| DC
Parking Reciprocity For WWII Memorial Dedication
Washington, D.C. The Disability
Rights Council of Greater Washington and the United
Spinal Association, two organizations representing people
with disabilities, applaud the District of Columbia
City Council and the Mayor for enacting the Individuals
with Disabilities Parking Reform Emergency Amendment
Act of 2004. The
D.C. Council passed this emergency legislation
to accommodate the large number of veterans, many with
physical disabilities, who will be visiting the District
for ceremonies marking the formal dedication of the
National World War II Memorial. "We commend the
City Council and Mayor Williams for their recognition
of the transportation and parking needs of disabled
veterans for this week of events" says Robert Herman,
of the DRC's board.
For the
Memorial Day holiday, this Act extends special
parking privileges to vehicles displaying a valid parking
permit, license plate, or placard for people with physical
disabilities, issued by other states and jurisdictions
of the United States. From Tuesday, May 25 through
Wednesday, June 2, 2004, the District of Columbia will
allow all such qualified vehicles from every state and
jurisdiction to park at any time-limited space (e.g.
residential permit parking zone or meter) for twice
the posted limit and for free. These vehicles from other
jurisdictions may also park at any specially designated
accessible parking space. DC Department of Transportation
is working closely with the Departments of Public Works
and Motor Vehicles and the Metropolitan Police Department
to execute these changes in the District's parking policy.
The Disability Rights Council of Greater
Washington is a local membership organization that advocates
for the rights of people with disabilities. The United Spinal Association,
formerly known as the Eastern Paralyzed Veterans Association,
is a nonprofit national veterans
service and disability rights organization, with over
2,700 members in the United States, who have disabilities of the spinal cord. The Association
participated in drafting parts of the Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Fair Housing Amendments
Act (FHHA).
On March 31 of this
year, the Disability Rights Council of Greater Washington,
United Spinal Association, and others, filed a lawsuit
in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
against the District of Columbia, charging that its
parking program discriminates against individuals with
disabilities by failing to grant reciprocity for individuals
with disabilities with out-of-state placards, by constructing
and maintaining inaccessible parking meters, and by
using discriminatory placard application form and process.
The Disability Rights Council of Greater Washington
and the United Spinal Association are working with the
District to try to resolve the issues raised
in that lawsuit. They are represented by
Doane Kiechel, Seth Galanter, Jennifer Richter Maurer,
and Matthew Schruers of the law firm of Morrison &
Foerster, and Elaine Gardner of the Washington Lawyers’
Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs.
#
# #
|
