Disabled Drivers Exempt From New Paid Parking In Lindenhurst

LINDENHURST, NY — Disabled drivers are exempt from paying for the Village of Lindenhurst's new touch-screen parking meters, officials told Patch Monday.

Drivers with handicapped placards on display do not need to pay for parking and will not be issued a ticket in the event of an expired meter—or non-payment—according to village officials.

The village is upgrading parking meters on Wellwood Avenue to digital parking meter kiosks that accept both coins and credit cards, Patch reported Friday. The new meters are expected to be open for use on Wednesday, June 19.

"A person with a handicap placard does not need to pay at all, and, therefore, would not receive a ticket for an expired meter, which is what the violation would be written for if someone was parked in a metered space without any money on the meter," Lindenhurst Village Clerk Katie Schrader told Patch.

According to village officials, the metered parking waiver extends beyond Lindenhurst to all of New York State.

"The metered parking waiver allows the holder to park in a metered parking space in any city, town, or village of New York State without paying the meter fee. This applies to all metered parking spaces, even those that are not reserved for persons with disabilities," officials wrote in a Facebook post.

But, officials added, there's one small catch to be aware of.

"It's important to note the waiver holder must observe any time limits associated with metered parking spaces," it continued.

In the village, that means Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. with a 3-hour maximum.

Specifically, village parking laws provided to Patch state:

"It shall be legal for disabled or handicapped persons to park their vehicles at any metered location in the Incorporated Village of Lindenhurst without depositing the appropriate coin or coins, provided that the following conditions are met:

"Other than depositing money in the meter, the vehicles must be legally parked in all respects
pursuant to the Village of Lindenhurst and New York State vehicle and traffic laws.

"There shall be clearly displayed on the vehicle a sticker issued by the County of Suffolk to disabled and handicapped persons, which sticker includes the International Symbol of Access for Disabled Persons."

In addition to the digital meters, the village is also introducing “pay-by-app” and “pay-by-text” options that allow drivers to pay without using the kiosk. Rates are .25 cents per hour.

The new system will also number most parking spaces on Wellwood Avenue which must be noted and entered when beginning any parking transaction, according to village officials.

To assist drivers making brief stops a few 15-minute free “in-and-out” spaces will remain on both North and South Wellwood.