Parking Laws & Enforcement

Both Florida State Statute and Miami-Dade County Ordinances are used when enforcing violations of handicapped laws. Police Officers, Parking Enforcement Specialists and volunteers are trained to enforce the below laws.

What Are Fines Used For

A portion of the fines assessed on violations of Miami-Dade County handicapped parking laws are returned to the City of North Miami Beach on an annual basis. These funds are used to improve accessibility issues which are required by the ADA that involve City property.

If you are interested in becoming a Volunteer Parking Enforcement Specialist (Non-Compensated), please contact the North Miami Beach Police Department Crime Prevention Unit at 305-948-2955. (A minimum of 16 hours of training is required by Florida Law).

Florida State Statute - 316.1955
Miami-Dade County Ordinance - 30-447

Enforcement of Parking Requirements for Persons Who Have Disabilities

1)  It is unlawful for any person  to stop, stand, or park a vehicle within, or to obstruct, any such  specially designated and marked parking space provided in accordance  with s. 553.5041, unless the vehicle displays a disabled parking permit issued under s. 316.1958 or s. 320.0848 or a license plate issued under s. 320.084, s. 320.0842, s. 320.0843, or s. 320.0845, and the vehicle is transporting the person to whom the displayed permit is issued. The violation may not be dismissed for failure of the  marking on the parking space to comply with s. 553.5041 if the space is in general compliance and is clearly distinguishable as a designated accessible parking space for people who have disabilities. Only a warning may be issued for unlawfully parking in a space  designated for persons with disabilities if there is no above-grade sign as provided in s. 553.5041.

(a)  Whenever a law enforcement  officer, a parking enforcement specialist, or the owner or lessee of the space finds a vehicle in violation of this subsection, that officer,  owner, or lessor shall have the vehicle in violation removed to any  lawful parking space or facility or require the operator or other person in charge of the vehicle immediately to remove the unauthorized vehicle from the parking space. Whenever any vehicle is removed under this  section to a storage lot, garage, or other safe parking space, the cost  of the removal and parking constitutes a lien against the vehicle.

(b)  The officer or specialist  shall charge the operator or other person in charge of the vehicle in  violation with a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as provided  in s. 316.008(4) or s. 318.18(6).

(c)  All convictions for violations of this section must be reported to the Department of Highway Safety  and Motor Vehicles by the clerk of the court.

(d)  A law enforcement officer or a parking enforcement specialist has the right to demand to be shown the  person's disabled parking permit and driver's license or state  identification card when investigating the possibility of a violation of this section. If such a request is refused, the person in charge of the vehicle may be charged with resisting an officer without violence, as  provided in s. 843.02.

(2)  It is unlawful for any person to obstruct the path of travel to an  accessible parking space, curb cut, or access aisle by standing or  parking a vehicle within any such designated area. The violator is  subject to the same penalties as are imposed for illegally parking in a  space that is designated as an accessible parking space for persons who  have disabilities.

(3)  Any person who is chauffeuring a person who has a disability is allowed, without need for a disabled  parking permit or a special license plate, to stand temporarily in any  such parking space, for the purpose of loading or unloading the person  who has a disability. A penalty may not be imposed upon the driver for  such temporary standing.

(4)(a)  A vehicle that is transporting a person who has a disability and that has been granted a permit under s. 320.0848(1)(a) may be parked for a maximum of 30 minutes in any parking space reserved for persons who have disabilities.

(b)  Notwithstanding paragraph (a), a theme park or an entertainment complex as defined in s. 509.013(9) which provides parking in designated areas for persons who have  disabilities may allow any vehicle that is transporting a person who has a disability to remain parked in a space reserved for persons who have  disabilities throughout the period the theme park is open to the public  for that day.