Am I being overlysensitive or just anal about handicapped parking.

[Momz]

Some of you may have read my previous essays/rants about drivers abusing the "handicapped" parking spaces at stores and Malls.

Well this morning my wife and I had to do a lot of running around to various stores for Turkey Day preparations. I am disabled and my wife just threw out her back, so finding close parking is a must.

We went out for breakfast and all the handicapped parking was taken up by cars without the proper plates or hang-tags. So we had to hoof it, but that wasn't all that bad.

We needed to buy some groceries at that same Mall but the store was on a higher level (Mall's built on a hill), so on to that store but I could not find a handicapped space. Pam said, "drop me off and just wait near the door, I'll be right out". Well just then I spotted a spot opening up. Got within 10 feet when someone came around the corner and pulled right in. No proper plate, no hang-tag. So I engaged that rude SOB. All she said was that she was going to buy just one item and I had no business even asking about her handicap(yeah...probably mental).

At another market I was able to get a handicapped spot, but next to me was another parking violater. Before I got out he got in his miata and drove off, quickly followed by a kid in a mustang. I watched as the kid got out and asked where his hang-tag was or the proper plate. His response was, "Don't give me no $hit old man, or I'll take your cane and beat you with it". I waited untill he went inside and took my phone and took pictures of his plate and windshield, being careful to show the blue lines between his and the surounding cars. I then called local police.

When we left the market the cops were writing a ticket. I waited and watched as the kid came running out seemly agitated and pissed off. And I just sat there and smiled with a big $hit eating grin on my face.

[fudgie]

Ida told the 'kid game on'! Watch him try and take on a biker. 

[Oss]

Momz the answer is yes   People who park in handicap and are not handicap is just rude and dangerous to the folks who need the spot and are handicap and have the plate or placard

At least the police actually come in your town

I have driven up to officers sittin at a speed trap to inform them of disabled cars down the road and in one case a few months ago a gal locked out of her car on a road with no houses around and their response to the latter was well they can call AAA and I had to threaten the cop that I was calling the Chief of police in Briarcliff



Sorry to say the quality of the officers here aint what it once was  20 and out seems to be the pattern

No courtesy to locals either

I would trade the whole force for one of RJ or BSNicely or Raul

Momz you did good  Hope you are recovering  and also Pam

[Ben]

Way to go Momz...when You're right, you're right...Keep it up !!!

[R J]

When ya confront them, be nice...................

They might have forget to dig it out like I have done several times..........

Here in Iowa the store has to call.................

Former Chief of Police figured out that an accomplice was distracting the LEO, then the other subject was pulling a robbery...........   So, it became the stores problem.

That is what happens when ya don't have enough officers to perform the needed duties.

[Big IV]

Cadillacs have the best insurance and make the best battering rams according to a movie I saw once.

[junior]

i dont want to seem like i am being an ass and i can see your point Momz, but what about the handicapped cars taking the spots that are nonhandicapped when there are handicapped spots open?
wal-mart and the malls around here are some good examples

[Chrisj CMA]

i dont want to seem like i am being an ass and i can see your point Momz, but what about the handicapped cars taking the spots that are nonhandicapped when there are handicapped spots open?
wal-mart and the malls around here are some good examples

I dont get it........you are bugged by cars that have a blue tag parking in a non handicapped place.  I only have two things to say........besides I guess someones gonna complain no matter what you do!

1.  If a handicapped person was driveing that car the blue space was probably taken when he arrived.

2.  Most likely it was the son/daughter, husband/wife of the handicapped person, and good on them for not abusing the sticker just because its here.


I really hate seeing a perfectly healthy young person parking in handicapped just because the sign is on the car when you know good and well its for someone else

[ArmyValker]

yeah, i hear ya. sometimes I drive my neighbors car to the store to shop for him, (he's disabled) and I always park in the "regular" parking lot, even though his car is legal. My brother is eligible for the tag, and I've had people get all uppity saying "How do YOU qualify for this space?" If I weren't a decent person, I'd knock their block off.

Actually, I've been known to park in folks who take up handi-cap spaces at my work without a sticker. Just leave a note with your phone number. You can call the cops when they call you.

Of course, I work on base, so technically, I COULD just have their vehicle towed without contacting the owner. But, I'm a nice guy.

[Black Pearl's Captain]

i dont want to seem like i am being an ass and i can see your point Momz, but what about the handicapped cars taking the spots that are nonhandicapped when there are handicapped spots open?
wal-mart and the malls around here are some good examples

I dont get it........you are bugged by cars that have a blue tag parking in a non handicapped place.  I only have two things to say........besides I guess someones gonna complain no matter what you do!

1.  If a handicapped person was driveing that car the blue space was probably taken when he arrived.

2.  Most likely it was the son/daughter, husband/wife of the handicapped person, and good on them for not abusing the sticker just because its here.


I really hate seeing a perfectly healthy young person parking in handicapped just because the sign is on the car when you know good and well its for someone else

That sounds correct to me ChrisJ.

And Momz to put this as nice as I can, please don't park your car in a handicap spot while you are "waiting" on your wife who is in the store shopping. A handicap person who can only get around via wheelchair or crutches sure could use that spot more then you when they try to go about a normal life. If your taking up a spot just waiting then you might be one in the same "SOB's your venting about. It's really a chore to shop in a wheelchair but for many people it's a permanent fact of life.

Raymond

[f6gal]

I really hate seeing a perfectly healthy young person parking in handicapped just because the sign is on the car when you know good and well its for someone else

That's amazing!  You can tell if someone is perfectly healthy just by looking at them?  I'm in awe!

[PAVALKER]

I really hate seeing a perfectly healthy young person parking in handicapped just because the sign is on the car when you know good and well its for someone else

That's amazing!  You can tell if someone is perfectly healthy just by looking at them?  I'm in awe!

I think you can pretty much tell if a person is handicapped when they get out of their car, for the most part.  I know they don't give handicap parking permits for mental disabilities (it must be a physical one).   And that is what Chrisj was implying I believe....  cause obviously you don't get a handicap parking permit for an ingrown toe nail or a sinus infection.    (at least I hope not).

[f6gal]

I think you can pretty much tell if a person is handicapped when they get out of their car, for the most part.

Absolutely untrue!  There are many conditions that you can't see in a parking lot that will qualify someone for a handicap plate.  
What about a person with a heart defect?  Or the person with debilitating asthma that could be brought on by exertion?  Etc, etc, ad nauseum.
Perhaps it's a pet peeve, but judging someone without knowing the facts kinda bugs me.

[PAVALKER]

Operative words were "pretty much".....  and "for the most part".    Surely there are certain exceptions for everything.    

[f6gal]

Operative words were "pretty much".....  and "for the most part".    Surely there are certain exceptions for everything.    

But my original response was to Chris, who made no such qualifying statements.  
He said he knows "good and well its for someone else."  It's absolutely impossible for him to know that.

[John Schmidt]

Probably due to all the Q-tips that have retired down here. I'm retired but also lived here for the last 43 yrs. so I'm more or less permanent. Florida law, and most other states I've found out, say the hang tag being used MUST belong to an occupant and they had best be present when you park. My wife is handicapped and if she's having an exceptional day she often will ask to park elsewhere if not too far away from the store. Doesn't happen often, but does from time to time. I've done the same thing as Momz many times, asked someone if that's their tag. I often get the smart mouth as well, so that usually tells me "no." Out comes the cell phone, which sometimes prompts a threat from the driver. I don't let it faze me, often it's laughable, and I give them a choice...either move or I press the call key. I even called the police station once when a cop pulled in to a HC spot and dashed into the adjacent drug store on personal business. When he came out ten minutes later, his Road Supervisor was sitting there waiting for him. He first asked for his squad car keys and handed them to another officer, then ushered him to his own car....all the time the ass chewing was commencing. The following week I saw him on foot patrol in the same area, I just smiled to myself.

At the malls around the Orlando metro area, the roaming security vehicle will check periodically for a tag or license. If they see you pull in and are suspect, they will ask....and you'd best be legit or they'll block you in while waiting for the cops. You can't even use a handicap spot if the store is closed, those spots are in effect 24/7 regardless. The walk-up ATM at a bank is especially ripe for after hours abuse because the handicap spots are usually right in front of the machine. Kids too lazy to walk an extra 20' I guess. The other thing that gets my goat is motorcycle riders using the adjacent striped areas to park their bikes....thinking that's not part of the handicap area. WRONG!  Down here, if a cop or mall security sees it, your cost of ownership(and arrogance) just went up at least $250. That area is for the vans that have the drop down lift that comes out the side, or for wheelchair access. I've seen it all over the U.S., and I've seen it written up as illegal parking in just about every state I've visited.

[R J]

Operative words were "pretty much".....  and "for the most part".    Surely there are certain exceptions for everything.    

But my original response was to Chris, who made no such qualifying statements.  
He said he knows "good and well its for someone else."  It's absolutely impossible for him to know that.

A buddy of mine has emphysema and I defy you to see it when he gets out...........   After he has taken about 20 to 30 steps it is very obvious.............   So go back off in your own jack yard..........   Thank you.

[PAVALKER]

Operative words were "pretty much".....  and "for the most part".    Surely there are certain exceptions for everything.    

But my original response was to Chris, who made no such qualifying statements.  
He said he knows "good and well its for someone else."  It's absolutely impossible for him to know that.

Ok.... you quoted my post so I was responding accordingly. 

[f6gal]

I've done the same thing as Momz many times, asked someone if that's their tag. I often get the smart mouth as well, so that usually tells me "no." Out comes the cell phone, which sometimes prompts a threat from the driver. I don't let it faze me, often it's laughable, and I give them a choice...either move or I press the call key.

Sorry, but what gives you the right to question or detain someone displaying a tag?  Call the police if you like, but you're out of bounds jerking someone around yourself.  Maybe you can stress that guy with the bad heart into a heart attack if you try really hard.  
BTW, Momz said he questioned someone without a tag, NOT someone with one.

[PAVALKER]

Operative words were "pretty much".....  and "for the most part".    Surely there are certain exceptions for everything.    

But my original response was to Chris, who made no such qualifying statements.  
He said he knows "good and well its for someone else."  It's absolutely impossible for him to know that.

A buddy of mine has emphysema and I defy you to see it when he gets out...........   After he has taken about 20 to 30 steps it is very obvious.............   So go back off in your own jack yard..........   Thank you.

RJ - who was this uncalled for response directed at?

[Normandog]

Carolyn's Mom is handicapped and since Carolyn hauls her around a  lot she has the hang down sticker. We could use it a lot but wouldn't think of it. Really pisses me off to see people abuse the handicap spaces. I like the way some of y'all have handled the violators. 

[Serk]

When I first badly herniated my back several years back I got a tag for a while... Only used it when I needed it, and gave it up once I didn't need it anymore, but...

I was in my late 20's and looked fit as a fiddle at the time, I was fine walking the first 100 yards or so, but after that, the back pain would double me over and send me to the nearest bench, or the floor if one wasn't available...

No one ever directly confronted me (I've been told I have a rather intimidating build, that might have something to do with it, not sure), but I sure did get the dirty looks... It got to the point I'd rather deal with the pain then the accusing stares other than the worst days...

[alph]

I’ve made an ass of myself a few times regarding handicap spots.  One time this nice looking, older lady, was parked in a handicap spot and I asked her, in a “flirty” way, “so, what’s your handicap, ‘cause what I see looks pretty good” she kinda blushed and said it was for her mother.  And sure enough, she had her 90 year old mom in the truck and they were going shopping for the day.  But honestly, that 60 year old lady looked pretty good for her age!!

On another note, my mother had both her knees replaced and she has handicap plates.  She never parks in the handicap spot unless there’s more then two available.  Her thought is, she can walk now, someone else might not.

[Chrisj CMA]

I really hate seeing a perfectly healthy young person parking in handicapped just because the sign is on the car when you know good and well its for someone else

That's amazing!  You can tell if someone is perfectly healthy just by looking at them?  I'm in awe!

I suppose youre point is right....its possible they had a problem that was un noticable by just observation, but I doubt those kind of situations are as prevalent as people abusing thier grandmas tags.....JMHO

[f6gal]

I really hate seeing a perfectly healthy young person parking in handicapped just because the sign is on the car when you know good and well its for someone else

That's amazing!  You can tell if someone is perfectly healthy just by looking at them?  I'm in awe!

I suppose youre point is right....its possible they had a problem that was un noticable by just observation, but I doubt those kind of situations are as prevalent as people abusing thier grandmas tags.....JMHO

Now, that's probably true. 
However, IMO, the benefit of the doubt seems fair.  Just consider, the object of your distain may be seriously ill... you can't know.

[Black Dog]

I'm with Momz...  Pull out the ol' cell phone, give 'em one last chance to man up, and move, or I hit dial...

Piss some off, almost came to blows once, but I also had an older man come up to me, after I made a jerk move, and say 'I wish I could do that...  But you're a big boy...  Thanks' 

Black Dog

[Willow]

Entitlements.  It seems a lot of us are really bugged when someone else claims them, but overly sensitive when we feel someone has encroached upon ours.

I'm hypocritical in a lot of areas, but I won't be about handicapped parking spaces.

My perspectives are:

1.  We are required by law to mark far too many spaces for handicapped use only without regard for how many are truly needed.

2.  Handicapped access permits are allowed to a lot of people that truly don't need them.  Experience has borne out that the proper fee and the clever turn of a phrase can purchase the permit in many localities.

3.  We cannot at a glance or even at close study discern who is or is not in need of a handicapped spot. 

4.  Most of us are far too quick to jump at the chance for an unfair advantage.

5.  It is relatively, not absurdly, stupid to continue to enforce the handicapped restriction on a parking space set aside for a business even when the business is closed.

6.  As healthy, young and strong individuals we should defer to the old and the infirm not only because of the paint on the parking space, but because it is the right thing to do.

When I was confined to a wheelchair the doctor wrote the magic words that provided for me the right to use a handicapped parking space for the time I was confined and for a month after I was released from the chair.  Those who rode with me will confirm that from the moment I was freed to walk on my own two feet I refused to use the privilege. 

My normal practice is to not park at the nearest available parking space in any lot because I'm usually very sure that there is someone not quite so young or nearly so strong as I that needs the space more than do I.  That includes the time in my life that it hurt me to step.  I won't tell you when that was or when it might have stopped.

Yes, I think we can be sometimes a little too anal (or to quote Doyle Hargraves, a little too assholeish) on both sides of this issue.

      

[Chrisj CMA]

That's amazing!  You can tell if someone is perfectly healthy just by looking at them?  I'm in awe!

You should be in awe.  People have told me I am very awe-full

[Jess from VA]

I am no expert here, but I do know some states (all?) will give a handicap tag based on combined VA disability.  A good number of vets have a high disability rating for psych (PTSD).  I find it amusing that you can get a disabled parking tag for a rated psych disability; nothing wrong with you physically otherwise.  We have a few national service reps for DAV/VFW/TAL/PVA who ride to work on their bikes, and have disabled tags....principally (if not exclusively) for psych ratings. 

When I go to my local superWal mart, every single close space is handicaped (100?), and they are mostly unoccupied.

[X Ring]

i dont want to seem like i am being an ass and i can see your point Momz, but what about the handicapped cars taking the spots that are nonhandicapped when there are handicapped spots open?
wal-mart and the malls around here are some good examples

When i drive one of my Mom's vehicles, which have handicapped plates and placards, I park in a non hanidicapped spot because I'm not the one who is handicapped, my Mom is.  If she is with me, we use the handicapped spot.  Just because a vehicle has handicapped plates or placards doesn't mean one of the current occupants is handicapped.  When Dad was still alive (he was also handicapped), I got a bunch of flyers from a shop that converted vans for handicapped use.  Whenever, I saw a vehicle without either parked in a handicapped spot, I would place one of the flyers under their windshield.  An officer saw me doing it one time and asked to see the flyer.  After looking at it, he checked the car out and issued it a ticket.

Marty

[dipstick]

You should come to N.C. sometime, I swear the state hands out handicap tags to everyone with a hangnail. I have NEVER seen so many people who appeal to be able bodied in every way parking in a handicap spot and breaking out the little blue placard. I makes me sick.

BTW I feel that an overwhelming amount of body fat is self induced and is not a "handicap".

[Michael K (Az.)]

[~ Timbrwolf]

.......wait....wait.....I want in on this...lol


.....Raymond mentioned...people in wheelchairs or crutches....my slant on that is....the next time I see someone getting out of a vehicle in a handicapped space....using a wheel chair or crutches.....will be the first time....usually they pull up...get out....and stroll on into the store....not that I care....I always park way out in the Ozones cuz my pet peeve is dumbazzes that open their car door into yours and leave a nice *ding* ...or scratch....but as for handicapped spaces....I guess Ive wondered...for a second...sometimes when I see some guy in a big ol Caddy or expensive Buick get out....and walk in the store fumbling with his cellphone...and no handicap sticker...but like Connie said....who,s to say what their handicap is......as far as doing a slow burn when you see someone who has a handicap sticker....parking in a "regular spot"......that was good for a momentary chuckle..  

[sugerbear]

my son is 30 yrs old and in a wheelchair. he doesn't have, or want a sticker, he says they are for handicapped people, not him.
he parks "out in the ozone" too, hate door dings also. try to keep up with him in that chair if you can.
also, he drives a 3/4 ton 4-wheel drive truck with a lift kit. pulls himself up into the seat with one hand!!

[ArmyValker]

Probably due to all the Q-tips that have retired down here. I'm retired but also lived here for the last 43 yrs. so I'm more or less permanent. Florida law, and most other states I've found out, say the hang tag being used MUST belong to an occupant and they had best be present when you park. My wife is handicapped and if she's having an exceptional day she often will ask to park elsewhere if not too far away from the store. Doesn't happen often, but does from time to time. I've done the same thing as Momz many times, asked someone if that's their tag. I often get the smart mouth as well, so that usually tells me "no." Out comes the cell phone, which sometimes prompts a threat from the driver. I don't let it faze me, often it's laughable, and I give them a choice...either move or I press the call key. I even called the police station once when a cop pulled in to a HC spot and dashed into the adjacent drug store on personal business. When he came out ten minutes later, his Road Supervisor was sitting there waiting for him. He first asked for his squad car keys and handed them to another officer, then ushered him to his own car....all the time the ass chewing was commencing. The following week I saw him on foot patrol in the same area, I just smiled to myself.

At the malls around the Orlando metro area, the roaming security vehicle will check periodically for a tag or license. If they see you pull in and are suspect, they will ask....and you'd best be legit or they'll block you in while waiting for the cops. You can't even use a handicap spot if the store is closed, those spots are in effect 24/7 regardless. The walk-up ATM at a bank is especially ripe for after hours abuse because the handicap spots are usually right in front of the machine. Kids too lazy to walk an extra 20' I guess. The other thing that gets my goat is motorcycle riders using the adjacent striped areas to park their bikes....thinking that's not part of the handicap area. WRONG!  Down here, if a cop or mall security sees it, your cost of ownership(and arrogance) just went up at least $250. That area is for the vans that have the drop down lift that comes out the side, or for wheelchair access. I've seen it all over the U.S., and I've seen it written up as illegal parking in just about every state I've visited.

Yeah, I didn't always know that you could get a ticket for parking up there, but I sure found out. Luckily I got a warning instead of a couple hundred dollar lesson. Makes sense though...

[f6gal]

...and no handicap sticker...but like Connie said....who,s to say what their handicap is

Just to be clear, my comments were about folks WITH an HC tag.

[SteveL]

It never fails to amaze me to see people drive up and down the parking lanes looking for a close spot. I mean spend the time walking and you'll still be in and out of the store faster.

There are low lifes who will do anything to "Scam" a handicap plate. A bunch of Boston cops and politicians were justed outed for doing this. But people that blatantly park in handicap spaces, ...they deserve more than a ticket.

[John Schmidt]

Seems ludicrous at best. My youngest daughter got ticketed for just that, and the store was closed...the store she was working in. Normally, the employees were required to park at the far end of the lot, not unusual. This night she had voluteered to help with the annual store inventory which usually took most of the night for 2-3 nights. So, she and a few others then moved their cars to the closest point...which happened to be the HC spots. All got tickets..which the store paid for and wrote a letter to the local PD about it. The next night, my daughter decided to see if she could turn the tables on the cop, knowing it was his regular beat. So, about 3:00am she called the PD dispatcher and asked if there was anyone available for escort service....and explained where her car was and the all-night inventory, etc.  Well, guess who got sent to escort....afterward he told her to not call for an escort again, she told him to go to K Mart and buy a ration of common sense. The next night, she called....along with about a half dozen other gals. He got it again...and was thoroughly PO'd, that turned out to be the last night for inventory.

Two days later, I answered the phone at home and this guy asked for Toni. Hmmm...."who's calling."  It was the young cop and he wanted to see her, so Toni picked up the phone, told him "you're an asshole and don't EVER call here again." Then hung up. He even tried to contact her at work until she threatened to speak to his supervisor. That ended it, much to his chagrin and our amusement.

[Hoser]

I'll lay down and roll to the store before I'll apply for a handicap sticker!     hoser

[big d]

In the western part of this candya$$ state of N.Y., you can get a handicapped tag for your rearview mirror just for having p.m.s. believe it or not.