NJ bill would cut red tape for disabled veterans seeking accessible parking

Gene Myers, NorthJersey.com
·1 min read

Veterans with disabilities would have less paperwork to submit when renewing parking privileges in New Jersey, under a bill that passed its final hurdle in the state Legislature on Monday.

The legislation, S660/A2438, passed the state Assembly unanimously. It would streamline the process for permanently disabled veterans when they renew wheelchair symbol plates and disability parking placards for their vehicles.

“Any little bit the state can do to make life easier for these men and women who served their country, I am behind 100%,” said state Assemblyman Hal Wirths, who co-sponsored the bill along with a fellow Sussex County Republican, Assemblyman Parker Space, and Hamilton Democrat Wayne DeAngelo.

How process would change for veterans

A bill that passed the New Jersey Assembly Monday would streamline the process for veterans with disabilities to renew wheelchair symbol plates and disability parking placards.
A bill that passed the New Jersey Assembly Monday would streamline the process for veterans with disabilities to renew wheelchair symbol plates and disability parking placards.

Veterans would have to submit a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs statement confirming their disability to the state Motor Vehicle Commission just once — when they make their initial application for parking privileges, according to the bill.

Currently, veterans must verify their disabilities every three years to renew privileges, just as other New Jerseyans with disabilities must do with forms filled out by their doctors.

If the bill is signed into law, veterans with permanent disabilities verified by the Veterans Affairs Department can forgo the repetitive process.

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Bill still needs Murphy's approval

“Any bill that peels away at the layers of bureaucracy to help our veterans is something I support,” Space said.

A companion bill, sponsored by Republican Steven Oroho, passed the state Senate last March.

The legislation now needs Gov. Phil Murphy's signature to become law. Murphy's office didn't immediately respond to a message seeking comment on Tuesday.

Gene Myers covers disability and mental health for NorthJersey.com and the USA TODAY Network. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: myers@northjersey.com

Twitter: @myersgene

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NJ bill would cut red tape for disabled veterans renewing parking tags