I too was about your age when I got my permanent plates. Honestly I cried as I looked at them because I felt like, yep.. it’s official, I am disabled and I’m not even 40 yet (at that time). However, It was the best decision, and I am grateful for it. You can also keep a plaque as well so if you’re in someone else’s car, you can retain the access. There should not be an increase in cost to register your vehicle at your normal renewal time, just a new plate.

On a humorous note, my husband says he married me for my parking.

Not sure that permanent plates are such a good idea, in fact, a doctor of mine counsels strongly against it based on up-close-and-personal experience of one of his patients: a 72 year-old white haired lady.

Essentially, she was stopped for some sort of a moving violation and the officer spotted just her permanent plaque sitting on the seat next to her - not even a permanent license plate - and immediately began interrogating her as to all meds she was on. Turns out she was on a small dose of a benzodiazepine, which medical studies show can cause impairment, but unlike the case of alcohol neither public nor private money has apparently been made available to establish a safe level in terms of blood concentrations, whether (unlike alcohol) it's deleterious effects can be safely off-set through the use of "wakefulness drug," etc., and as a result a policeman is allowed to presume that a driver who commits a moving offense while using a benzodiazepine is DWI.

And in the case of this grandmother, because of quotas, a DWI looks good on the arresting officer's stats - whether or not it results in a conviction - the lady was handcuffed and jailed overnight until a judge threw out the charge at her arrangement the next morning!!! (And this in Deep-Blue Los Angeles County.)

So here's the practice point: IF YOU ARE TAKING ANY MEDICATION LABEL TO WARN USE OF ITS POSSIBLE EFFECT WHILE DRIVING OR "USING HEAVY EQUIPMENT, ALWAYS PUT YOUR PLACARD IN AN ENCLOSED COMPARTMENT - NOT THE DOOR WELL - WHICH YOU WILL NOT HAVE TO OPEN IF CALLED UPON TO PRODUCE YOUR LICENSE, REGISTRATION, PROOF OF INSURANCE, ETC.

At least that was the advice I got from my psycho-pharmacologist, and when I took it to my pain doc, he said that while he hadn't considered the issue but it appeared to be sound advice.

For what it's worth . . .

Mike

I was just getting ready to post how helpful my placard has been to me and then I read your post. I hope this won't ever happen to any of us.

I had always been very proud of my independence. I used to be proud of my 20/20 vision and then I turned 42. My vision went and I had to swallow my pride & get glasses.

As I aged, people would ask if I needed help carrying heavy bags of pet food to my car. I'd always said "Not until I really need it".

Then I came down with crps. I had to swallow my pride once again. Simple glasses wouldn't rectify my handicap. I resisted the placard but found I needed it. Living in WI., the cold weather played havoc on my disease. Being out in the elements caused my entire leg to go numb and stay that way for days on end. I really need to get out of the weather asap.

My first PM only gave out temporary placards to anyone, no matter what their condition. I spent needless $'s to keep renewing my placard. (Perhaps my first PM wanted to diminish our state deficit.) My second PM didn't hesitate to sign for my permanent placard.

I really didn't want to admit to myself that I needed one but once I had one, I was very thankful. Being able to park closer to where I was headed has been a life saver. With that said, I'm going to have to re-evaluate how I display mine. I usually post mine on my rear view mirror because I have a tendency to park in "handicap" and forget to display my placard.

Seems strange having a placard at 35, but definitely needed. In ND, it is a simple yearly renewal, hadn't even thought about getting the plates.

I got one at the beginning of the summer, it is a permanent. I am only 17 and I cannot walk distances at all. Getting the placard didn't make me feel bad in anyway, if you hurt and are suffering you do what you gotta do. Don't let anyone make you feel bad if you have one, they don't know the pan you are going through.

Must admit, I didn't read all the posts here...will go back and read them later.

I have been struggling with the decision of even applying for a temp one. It is very hard for me to walk, but I'm most concerned about how my hubby will feel about having it. I'm 44, and had several issues with my legs before the wonderful RSD decided to spread everywhere. I swear it's like it hit every old injury I have!!

Was it difficult for your family and friends to accept having the disabled placard?

What is hard, is actually parking in the disabled spot. People look at you funny if you don't "LOOK" disabled. I have a limp, and multipal health issues. My brace is usually hidden and does not show with pants. I am 60 and I hate using the placard. Necessary yes, have to. There are times I won't use it either, when I have the energy and pain control to park further down. Mostly I use it when there are HUGE parking lots, like at a festival, or Art show, where walking is an issue just by itself. do what you have to do, to save yourselves from pain. I just don't like the way people look at you, if you are not in a wheelchair, just hurting. Pain is silent in public, doesn't mean you don't have it. I wish you all the best. I hope more empathy can be developed with the publics idea on this. ginnie

This isn't an issue for either my family or my boyfriend. They know I need it so there's never been a question about using it.

As Ginnie said...the harder thing is dealing with ignorant people who don't understand what it's like to have an "invisible" disability. I have a walker and haven't had to deal with it yet myself...but it reminds me of something that happened about a month after I got the permanent one. My boyfriend and I went to the grocery store (I was still REALLY slow at the time) and we bought a pretty full load of groceries. After we checked out, he went ahead of me out to the car to start putting the groceries in there and to warm up the car for me. Apparently, while he was loading the car this loud mouth guy walking by with his wife said, "Doesn't look like there's anything wrong with HIM. Don't know why HE'S parking there." Just then I walked out the doors and his wife hit him...HIT him...and said, "Well don't you feel stupid now?" Lol...too funny. Even that didn't bother my boyfriend...HE knew why he was parked there.

Thanks. I do use my cane and still move slow...especially as the weather is changing. Winters were hard enough before with just arthritis, but add RSD everywhere attacking every old injury (and there are many lol) and it gets to be quite the challenge. I think I had a temporary placard about 20 years ago after our car accident that messed up my left hip, but I can't remember for sure.

I've been trying to work up the nerve to try the scooter things they have at Wal-Mart and Sam's Club when we go, but I'm so afraid I'm gonna hit something LOL. And then I think people will act like I don't need it, that I'm too young and should leave it for the elderly. Makes me wonder how often those same thoughts ran through my mind before all this hit.

I've been trying to work up the nerve to try the scooter things they have at Wal-Mart and Sam's Club when we go, but I'm so afraid I'm gonna hit something LOL. And then I think people will act like I don't need it, that I'm too young and should leave it for the elderly. Makes me wonder how often those same thoughts ran through my mind before all this hit.[/QUOTE]

Hi Phyllis. I've been using the scooters at WalMart for a while now. I wouldn't be able to shop such a large store without one. Just ask the worker to show you how to use it. It's very easy and has a very tight turn radius. And don't worry about what others think of you! I gave that up a long time ago!