The Department of Transportation shall issue disabled person parking permits in the form of program placards for use on vehicles that are regularly used as part of a program for the transportation of persons with disabilities or by an adult foster home. All the following apply to placards issued under this section:
(1) The department shall determine the form, size and content of the placards except that the department shall require that a placard contain the name of the program holding the placard and the department shall require that the expiration date of a placard be visible when the placard is displayed in the vehicle.
(2) Placards issued under this section shall be valid for a period of eight years from the date of issue. Upon expiration, placards may be renewed in a manner determined by the department by rule. The department shall authorize renewal by mail of placards issued under this section.
(3) The department shall determine by rule how programs for the transportation of persons with disabilities may qualify vehicles for placards issued under this section. [1989 c.243 §5; 1991 c.741 §4; 1999 c.91 §4; 2001 c.827 §15; 2007 c.21 §5; 2007 c.70 §333]