8-1,125. License plates, placards, wheelchair emblem decals and individual identification cards for persons with disability; penalty. (a) Any Kansas resident who submits satisfactory proof to the director of vehicles, on a form provided by the director, that such person is a person with a disability or is responsible for the transportation of a person with a disability shall be issued a special license plate or a permanent placard for any motor vehicle owned by such person or shall be issued a temporary placard. Satisfactory proof of disability, condition or impairment shall include a statement from a person licensed to practice the healing arts in any state, a licensed optometrist, an advanced practice registered nurse licensed under K.S.A. 65-1131, and amendments thereto, a licensed physician assistant or a Christian Science practitioner listed in The Christian Science Journal certifying that such person is a person with a disability. The placard shall be suspended immediately below the rear view mirror of any motor vehicle used for the transportation of a person with a disability so as to be maximally visible from outside the vehicle. In addition to the special license plate or permanent placard, the director of vehicles shall issue to the person with a disability an individual identification card which must be carried by the person with a disability when the motor vehicle being operated by or used for the transportation of such person is parked in accordance with the provisions of K.S.A. 8-1,126, and amendments thereto. In addition to the temporary placard, a person issued such temporary placard shall carry the state or county receipt showing the name of the person who is issued such temporary placard. A person submitting satisfactory proof that such person's disability, condition or impairment is permanent in nature, and upon such person's request and payment of the fees prescribed in subsection (b), shall be issued an individual identification card and: (1) A permanent placard; (2) a permanent placard and a special license plate; or (3) a permanent placard and a wheelchair emblem decal to be affixed to a distinctive license plate. Upon proper request, one additional permanent placard shall be issued to the applicant who has not requested and received a special license plate. Upon proper request, one additional temporary placard shall be issued to the applicant certified as temporarily disabled. Temporary placards shall have an expiration date of not longer than six months from the date of issuance. The special license plates, decals and placards shall display the international symbol of access to the physically disabled.

(b) Special license plates issued pursuant to this section shall be issued for the same period of time as other license plates are issued or for the remainder of such period if an existing license plate is to be exchanged for the special license plate. There shall be no fee for such special license plates in addition to the regular registration fee. No person shall be issued more than one special license plate, except that agencies or businesses which provide transportation for persons with a disability as a service, may obtain additional special license plates for vehicles which are utilized in the provision of that service. Special license plates may be personalized license plates subject to the provisions of K.S.A. 8-132, and amendments thereto, including the payment of the additional fee.

(c) Placards and individual identification cards issued pursuant to this section shall be valid as long as the person or a person responsible for the transportation of a person with a disability is eligible for a special license plate or permanent placard. The secretary of revenue shall promulgate the rules and regulations necessary to remain compliant with 23 C.F.R. § 1235.4.

(d) The color of the permanent placard shall be white on a blue background and the temporary placard shall be white on a red background.

(e) In addition to such other information contained on individual identification cards, cards shall have the date of birth and the sex of the person to whom the card is issued.

(f) Permanent placards and individual identification cards shall be returned to the department of revenue upon the death of the person with a disability. Temporary placards shall be returned to the department of revenue upon the expiration of the placard or upon the death of the person with a disability. Special license plates shall be returned to the county treasurer to be exchanged for another license plate upon the death of the person with a disability. The individual identification cards issued with the special license plates shall be returned to the department of revenue upon the death of the person with a disability.

(g) Violation of subsection (f) is an unclassified misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than $50.

History: L. 1986, ch. 36, § 2; L. 1987, ch. 44, § 2; L. 1988, ch. 45, § 2; L. 1991, ch. 35, § 3; L. 1992, ch. 105, § 12; L. 1995, ch. 186, § 5; L. 1999, ch. 68, § 2; L. 2002, ch. 70, § 2; L. 2011, ch. 114, § 50; L. 2014, ch. 35, § 1; L. 2017, ch. 42, § 3; January 1, 2018.