[Adopted 4-18-1978 by Ord. No. 1649 (Ch. 182 of the 1979 Code); amended in its entirety 1-14-2020 by Ord. No. 2828]
The governing body of this municipality may establish, in accordance with Chapter 4 of Title 39 of the Revised Statutes and Senate Bill No. 676 (N.J.S.A. 39:4-197.6), restricted parking zones in front of residences occupied by handicapped persons.
A. 
Any resident of the City of Garfield possessing a valid New Jersey driver's license who has qualified for a handicapped parking permit from the State of New Jersey, or is the caretaker living in the residence of the said resident, may apply to the City of Garfield for a handicapped parking space located near their residence. The application shall be submitted to the Garfield Police Department with a current copy of the applicant's handicapped parking permit, valid driver's license issued by the State of New Jersey and registration information regarding the designated vehicle.
[Amended 9-28-2021 by Ord. No. 2894]
B. 
The City of Garfield shall approve or deny requests for the issuance of designated restricted handicapped parking spaces on the basis of the standards set forth in § 226-6 of this chapter.
Notwithstanding an applicant's compliance with § 226-5 above, an application for handicapped parking space shall be denied if:
A. 
Pursuant to applicable state or municipal law, the parking of motor vehicles is prohibited at the location of the requested handicapped parking space.
B. 
The permitting of such parking would interfere with the normal flow of traffic or create a shortage of on-street parking for nonhandicapped residents.
C. 
The applicant or handicapped person is the owner or tenant at the property at which the space is to be designated and has reasonable access to a driveway on the property or reasonable access to some other area of the property which may permit the transport of the handicapped person; or
D. 
The applicant resides, either as a tenant or an owner, in a housing complex which provides off-street parking and has reasonable access to said parking and an on-site handicapped parking space has been provided by the owner of the housing complex.
Upon the approval of such request by the City Council of the City of Garfield, the City Clerk shall provide the Chief of Police with a letter of approval and the address for the parking zone.
The Traffic Division of the Police Department shall provide:
A. 
An area of 25 feet to be properly designated in front of the residence of the handicapped persons, to be painted as a no parking zone.
B. 
A "no-parking — handicapped person" sign to be placed alongside the designated area.
C. 
A permit 5 1/2 by 8 1/2 inches in size, bearing an appropriate certification of authenticity.
The permit issued by the City to the handicapped person shall be displayed prominently within the vehicle when it is parked in the designated area so as to be seen from the middle of the street. Only cars which have such a permit properly displayed shall be permitted to be parked in the restricted parking zone indicated on such permit.
A holder of a City handicapped parking permit issued pursuant to this chapter must notify the City Clerk immediately if such person changes his or her residence or changes his or her vehicle registration number.
A. 
Restricted parking zones and handicapped parking permits shall be valid for one year from the date of issue and shall be renewed thereafter by the submission of a new application in accordance with this chapter, except that existing permits shall be valid until May 1, 2020. Thereafter all permits shall be renewed annually by May 1.
B. 
Failure to submit a renewal application by June 1 will result in the expiration and revocation of the restricted parking zone and handicapped parking permit. Any person who has not submitted a renewal application not received by July 1 shall be assessed a fee of $100 to reinstate the permitted parking space.
C. 
A restricted parking zone and permit may be reviewed earlier if conditions concerning the applicant change.