Disabled veteran says Orlando International Airport towed her van despite plate; officials cite staff oversight

What happened

A Central Florida disabled veteran who uses a wheelchair says her wheelchair-accessible van was towed from Orlando International Airport (MCO) after she parked in a way she says was necessary to safely exit her vehicle.

The incident occurred in November 2025, when the traveler returned from a trip and found her van missing from the airport’s parking garage. She said she had paid to park in a reserved area and displayed a disabled veteran license plate. After locating the vehicle, she paid an additional towing fee and said the process of recovering the van took several hours, leaving her without reliable transportation home from the airport.

Why the vehicle was parked across spaces

The traveler said accessible parking at MCO can be difficult to find and that when designated accessible spaces are unavailable, she sometimes parks across two standard spaces so the side ramp on her van can deploy. Without room for the ramp, she said she can arrive at the airport and still be unable to get out of her vehicle.

In this case, she said she parked at the end of a row and occupied more than one space to create the clearance needed for the wheelchair ramp.

Airport response and immediate changes

Airport officials acknowledged the tow as a mistake and said parking staff had failed to recognize the disabled veteran plate. The airport said it has since instructed parking personnel to be more vigilant when vehicles displaying disabled plates or placards occupy multiple spaces.

Legal context: fees, enforcement, and accessibility

Florida law requires publicly owned or publicly operated airports to grant free parking to vehicles displaying certain disabled veteran license plates, as well as vehicles equipped with disability-related specialized equipment such as ramps or lifts. Separately, state guidance on disabled parking emphasizes that access aisles are no-parking zones and that parking restrictions can be enforced, including through towing, when a vehicle is in violation.

The incident highlights the practical tension between enforcement rules designed to prevent misuse of parking and the needs of drivers who require additional clearance to exit or enter adapted vehicles when accessible spaces are full.

What could change next

The traveler has begun working with a Florida state lawmaker to pursue a legislative change that would restrict towing of a disabled person’s vehicle for occupying multiple spaces when no accessible parking is available. The proposal has been discussed as part of a broader transportation bill and she has provided testimony during the committee process.

Separately, airport officials have indicated plans for a future parking guidance system intended to show available accessible spaces by level, with implementation not expected until 2027.

• Incident date: November 2025 (vehicle towed after being parked across spaces)
• Airport position: staff failed to notice the disabled veteran plate and has been directed to improve vigilance
• Next steps: proposed legislation and a planned parking guidance system with a 2027 target

Airport officials said the vehicle’s disabled veteran plate was inadvertently overlooked and that the matter was addressed internally.