Identification Permits For Vehicles Transporting
Mobility Handicapped Persons Regulations
made under subsection 145(1) of the
Motor Vehicle Act
R.S.N.S. 1989, c. 293
O.I.C. 86-1055, (September 2, 1986), N.S. Reg. 237/1986
amended to O.I.C. 2020-333 (effective December 15, 2020), N.S. Reg. 187/2020
Table of Contents
Please note: this table of contents is provided for convenience of reference and does not form part of the regulations.
Click here to go to the text of the regulations.
Identification permits
Cancellation of identification permits
Reporting and return
Signs
Offences
1 In these regulations
“Act” means the Motor Vehicle Act;
“applicant” means a person who applies for an identification permit under these
regulations;
“mobility handicapped person” means a person whose mobility is limited as a
result of permanent severe physical disability caused by paralysis, lower limb
amputation, heart or lung disease, or other debilitating impairment to the extent
that
(i) the person is unable to propel himself without the aid of a wheelchair
or walker, or a combination of two of a crutch, cane, leg brace or leg
prosthesis, or
(ii) (A) the daily use of a device to assist the person with breathing is
required, or
(B) the person has a significant cardio-pulmonary condition which
results in severe shortness of breath with minimum physical
activity, or
(C) the person has a severe neuro-muscular or skeletal condition,
and
because of any of the conditions described in paragraph (A), (B), or
(C) is limited in mobility to 50 metres or less in outdoor weather
conditions, or
(iii) the person is legally blind in accordance with the definition of
blindness in the Blind Persons Act (Canada) as may be from time to
time amended;
“identification permit” means a permit issued under these regulations;
“Minister” means Minister of Transportation;
“nurse practitioner” means a nurse practitioner licensed under the Nursing Act;
“Registrar” means Registrar of Motor Vehicles.
Identification permits
2 (1) Where a qualified medical practitioner or nurse practitioner certifies on a form
provided by the Minister that an applicant is a mobility handicapped person and
specifies
(a) whether the handicap is permanent or temporary; and
(b) if temporary, the anticipated length of time that the handicap is expected to
continue, if known,
the Registrar may issue an identification permit to the mobility handicapped
person.
(2) The Registrar may issue an identification permit to a visitor to Nova Scotia if the
visitor establishes to the satisfaction of the Registrar that
(a) the visitor is the holder of a currently valid identification permit of number
plates bearing the International Symbol of Access issued by the visitor’s
home province, state or country; or
(b) the visitor is a resident of another jurisdiction and is a mobility handicapped
person.
(3) The Registrar may issue an identification permit
(a) to a corporation in respect of a number of vehicles that are owned or leased
by or operated on behalf of the corporation primarily to provide
transportation services to mobility handicapped persons; and
(b) to an organization in respect of a number of vehicles that are owned or
leased by the organization and used on a non-profit basis to provide
transportation services to mobility handicapped persons.
(4) Every identification permit shall bear the International Symbol of Access and shall
be on a form and show information as the Registrar may determine.
(5) An identification permit issued pursuant to this Section shall be valid
(a) for a term of five years if a qualified medical practitioner or nurse
practitioner has certified that the handicap is permanent;
(b) for the anticipated length of time of the handicap not exceeding a term of
six months, if a qualified medical practitioner or nurse practitioner has
certified that the handicap is temporary and has certified the anticipated
length of time that the handicap is expected to continue provided that an
extension not exceeding a term of six months may be granted by the
Registrar upon further certification by the medical practitioner or nurse
practitioner that the person has not recovered within the anticipated length
of time;
(c) for the length of the visit by the visitor not exceeding a term of three months
if the identification permit is issued pursuant to subsection (2);
(d) if issued to a corporation pursuant to clause (a) of subsection (3), for a term
not exceeding five years that coincides with the contractual or other
obligations of the corporation to provide transportation services primarily to
mobility handicapped persons;
(e) if issued to an organization pursuant to clause (b) of subsection (3), for a
term not exceeding five years that the organization anticipates that it will be
transporting mobility handicapped persons,
unless the identification permit is cancelled under these regulations.
3 The person to whom an identification permit has been issued shall display the
identification permit in or on a vehicle in such place and in such manner as the Registrar
shall direct.
4 (1) Application for an identification permit shall be made to the Registrar in the form
prescribed by the Registrar.
(2) The applicant shall furnish such information as the Registrar may require.
(3) In the event that any identification permit issued under these regulations is lost,
mutilated or has become illegible, the Registrar may issue a duplicate or substitute
therefor upon application.
Cancellation of identification permits
5 The Registrar may cancel an identification permit if he is satisfied that
(a) the applicant has violated any provisions of these regulations;
(b) the applicant has made a false statement in an application;
(c) the identification permit is used in violation of these regulations;
(d) the identification permit is lost, stolen, mutilated, defaced, altered or has
become illegible; or
(e) the permit is displayed in a vehicle stopped, left standing or parked in a
handicapped zone while the vehicle is not being used for the purpose of
transporting a mobility handicapped person;
(f) the vehicle is used in violation of any provision of these regulations.
Reporting and return
6 (1) Where the identification permit is lost or stolen, the applicant to whom the
identification permit has been issued shall immediately notify the Registrar in
writing of the loss or theft.
(2) Where an identification permit is mutilated, defaced, altered or has become
illegible, the applicant to whom the identification permit has been issued shall
immediately notify the Registrar of the mutilation, defacement, alteration or
illegibility.
Signs
7 Where a sign is used to designate a handicapped zone, the sign shall state or represent
thereon such matters as the Minister shall determine.
Offences
8 It shall be an offence against these regulations for any person to commit any of the
following acts:
(a) to stop, leave standing or park in a handicapped zone a vehicle in which an
identification permit is displayed unless the person stops, leaves standing or
parks the vehicle for the purpose of transporting a mobility handicapped
person;
(b) to display or cause or permit to be displayed or to have in possession any
identification permit knowing same to have been cancelled;
(c) to make a false statement in an application;
(d) to fail to notify the Registrar as required pursuant to any of the provisions of
Section 6;
(e) to mutilate, deface or alter any identification permit.
9 Notwithstanding any other provisions of these regulations, where a special number plate
is issued and assigned to a vehicle under the Regulations Respecting Registration of
Mobility Handicapped Persons’ Vehicles made pursuant to Section 10 of the Act and the
special number plate is displayed upon the vehicle, the special number plate shall be
deemed to be an identification permit
(a) to the extent
(i) that the mobility handicapped person to whom the special number
plate is issued may stop, leave standing or park the vehicle in a
handicapped zone,
(ii) that any other person may stop, leave standing or park the vehicle in
a handicapped zone where the person stops, leaves standing or parks
the vehicle for the purpose of transporting a mobility handicapped
person; and
(b) for the purposes of Sections 5, 6 and 8 of these regulations.
The following regulations are not
yet in force and are not included in the current consolidation: