ADA Parking

ADA Accessible Parking at UNM for the Mobility Impaired

Under New Mexico ADA law, to legally park in designated accessible parking space the vehicle must display either a state-issued valid accessible parking placard in the front windshield or display a valid state-issue license plate bearing the International Symbol of Access (ISA) also known as the (International) Wheelchair Symbol. When your vehicle properly displays a current accessible placard or license plate that has been personally issued to you, or if you are transporting an individual who has been personally issued a current and valid accessible parking placard, you may park in any of the following:

• Any designated accessible parking space.
• Any regular zone parking space, not further restricted by other signage (e.g. Service Vehicle Only, Patient parking special permit required, Loading Zone, etc.).
• Any pay station space, at no charge (including in the Cornell and Yale parking structures.)
• The accessible parking placard must be displayed with the placard number and expiration date clearly visible through the front windshield.

Disabled Veteran Plates

New Mexico law does not recognize regular Disabled Veteran (DV) license plates as eligible to use in accessible parking spaces as the “DV” designation is determined by the Veterans Association (VA), not the state. To park in an accessible parking space on the UNM campuses, the vehicle used by the disabled veteran must display one of the following:

• A valid state-issued accessible license plate that includes the International Symbol of Access (ISA) – also known as the (International) Wheelchair Symbol – that has been personally issued by the state to the disabled veteran; or
• A valid state-issued accessible parking placard that has been personally issued to the disabled veteran.

Learn more about how to obtain an ADA license plate from the New Mexico Motor Vehicle Department (NM MVD).

Temporary Accessible Parking Permits

With verification, UNM PATS can provide temporary accessible permits for UNM students, faculty, and staff for use solely on UNM campus for up to 6 weeks. To obtain a temporary accessible parking permit, please follow the instructions below.

• Students: You will need to visit the UNM Student Health & Counseling (SHAC) for evaluation. Once UNM PATS has received the formal written request from SHAC, UNM PATS will issue a temporary accessible (ADA) parking permit for the duration specified up in the written request but for a maximum of (up to) 6 weeks at no charge. You will need to present us with valid picture ID to get your temporary accessible parking permit. If you require accessible parking for longer than 6 weeks, it is recommended you obtain a temporary accessible parking placard through the State of New Mexico.
• Staff/Faculty: You will need to visit UNM Employee Occupational Health Services (EOHS) for evaluation. Once UNM PATS has received the formal written request from EOHS, UNM PATS will issue a temporary accessible parking permit for the duration specified up in the written request but for a maximum of (up to) 6 weeks at no charge. You will need to present us with valid picture ID. If you require ADA parking for longer than 6 weeks, it is recommended you obtain a temporary permit through the State of New Mexico.

Discouraging Abuse of ADA Accessible Parking

UNM PATS’ on-going Accessible Parking Initiative is designed to better ensure the availability of designated Accessible (ADA) parking spaces on the campus for use by legitimate users. As part of this initiative, UNM PATS Enforcement Officers performs periodic “focused enforcement” events on the campus. These events are meant to ensure applicable State of New Mexico and University Parking Regulations and laws pertaining to the appropriate use of ADA parking spaces on the UNM campuses are being complied with. During these events, Enforcement Officers will ask for accessible parking placards and photo IDs to confirm ownership. Accessible parking placards held by customers and found to be out-of-compliance with state laws and UNM Parking Regulations (unauthorized and/or illegal use) will be confiscated and returned to the NM MVD.

Accessible Parking Enforcement Authority

PATS Enforcement Division operates pursuant by the authority granted in §29-5-1.1 NMSA 1978. It has the authority to enforce ADA accessible parking areas pursuant to § 66-7-352.1 through 66-7-352.6 NMSA 1978, and 66-7-352.16 NMSA 1978. As a state agency, UNM Parking & Transportation Services (UNM PATS) has the authority and ability to access state motor vehicle records to ascertain responsible parties associated with all ADA accessible placards displayed in any vehicle on UNM property.