Handicapped Parking...
By twoey68
@twoey68 (13627)
United States
March 31, 2008 2:14am CST
Just about every business and public building has handicap parking. It’s usually the closest parking spots to the building and makes it easier for ppl with handicaps to get in and out and also cuts way down on their walking distance at places like Wal-Mart’s. Most states require you to have a special sticker on your plates or a little thing to hang in your window so ppl know you’re handicapped and can park in those spots.
However, there are ppl who aren’t handicapped that take the spots. Why? Because they don’t like the hassle of looking for a regular spot, b/c it’s closer to the building, b/c they figure if no one is in them then there’s no reason they can’t use it or b/c it’s just more convenient. Occasionally someone will try to get around it by saying things like well, I broke a nail so I’m handicapped or I have cramps so I’m handicapped today. Nice try…but nope.
My Mom was really bad about that until I told her about an article I had read a few months. In the article, a Northerner state (I want to think Maine) started fining ppl $3000.00 each time they caught them parking in a handicapped parking spot without the proper papers to do so. My Mom refuses to park in one of those spots now unless the actual person that is handicapped (my Stepdad or Grandmother) is in the car with her. She likes having money too much to throw away that much for a convenient parking spot.
These spots are really important to ppl that really need them. It might make all the difference between getting into the store, Dr.’s office or courthouse to the person. I’m really glad that my Mom doesn’t do it anymore.
So, are you guilty about doing it? Will you be staying out of them to avoid getting a ticket? If you needed one and someone that didn’t need it took it, would you complain?
**AT PEACE WITHIN**
~~STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS~~
18 people like this
52 responses
@sacmom (14192)
• United States
31 Mar 08
Yes, I guess you can say I am guilty of parking in them. 
Actually it was my husband that parked in them, but I am the one that told him to. 
You see, I was in labor with my babies and all the other spots that were around the ER were taken. Poor excuse maybe, but with being in labor I was not going to be stuck giving birth in the parking lot, especially with my second son as I was 9 cm dilated by the time we got to the hospital. I don't know how I would have walked all that ways otherwise had my husband parked somewhere else. And believe me, that short distance was far enough! It felt like forever before I reached the hospital doors. My husband moved the car once I was admitted.
I don't know who will agree with me on this, but I believe a pregnant woman in her 3rd trimester should be permitted to have a temporary handicap placard. They may not be handicap like other disabled folks, but I know from experience that it can be difficult for a woman that is that far along to be able to walk long distances or stand for long periods of time. And to be able to have a placard when in labor is a necessity, even if others may not think so. 
Actually it was my husband that parked in them, but I am the one that told him to. You see, I was in labor with my babies and all the other spots that were around the ER were taken. Poor excuse maybe, but with being in labor I was not going to be stuck giving birth in the parking lot, especially with my second son as I was 9 cm dilated by the time we got to the hospital. I don't know how I would have walked all that ways otherwise had my husband parked somewhere else. And believe me, that short distance was far enough! It felt like forever before I reached the hospital doors. My husband moved the car once I was admitted.
I don't know who will agree with me on this, but I believe a pregnant woman in her 3rd trimester should be permitted to have a temporary handicap placard. They may not be handicap like other disabled folks, but I know from experience that it can be difficult for a woman that is that far along to be able to walk long distances or stand for long periods of time. And to be able to have a placard when in labor is a necessity, even if others may not think so. 3 people like this
@blackbriar (9076)
• United States
31 Mar 08
When I was in labor, my hubby just went to the ER doors where the ambulances go and took me in, then once he knew I was being taken care of, he then went and parked the car. That's allowed here in my county. They even had a wheelchair brought out for me to get in so I didn't have to walk at all.
3 people like this
@violeta_va (4831)
• Australia
31 Mar 08
My father has a disability (lost an eye in a car crash and his other eye is in bad shape) he is allowed to drive and has the disability sticker. The disability parking is not only closer to the doors but its biger as well so its easier for people to park. As I know how important those parking spaces are for people with disability I get angry when I see people park there just because they cant be bothered to look for another space. I dont drive but apart from my father no one uses the permit. We never use the parents parking as well even when my son was small.
3 people like this
@emeraldisle (13139)
• United States
31 Mar 08
I see this happen a lot around here. People who park in the handicap spots but do not have the tags for it. My sister and I both have the tags, actually we have it also on our license plate to make it easier. Now neither of us are that old looking and neither of us use a wheel chair. My sister does use a cane at times but not always. Walking any distance though is very hard for both of us do to back and hip problems. Still because we don't fit the expected image of someone who is handicapped some have given us dirty looks for it. I would gladly exchange that tag for being able to walk without pain. When I see people that are parking where they shouldn't yes it upsets me. I don't usually say anything but I have been tempted to a few times on it. I just wish the cops in my area would start nailing them more. The county below us has actually been on the news for ticketing people on it but in my county they seem to not care.
@recycledgoth (9894)
•
31 Mar 08
This is one of those subjects that really gets my back up, big time. My mother was a disabled driver for a number of years and would regularly find the disabled spaces taken up by perfectly capable people simply taking the spaces without any consideration whatsoever. I wouldn't dream of parking in a disabled space, even though there are some days when I find it hard to walk very far without using my stick. I don't have a disabled badge or entitlement so I won't use the space, it's not fair to those people who really need the spaces.
@blackbriar (9076)
• United States
31 Mar 08
Only time I will park in a handicap spot is when my hubby is with me. He's handicapped and has a placard to put on his rearview mirror. Even then, if there is a spot close to the door that isn't a handicap spot, he will park there instead. He suffered a stroke several years ago that left him pretty weak on his left side. There are days he can walk fine and days he has trouble walking. It's those days that he will definately use one of those spots. People better watch out for me, thou. I will take license plates numbers down and report anyone who is in those spots that don't have the special plate or the placard in their mirror. 
3 people like this
@twinrachel (215)
•
31 Mar 08
I never park in spaces menat for the handicapped - i do sometimes feel that some people with less severe handicaps should perhaps not be abl eto park in these spaces and there often seem to be too mny of the sopaces and lots that are empty. However, I tend to usually just ignore them.
What annoys me more is mother and baby parking spaces. As a mother of twins it can be quite tricky getting them in and out of the car, especially if somone is parked to close. Then when you are strapping them into their car seat you have the door open and your bottom sticking out! It is really great to have a slightly wider parking space for their and your protection. however people seem to use them regardles sof whether they have children and because there is no system of fining in use there is no one there to make sure that the people using these spaces really do have young children.
3 people like this
@pumpkinjam (8540)
• United Kingdom
31 Mar 08
As I don't drive, I don't personally have this problem. Whenever I am out with my sister, she will not park in disabled spots. If we have my toddler in the car, we'll park in the parent/child bit but sometimes we don't even do that because there might be someone who needs that spot more than we do. It's only when there are a few empty spaces there that we'll go there.
I don't see why people should get away with parking in a place which has been reserved for someone else. Some people are just lazy and have no thought for other people. I just wish we could do something about the parking on the streets round here. So many cars park right on corners and even across paths so pedestrians have to navigate dangerous roads. Selfish parking should be punished. I am glad your mom has stopped parking in disabled spots when she has no need.
3 people like this
@Shaun72 (15959)
• Palatka, Florida
31 Mar 08
I understand the feeling. I use a handicapped sign myself do to needing it. I can't walk to far espically in the heat or I get shakey due to having spacicty. So when I see someone parked in a handicapped place withput a sign I get a little upset myself.
2 people like this
@anonymili (3138)
•
31 Mar 08
OOh nice discussion. This is a personal bug bear of mine! My dad has had a disabled badge for about 10 years now and he never abuses it by letting me brother or me use it unless we are driving him somewhere. I have never parked in a disabled spot myself as I think it's morally wrong - as far as I'm aware there's no fine for it here in the UK -something I think they need to change - as that would definitely deter cheeky people from just parking their car there.
A typical example of this is the other day at work I saw a sports car parked in the only disabled spot in our office car park. There was no disabled badge displayed and I had to assume it was just some very lazy person visiting one of the offices in our building. I made a note to bring it up at the next tenant meeting and it really annoyed me that if a disabled person did actually turn up at that time they would not have been able to park their car in the spot allocated specifically for disabled users.
The other thing that annoys me about certain lazy people is when they park in supermarket car park spaces which is clearly marked for parents with small children, i.e. those children small enough to need a pushchair/buggy, I've questioned someone before who parked in one of these spaces and she snapped at me "Get lost, I've got a kid; it's a space for people with kids!" Her "kid" was over 6ft tall and definitely not in need of a pushchair! LOL
I would be very interested to pop back and see the other responses you get as this is a subject close to my heart!
3 people like this
@Modestah (11179)
• United States
31 Mar 08
I currently do have a handicap placard to hang in my mirror.. the doc filled out the paperwork for me to take to motor vehicle office, and then you pay a minimal fee to get the placard, around $3 - this is a temporary one that is good for 3 mos, at which time my condition should have improved enough that I will not need one.
I have once parked in the handicap slot when we were up in niagra falls canada as I had taken a serious fall and sprained my ankle really bad - and really could not walk the distance, the law enforcer happened to be there as I pulled into that spot and he gave us permission to park there.
I felt an awful guilt once when I did not realize the place I pulled in to was handicap reserved - there was no metal sign indicating, and the painted sign was terribly faded I did not notice it until I was putting groceries in to the trunk and saw it up close... this spot was not nearest to the entrance and could well have been an ordinary parking space... since then I decided to park further away from store entrances (better exercise too!)
I think that business should be required to keep those signs visible - whether it is by keeping the snow cleared off, or keeping the paint bright - those metal signs on a post or affixed to the building are probably the best route to go.
2 people like this
@fpd1955 (2074)
• United States
3 Apr 08
This is one of my biggest pet peeves. I absolutely detest people that park in the handicap spot when they aren't handicapped and don't have the license plate or sticker to prove it. You know what really is the worst part about it, when I see it happen it is usually young, healthy adults or teenagers that do it. Appalling to me. I saw an older gentleman get into an argument over a spcae a young man had taken. The older man had a handicap license plate. The young man was just laughing at him. I went over, while dialing my cell phone and informed them both I was calling the police to rectify this situation. The young man said some unkind words to me and got in his vehicle and left. The old gent thanked me and took the spot. Now, mind you, I wasn't truly calling the police at that moment, but this young man didn't know that. I was afraid that this argument might have escalated and someone, particularly the older man, would get hurt.
I often wish I had some kind of big, orange and hard to get off annoying sticker to put on the windshield where the driver has to see out that says, " I am not handicapped but I parked illegally in a handicap spot!" Knowing my luck, I would get busted for this!
PEACE
PEACE1 person likes this
@scarlet_woman (23465)
• United States
31 Mar 08
i wish they'd charge that near me-it's a bad,bad problem.my father was handicapped and we had an awful time sometimes finding a space to get him out easier.even worse,somebody double parked lengthwise behind us once and hemmed us in.it took all i could do to keep my brother from ramming him.
needless to say,if i drove,i'd park where i'm supposed to.
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
31 Mar 08
I don't park there because it is reserved for those who are handicapped..Besides the exercise does me good.
I do have a little story about people who get angry with others who don't have the handicap license plate..Back when they first started giving out the license plates, my sister had just gotten he leg amputated and was only given this card board that she puts in the window of the car when she parks it..She had driven us to the store and pulled into a handicap parking spot and this lady started yelling at her..We laughed about it, because if the lady had waited, she would have seen my sister place the handicap sign in the window..
I do have a little story about people who get angry with others who don't have the handicap license plate..Back when they first started giving out the license plates, my sister had just gotten he leg amputated and was only given this card board that she puts in the window of the car when she parks it..She had driven us to the store and pulled into a handicap parking spot and this lady started yelling at her..We laughed about it, because if the lady had waited, she would have seen my sister place the handicap sign in the window..
@ersmommy1 (12588)
• United States
31 Mar 08
Here the fine is $500.It's a shame people do not consider that someone may need those spaces. I don't know why. This is just another issue that concerns thoughtfulness and consideration.Some people don't have that for family let alone strangers.I have seen people leave notes on offenders cars.Maybe that makes them think twice the next time.
@stvasile (7306)
• Romania
3 Apr 08
I don't really care about handicap people parking spots because I don't have a car so I'll never park on one.
I just dropped by to tell you a bit of a joke about handicap parking spots:
Handicap parking signs don't mean that the place is reserved to handicap people. It just means that the spot is reserved to Chuck Norris, and if you occupy the spot he will beat you until you get in a wheel chair!
@Cajunhellcat (2073)
• United States
3 Apr 08
I have the thing ya hang from your mirrow but I only use it when my Mom is with me I never park in the place unless I have someone with me that is handycapped
1 person likes this
@mememama (3076)
• United States
3 Apr 08
I never park in those, cause I'm not handicapped. It seems like people will burn tons of gas going in circles in the parking lot for the perfect spot, it's such a waste. I find a spot and park there, usually close to the cart return so it's easier to return or get a cart with my son in tow.
1 person likes this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
8 Apr 08
I used to drive van for the ARC in our area. We had a bus full of people in wheel chairs. We needed to go to the YMCA for aqua therapy. There were no handicapped parking spots available. Actually, there was no place to put the van and let them out without getting ourselves killed trying to unload them. So we found a couple of cars with no stickers indicating disability. I drove around the block while my co-worker went in and had the drivers summoned to the area. Inside the Y, they put the license plate numbers over the intercom system. A body builder came out and moved his car, was I ever ticked! A body builder can't move his hiny a few yards? He should have apologized and been enbarassed! What a jerk. Meanwhile we had 4 people in wheelchairs that we needed to get into the Y. We were late because of him and probably others like him. So they had their water time cut short because of thoughtless slobs. Also the extra gas and it was a really, really nice sunny day. No excuse for this at all!
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
10 Apr 08
I'm one of those people that needs the handicapped parking space and it irks me to no end to see someone park there when they don't have the proper papers. I did see someone do just that and then three guys got out like it was nothing to them which made me even more angry so I wrote up a nasty note and stuck it to their windsheild. I hope they think twice about doing it again! How cruel! I would've been more than happy to give them my handicap just so they'd feel the privilage to park there.
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
3 Apr 08
No not me that is really cheating plus depriving some really handicapped person of a parking space. I saw one man cheating and a police woman spotted him without a sticker and he stood there and ranted and raved at that poor woman for a good half hour and he still got a citation so good for her. as you said getting a space when you are badly handicapped can make all thedifference in keeping your appointments.
1 person likes this
