1. Any municipality, which pursuant to the provisions of R.S.39:4-8, R.S.39:4-197, section 1 of P.L.1977, c.202 (C. 39:4-197.5) or section 1 of P.L.1977, c.309 (C. 39:4-197.6) designates restricted parking spaces for use by persons with disabilities, may, in lieu of having the Department of Transportation inspect those parking spaces and any signs erected in association therewith, designate the municipal engineer to determine whether or not those parking spaces and signs conform to the current standards prescribed by the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways, adopted by the Commissioner of Transportation, and any other Department of Transportation rules and regulations governing such parking spaces and signs.

Any such parking spaces and signs shall be deemed approved and operational, and in need of no additional inspection by the Department of Transportation, when the municipal engineer, under the engineer’s seal as a licensed professional engineer, shall certify to the commissioner that the parking spaces and signs:

a. have been approved by the municipal engineer as a licensed professional engineer after investigation; and

b. conform to the current standards prescribed by the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways, as adopted by the commissioner, and any other Department of Transportation rules and regulations governing such parking spaces and signs.

The municipal engineer shall submit to the commissioner, together with the engineer’s certification, detailed information as to the location and number of parking spaces, a certified copy of the ordinance, resolution or regulation designating the restricted parking spaces, and such other information as the commissioner shall deem necessary.

L.1991, c.285, s.1; amended 2017, c.131, s.155.