(Washington, DC) The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) announced it will install an additional 1,100 Red Top meters throughout the District, over the next 30 days, to provide more parking for persons with disabilities in areas with a high demand for parking.

The additional Red Top meters will be installed on an accelerated schedule to ensure there are 1,500 reserved spaces for persons with disabilities in place by April 17. With the additional meters installed, approximately 9% of all metered spaces in the District will be reserved for persons with disabilities.

DDOT reminds all motorists they are now required to pay to park in any metered space.

Between now and April 17, DDOT and the Department of Public Works (DPW) will follow the following enforcement protocol:

• Only vehicles displaying a valid disability placard or license plate may park at a Red Top meter, as long as they pay the established meter rate. Vehicles without the placard or plate will be subject to being ticketed. The fine is $250.
• Two types of Red Top meters are being installed. The “Smart” Red Top meters will allow motorists to insert coins or a credit card, or use the pay by cell system to pay for up to twice the amount of time allowed without returning to the meter. Coin-only Red Top meters will require the motorist to either return to the meter to pay for the additional time allowed or use the pay by cell system to add more time. Motorists who exceed the time allowed may be ticketed for exceeding the time to park at a meter. The fine is $25.
• Vehicles displaying a valid disability placard or license tags may park at all meters, provided they pay the established meter rate. These motorists may park and pay for up to twice the amount of time allowed by the meter by either returning to the meter to pay for the additional time allowed or using the pay by cell system to pay for the time, up to twice the amount allowed. Motorists who exceed the time allowed may be ticketed for exceeding the time to park at a meter. The fine is $25.

Starting April 17, ONLY vehicles displaying a valid disabled placard or license tags will be able to park at Red Top meters for up to twice the amount of time allowed for meter parking. Vehicles displaying a valid disabled placard or license tags will no longer be allowed to pay for and receive up to twice the amount of time set by any non-Red Top meter.

The Red Top meter program is designed to assist persons with disabilities by providing reserved spaces for them, particularly in areas with a high demand for parking. By requiring everyone to pay to park at any District meter, the program will remove the incentive for fraudulent use of disability placards and license plates by persons without disabilities. The program will also enforce longstanding but previously unenforceable time limits.

Additional information about the Red Top Meter Program is available on the DDOT website at: ddot.dc.gov/redtopmeters.