States Can Charge Disabled People

A federal appeals court in Richmond, Va., ruled that states can charge disabled people for things such as special license plates and parking placards. The 2-1 ruling by the U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals said a regulation regarding fees contained in the Americans With Disabilities Act is unconstitutional. The decision applies only in the court’s jurisdiction--Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina and West Virginia. Other federal courts have ruled that states can’t charge for the plates and placards. The latest ruling stems from a case in North Carolina. Five disabled residents sued the state, saying the Department of Motor Vehicles broke the law by charging $5 for handicap parking signs. A federal judge dismissed the case. The 4th Circuit upheld the district judge’s decision.