A new legislative proposal in New Jersey seeks to establish special license plates for veterans with disabilities.
In his role as leader of the Rochelle Park American Legion Post 170, Dennis Duddie prioritizes the needs of fellow veterans above his own.
“I always do,” remarked Duddie, a seasoned member of both the Navy and Army National Guard.
In 2008, just prior to his deployment to Iraq, he suffered a neck injury in a training accident.
“I was in the hospital for a lengthy stay,” said Duddie. “I was in ICU for a month. When I was in ICU, I had a heart attack. I had to be placed in a medically induced coma for a few days and when I came out, I had to learn to walk unassisted. I have severe neurological issues as well as other issues.”
A new bill in Trenton aims to introduce a license plate specifically for disabled veterans, despite his truck already displaying the State’s handicap license plate. A proposed new license plate would feature the words ‘Disabled Veteran’ alongside a wheelchair symbol, granting eligible veterans the ability to park in designated handicap spaces.
“Any movement to make it better for veterans is a good day,” said Duddie.
Bill Moen, an assemblyman and one of the authors of the legislation, is the son of a disabled Marine Corps veteran.
He believes that obtaining the plates would provide disabled veterans with easier access to handicapped parking, while also honoring their contributions.
“In other States, many veterans use these plates as a form of recognition to show I think other fellow motorists of the service they provided to the country,” said Moen (D-NJ 5th District).
“There are about 40,000 New Jersey veterans that are disabled,” said Michael Boll of the NJ Veterans Network. “I believe that the ones who really truly need it, it’s just an easier way of getting it so they can park and use the facilities in a better manner.”
A meeting of the Senate Transportation Committee is scheduled for Thursday in Trenton to review the bill.
