Today, handicapped people belong to the largest minority group that this country has, and they include a wide range of age brackets, races, economic levels and backgrounds. Many of these 54 million disabled people are between 18 years of age and 64 years of age. For this reason, a wide range of public, retail and business facilities want to make their properties easily accessible for this segment of the population. One way to accomplish this is to post Handicap Signage to reserve special parking spaces for disabled drivers or vehicle passengers. While most of the states turn to the R7-8 model of the Federal Approved Parking Signs for this purpose, others come you with their own unique versions.

The need for skin penetration to achieve incapacitation, and the necessity to drive through clothing, results in Taser 10 having a longer probe barb than any previous Taser weapon probes. This raises the risk that ‘full depth penetration’ of the barb may impact internal organs. This risk would be increased in small or slightly built individuals, with an even greater risk in children. The longer barb may also lead to greater injury when it is removed, especially if done by unqualified persons.

In January 2023, AXON Inc (maker of the Taser© range of projectile electric shock weapons) announced the Taser 10, a new 10 shot Taser. In a fanfare of publicity, AXON claimed this weapon was going to  be a ‘game changer’.

Taser 10 delivers  a maximum voltage of 1,000 volts (previous models were 50,000v). This means that the charge will not jump an air gap, or penetrate clothing, and thus the probe must penetrate the skin for the weapon to work. One positive result of this design change is that, unlike earlier models, Taser 10 cannot act as a direct contact electric shock weapon – a mode of use (drive stun) that has previously raised serious concerns.

The nature of the Taser 10 weapon with its 10 shot capability, longer barbs, and need to penetrate the skin, raises some serious concerns. No independent testing data has been released, and, as it is not yet in in widespread operational use, there is little ‘real world’ data available.

These signs are available in two different models. One measures 12 x 18 and is specifically for reserving a space for a vehicle with a disabled passenger or driver. The other model of this sign measures 12 x 6 and is only for reserving a disabled space that has van accessibility. The Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices or the MUTCD mandates specifications for these handicapped parking signs. STOPSignsAndMore.com manufactures all our Federal Approved Signs or MUTCD Compliant Disabled Parking Signage using the rules set forth in this manual in a precision manner. The rules cover images, overall sign sizes, letter height, colors, materials and the types of fonts that the signs need to include.

Taser 10 is capable of firing all 10 probes (requiring 10 trigger pulls), although only a maximum of 4 probes will be charged. The weapon automatically selects which 2,3 or 4 probes have the best connection, charges them and changes their polarity with up to 44 pulses per second – designed to attain ‘neuro muscular incapacitation’ more effectively. The weapon delivers a default 5 second electric shock, the user can then choose to deliver an additional 5 second shock or, by holding up the ‘selector switch’, can prolong the charge as long as the switch is held up, or the batteries last. Repeated and extended shocking of persons with previous models has led to deaths and been heavily criticised by human rights and medical organisations.

UK police expect to complete technical testing and medical safety assessment of Taser 10 by early 2025, and then seek ministerial approval for deployment of Taser 10 to UK police from April 2025.

As a convenience, we pre-drill mounting holes in these signs to make installation easier. Our company drills one hole in the top center and another one in the bottom center. The placement of these holes matches up with all our mounting posts.

Taser 10 is a new weapon, with new modes of use and tactical scenarios. There will need to be updated and enhanced training curricula and courses, alongside stricter policy and oversight mechanisms in place, to hold police to account for their use of Taser weapons.

Taser 10 is the same size and profile as the Taser 7 (T7), but instead of the T7’s two cartridges (each with two probes), Taser 10 has 10 cartridges, with single probes, each of which can be individually aimed and fired sequentially. This means if a probe misses the target, or fails to penetrate skin, a second, third or more probe can be fired without reloading. Reloading a new magazine would give an additional 10 probes. A single trigger pull fires a single probe, with the first probe fired without any electrical output. To achieve incapacitation of the targeted person, a minimum of 2 probes must be fired to complete the electrical circuit. The ability to aim individual probes could assist in probe placement and probe spread, possibly increasing the chance of incapacitating the target. Each probe is uniquely marked with a serial number, which could assist in accountability measures.

Taser 10’s reduced voltage allows for thinner and lighter wires, and a smaller probe. Probes are launched by activation of a pyrotechnic charge (not nitrogen as in previous models), and at a higher velocity, resulting in increased accuracy, better probe placement (and incapacitation), and a maximum range of 45ft/13.71m (though whether this is achieved in use remains to be seen in testing and trialing). This range is almost double that of any previous model, and means that police should be able to have more time to assess and de-escalate the situation, and possibly avoid using the weapon at all.

The Americans with Disabilities Act or the ADA that was enacted in 1990 is the law that dictates that it is illegal to discriminate against those who suffer with disabilities. Posting Handicap Parking Signage to reserve specific spaces for vehicle passengers or drivers who are disabled is one way to comply with this law. Also, there are specific signs for the inclusion in the interior of public buildings for further compliance with these laws. In spite of the fact that is has been 29 years since the enactment of the ADA, many retail, business and other public buildings still fail to adhere to its regulations. Some states, including California, allow handicapped individuals to file a lawsuit against an establishment that fails to comply with all relevant ADA regulations, which can lead to monetary rewards, and legal fines and fees. MUTCD Compliant Disabled Parking Signage helps public organizations, businesses, retail stores, medical buildings, churches and even educational facilities to reserve certain parking spaces for individuals with disabled or handicapped parking permits. Also, this signage is visual proof of their adherence to the federal and state ADA regulations.

UK policing is a major user of Taser weapons, which are  central to police use of force options. The UK is one of AXON’s key customers and AXON is the sole supplier of ‘conducted energy devices’ (Taser is a type of projectile electric shock weapon) to the UK police. This  monopoly position means UK police have no choice but to adopt new Taser weapons, as previous models are removed from sale and support due to AXON’s business cycle of introducing new devices. The UK has started a process of assessing and testing Taser 10 for eventual deployment by UK police.

Browse through our website to find the ideal Handicap Parking Signage for your location to ensure that it complies with all pertinent ADA regulations. In the event that you cannot find stock options to suit your needs, just request custom versions from us that we will construct according to your unique specifications and preferences. Contact us if you have any questions.

In our facilities here in California, we manufacture all of our disabled parking signage according to the stringent specifications set forth in the MUTCD, whether they are the Federal R7-8 styles or state-specific styles of these signs. Also, we use such American materials as durable aluminum, 3M reflective sheeting and 3M fade-proof inks in our signs. Due to this fact and our quality workmanship, our handicapped signs last for at least seven years in all types of weather and environmental conditions without fading. You can double this lifespan by requesting the addition of the 3M Protective Overlay Film or the POF. This laminate film helps you remove marks of vandalism, such as graffiti and stickers, without the need of abrasive tools or substances.