In Nevada, drivers certified by licensed health personnel to have impaired mobility or a condition which substantially interferes with mobility may qualify for "Disabled" status.

You are also considered a disabled driver if you have:

• A medical condition that does not allow you to walk a distance of 200 feet without resting and without the use of an aide like wheelchair, crutch, or other prosthesis.
• Inability to walk because of orthopedic, arthritic, or neurological conditions.
• A heart, lung or circulatory disease,
• To use portable oxygen.
• Any disorder that limits the use of lower extremities; or either or both hands or legs.
• Documented problems with vision, including partial-sightedness or low vision.

These conditions are detailed on the application form for a placard or license, and needs to be filled out by a medical practitioner. Mention also is to be made if the condition will improve with time. For temporary or moderate conditions, two placards or stickers can be obtained. If you have a permanent disability, you can receive license plates for all the vehicles listed in your name and one placard. You can also choose to have a combination of any two of plates/placard/stickers.

Disabled persons can acquire a Disabled Person (DP) placard or DP license plates. These entitle you to special parking privileges in areas designated for disabled persons, whenever you are the driver or a passenger of the vehicle. Misuse or abuse of these privileges is a misdemeanor; offenders can get fines of $100 to $250 and/or imprisonment in county jail for up to 6 months.

Other facilities available for disabled drivers include:

• Window decals or stickers for holders of DP placards or plates, whose vehicles have wheelchairs or lifts that obstruct the rear license plate.
• Ability to take a leashed service animal along to the DMV.
• Alternative methods to complete the written Drivers License Examination.
• TTY for Speech and Hearing Impaired.
• Specially designated counters for Disabled Persons at the DMV office.
• Disabled individuals with any permanent disabilities may obtain an Expedited Service Permit. This entitles the holder to receive expedited services at any State of Nevada agency which offers public services. This permit is valid for 10 years.

[edit] HOW TO APPLY FOR DISABLED STATUS

You are considered to have disabled status when you acquire a DP placard or license plates. The procedure to acquire these is explained below.

Duration of status

DP license plates are available only to those who are permanently disabled.

DP placards may be issued to those with permanent or temporary disabilities:

• Permanent - Placards or stickers for the permanently disabled are valid for 10 years and are blue in color.
• Moderate - Placards or stickers that are valid for up to 2 years.
• Temporary - Placards or stickers that are valid for up to 6 months.

When traveling to another state, please check if Nevada placards and/or plates are valid in that state.

How to apply for DP license plates or a DP placard

To obtain DP license plates:

1. Download and complete the Application for Disabled Persons License Plates and/or Placards (SP-27).

   [http://www.dmvnv.com/pdfforms/sp27.pdf ]    

2. Disabled Veterans whose disability is service oriented and receives a compensation for disability from the US Government can complete any of these forms depending on their service.
3. Have a licensed physician, surgeon, physician's assistant, nurse practitioner or certified midwife sign the Doctor's Certification of Disability portion of the form.
4. Provide the current registration card in your name, or documents that prove the vehicle is registered in your name; as well as any registration fees due on the vehicle.
5. Surrender the current license plates of the vehicle, if any.
6. Mail the completed form, along with any fees, to the address on the form.

To obtain a DP placard:

1. Download and complete the Application for Disabled Persons License Plates and/or Placards (SP-27).
2. Have a licensed physician, surgeon, physician's assistant, nurse practitioner or certified midwife sign the Doctor's Certification of Disability portion of the form.
3. If you are applying for a placard alone, you can fax the completed form to (775) 684-4797. You can also mail the completed form, along with any fees, to the address on the form.

Alternatively, to obtain the plates and/or the placard, you can take the form to a local DMV office. You will receive your placard (or plates) within approximately two weeks. Along with your new plates, you will receive an authorization letter verifying your eligibility for the plates, which you must carry with you when in the vehicle, and present upon request by law enforcement officers or other authorized persons.

[edit] EXEMPTIONS

You do not need a doctor's certificate, if:

• You have lost (or lost the use of) either or both hands, or lower extremities, and you appear at a local DMV office in person.
• You already have a Nevada DP or Disabled Veteran (DV) license plate, and the number is entered in part "A" of the application form (for plates) or part "B" of the application form (for placards).

[edit] FEE

A permanent DP placard, or a travel DP placard is free. There is also no fee for replacement. There is no fee for permanent DP plates also.

[edit] RENEWAL

No renewal notice will be sent to you at the end of the validity of your license placard.

1. If there is a change of address, fill out the Change of Address Notification and mail it to the address on the form.
2. Moderate and temporary placards should be renewed by completing the application and getting a physician to complete the medical portion of the form. The completed form can be mailed to the DMV.
3. Permanent placard holders will receive a renewal notice. Holders of permanent placards do not require recertification by a doctor.

[edit] REPLACEMENT

To replace lost, stolen or mutilated placards or plates:

1. Download and complete the Application for Disabled Persons License Plates and/or Placards (SP-27).
2. Enclose any mutilated placard or remaining plates.
3. For placards and/or plates, mail the application, along with any fee (for substitute temporary placards or plates) to the address on the form.

Alternatively, take the completed application to a local DMV office personally. [http://www.dmvnv.com/pdfforms/sp59.pdf ]

[edit] ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• Location and hours of Nevada DMV offices.