This is happening to a lot of PD patients.
To date, there is no uniform, national law concerning driving with HD or
other neurodegenerative disease. Various states have different laws and
practices addressing the issue. Across the nation though, studies have
shown that the majority of patients stop driving voluntarily, rather than
because of observance with the law.
Currently, nine states (California, Delaware, Georgia, Nevada, New Jersey,
Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, and West Virginia) have laws requiring that
doctors identify to a local health office their patients at least 14 years
of age or older with “high risk" diseases that could compromise their
driving ability. HD, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy,
dementia, seizure disorders, narcolepsy and other similar conditions are
all candidates for reporting. Since they are required by law, physicians
are exempt from criminal and civil liability for reporting on patients but
in fact, actual reports are rare.
If a patient is reported as having a compromising condition, then he or she
must fill out a medical evaluation form in addition to being tested by the
DMV. Based on the results, the DMV will then take no action if no problem
has been found, or they may decide to issue a restricted/limited license or
suspend/revoke the license if the driver is found to be unsafe. If a
license is revoked, then only after a set period of time could a person
come back, re-test and re-apply for a new driver’s license. If action is
taken against a patient’s driver’s license, then he or she has 10 days in
which to request a hearing after being contacted by the DMV in order to
appeal the decision. Otherwise, the right to a hearing is forfeited.
To find out information for your particular state and its policy on driving
with a medical condition, call or visit the web site of your local
Department of Motor Vehicles.
We are working to find how this came to pass without our knowledge. I am
trying to locate the bill and who sponsored it here in GA.
We will fight to have it removed. PD has taken enough from me and I will be
damned if someone who doesnt have a clue about PD can make these decisions.
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