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3/26/2026
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House OKs Shanley bill to allow use of app to report cars that are illegally parked in accessible spaces
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 STATE HOUSE — The House of Representatives today approved legislation introduced by Rep. Evan P. Shanley that would allow people to use an app to report cars that are illegally parked in accessible spaces, as well as update new signage for those spaces.
The bill (2026-H 7050) would enable municipalities to participate in the Parking Mobility app program where individuals may submit photos on the app of vehicles that are parked in spaces designated for individuals with disabilities, and the violator may be cited and fined at the discretion of local law enforcement.
“Accessible parking is a basic necessity for the safety and dignity of thousands of Rhode Islanders who are living with a disability,” said Representative Shanley (D-Dist. 24, Warwick, East Greenwich). “When these spaces are unavailable because they’ve been taken by someone who does not have a placard, it’s not just an inconvenience, it means a person with a disability has been cut off from wherever it is they may be trying to go. The lack of enforcement of these violations becomes incredibly frustrating for those who utilize those spaces legally.”
The bill would also require new or replacement signage to include the language “Accessible Parking” in place of “Handicapped Parking,” “Disability Parking,” or “Disabled Parking.”
“The new signage will be consistent with efforts over the past several years to update language to change the public perception of people with disabilities,” said Representative Shanley. “It’s imperative that we change our environment to be more accommodating, and language is an important part of that effort. The focus of the signage should be on what the space is there for, as opposed to the identity or limitations of those who need those spaces.”
The measure now moves to the Senate, where similar legislation (2026-S 2995) has been introduced by Sen. Louis P. DiPalma (D-Dist. 12, Middletown, Newport, Tiverton, Little Compton).
For more information, contact:
Daniel Trafford, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401)222-1922
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