wheelchair or other assistive equipment. The prior law was poorly written to only include vans with lifts or ramps, and did not include cars.

Now if all the Accessible Parking spaces are occupied, you can legally park across two regular parking spaces, but remember to display your Placard if you don't have Disabled Vehicle plates on your vehicle.

SECTION 1. Section 22511.85 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:

22511.85. A vehicle, identified with a special license plate issued pursuant to Section 5007 or a distinguishing placard issued pursuant to Section 22511.55 or 22511.59, which is equipped with a lift, ramp, or assistive equipment that is used for the loading and unloading of a person with a disability may park in not more than two adjacent stalls or spaces on a street or highway or in a public or private off-street parking facility if the equipment has been or will be used for loading or unloading a person with a disability, and if there is no single parking space immediately available on the street or highway or within the facility that is suitable for that purpose including, but not limited to, when there is not sufficient space to operate a vehicle lift, ramp, or assistive equipment or there is not sufficient room for a person with a disability to exit the vehicle or maneuver once outside the vehicle.