South Dakota § 32-5-76 - Person with substantial physical disability--Special plates--Requirements--Promulgation of rules--Surrender--Penalty.

§ 32-5-76. Person with substantial physical disability--Special plates--Requirements--Promulgation of rules--Surrender--Penalty.

An owner of a motor vehicle, who is a resident of this state, who has complied with all the laws of this state in regards to the registration of a motor vehicle, and who operates or directs the operation of the vehicle, may submit to the county treasurer an application, on a form approved by the secretary, containing a certification signed by any physician, physician assistant, chiropractor, physical therapist, or certified nurse practitioner, licensed under title 36, stating that the applicant is an individual with a substantial physical disability that makes it impossible or causes substantial hardship to walk. The certification must be within the practitioner's applicable scope of practice.

An owner of a motor vehicle, who is a resident of this state, who has complied with all the laws of this state in regards to the registration of a motor vehicle, and who is the parent or legal guardian of a dependent with a substantial physical disability and operates the motor vehicle for the purpose of transporting the dependent, may submit to the county treasurer an application, on a form approved by the secretary, containing a certification signed by any physician, physician assistant, chiropractor, physical therapist, or certified nurse practitioner, licensed under title 36, stating that the dependent has a substantial physical disability that makes it impossible or causes substantial hardship to walk. The certification must be within the practitioner's applicable scope of practice.

The secretary shall promulgate a rule, pursuant to chapter 1-26, defining an individual with a substantial physical disability.

If the secretary determines that the applicant meets the criteria, the department must issue and deliver to the applicant special plates with letters, numbers, or symbols, or any combination thereof, as the secretary may prescribe. The special plates must be designed to readily apprise law enforcement officers of the fact that the motor vehicle is owned by, operated by, or used in transporting an individual with a substantial physical disability. No charge may be made for the issuance of the special plates.

The special plates are in lieu of the regular number plates issued for the motor vehicle. The special plates must be displayed as set forth in § 32-5-98.

If the applicant is no longer an individual with or the parent or legal guardian of a dependent with a substantial physical disability, or is deceased, the special plates must be surrendered within thirty days, to the county treasurer of the applicant's residence. The treasurer shall notify the secretary who shall make the necessary changes in the registration file. The owner shall obtain regular number plates. Failure to surrender the special license plates as required by this section is a Class 2 misdemeanor. It is a Class 1 misdemeanor to submit a false or fraudulent application.

Source: SL 1966, ch 134, § 1; SL 1974, ch 211; SL 1979, ch 204, § 1; SL 1982, ch 234; SL 1986, ch 242, § 14; SL 1997, ch 179, § 3; SL 2002, ch 149, § 1; SL 2007, ch 173, § 26, eff. July 1, 2008; SL 2016, ch 156, § 1; SL 2018, ch 179, § 1; SL 2026, ch 130, § 1.