PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS 

HANDICAP PARKING VIOLATIONS AND ISSUES

The Mountain Home Police Department works diligently to protect the rights, freedoms, and privileges of all of our citizens. Compliance with all of our laws and ordinances ensures a happy and peaceful existence for us as a society. Sometimes however, when certain laws are broken, the impact is felt by many people who count on certain laws for everyday movement and mobility. The Handicap Parking laws of the State of Arkansas, and the ordinances of the City of Mountain Home regarding handicap parking are just the type of laws that protect the freedoms that allow many people to live their lives to the fullest in spite of physical handicaps or disabilities. 
To be allowed to legally park in a marked handicap space requires that the vehicle have a handicapped license plate, a disabled veteran license plate, or a handicapped placard issued by the state for the purpose of parking in those spaces. Use of these plates and placards are limited to the persons for whom they are issued, whether they are the driver or passenger of a motor vehicle. Handicapped tags and placards may not be used by other persons to park in those spaces even though the vehicle may possess them. It should also be noted that those spaces marked "Van Accessible" are only to be used by persons who can legally park in a handicap space and who have to load or unload a wheelchair or other mobility device. If a wheelchair or other mobility device is not required then the spaces not marked "Van Accessible" are to be used. 
Careful observation of these laws help make sure that our handicapped citizens enjoy the same freedom of mobility and movement as those who don't have disabilities.