OT Rant: That handicapped space is NOT for you.

[Lilosh]

You, in the SUV. You, in the big Pickup Truck. Get out of the handicapped space.

I don't care if it's "Just for a minute" while you drop off movies at blockbuster, or return something to the grocery store, or wait for your friend at MCDonalds.

THE HANDICAPPED SPACE IS NOT THERE TO SAVE YOUR LAZY REAR 2 MINUTES OF YOUR LIFE.

The ONLY people who should *EVER* be parked in a handicapped space should be people with the little sticker or hangtag on their car. Or, in rare cases, people experiencing a medical *emergency*. If someone's son cuts himself open on something, or accidently breaks his arm, by all means they should park the car there while they get him some help.

And don't block the handicapped space , either. It's no better to park your car horizontally across the area in front of the handicapped space than it is to occupy iy.

I don't care if the car is still running, idling, or if you left your (non-handicapped) great aunt Clara in the car, and you dont consider that to be "Parking". If any part of your car is making it impossible for a real , honest to Innoruuk, Handicapped person to park there, I have words for you. Words that I can't say here.

I swear to God, one day, I will become a cop so I can ticket each and every single person who does this. I'll sit in front of blockbusters, fast food places, and WalMarts, and try to teach people that you CAN NOT be a lazy jerk at the expense of the disabled. And I will show up,with photographic proof, for every single person who takes the ticket to court.



-Noishpa "Yes, my parents are handicapped. And no, that's not the point" Taltos.

[Pootle]

/Agree

People who park like that should be shot!

[Nhin Impious]

I find the following wording to be highly effective.

"If you are ever disabled-- which can be in about five minutes, if you like-- you will understand."

(Venerable) Nhinx Aphsion
1HB = 175, still waiting for AA "Knee shot"

[Draggar]

I don't get it, it's hard to figure out who qualifies. But I'm glad illiteracy doesn't count.

My wife has 2 prosthetic hips (2 total hip replacements) and has arthritis with them. We even have a service dog who helps her walk (as a mobile crutch) when she needs it, yet she "doesn't qualify" for a handicapped sticker.

(Although I am pretty sure that if she even did she wouldn't park in them because "Other people need it more then she does" (according to her)).

"If you are ever disabled-- which can be in about five minutes, if you like-- you will understand."

I like that quote!


But yes, and can we add fire lanes into this argument?

(Funny story, there was a fire when someone parked in the fire lane, the truck came, the car was still there, let's just say they moved the car, the owner of the car tried to sue the fire dept, and the judge (who was retired FD) threw the case out stating that he was illegally parked and parked there at his own risk), even the country judge stood by that.

[Maevenniia]

I could not agree more. My father had to walk with a cane after he had a stroke, due to regaining less-than-full mobility on his right side, plus inner-ear balance issues, and he would get easily tired walking just from the handicapped spot into the store.

Seeing non-handicapped folks parking in a handicapped parking spot still ENRAGES me, to this very day.

[Inyidd]

But yes, and can we add fire lanes into this argument?

(Funny story, there was a fire when someone parked in the fire lane, the truck came, the car was still there, let's just say they moved the car, the owner of the car tried to sue the fire dept, and the judge (who was retired FD) threw the case out stating that he was illegally parked and parked there at his own risk), even the country judge stood by that.

Fire lanes are different. They're posted for the *offenders* safety, more than anything else. If you're in a place a truck wants to park, they'll "move" you, as you said. If you're in front of a hydrant, you'll find that the fire department has creative ways of getting a hose where they want it to go.

It's just a durn shame that the handicapped don't have similar resources at their disposal.

[Krazick]

Fire lanes are different. They're posted for the *offenders* safety, more than anything else. If you're in a place a truck wants to park, they'll "move" you, as you said. If you're in front of a hydrant, you'll find that the fire department has creative ways of getting a hose where they want it to go.

It's just a durn shame that the handicapped don't have similar resources at their disposal.

Remember the opening of the movie "Backdraft"? The firetruck arrived and the firemen looked for the hydrant... and found it directly next to a Mercedes (maybe BMW... but you get the idea... expensive car)... and the way it was "creatively" solved the problem, was to take the fire-axe and smash the driver and front passenger windows, feeding the hose directly through them.

They didn't even need to depict the driver returning to the car and not being able to leave...

[salomeasillverfrost]

Lilosh, if it makes you feel any better, when I was in college and used to work the service desk at a local Kmart, I would call the local police when I spotted people parking in handicapped when they weren't and the police were always very obliging about coming to help these people learn the error of their ways /wink
I believe the fine is $250 dollars in Michigan

Sal

[Serenya]

Years ago, when cities were a bit more lax about enforcing the handicapped parking spot laws, I knew someone in a wheel chair due to MS. His campaign to assist in enforcement was simple -- if he saw a vehicle in a handicapped spot that should not be, he let the air out of the tires and left a note. I'm sure he could have been cited for that himself, but most cops tended to look the other way. No permanent damage done, but a reminder given.

[Thorvari]

One problem in the state of Maryland is that a person does not need to show continued necessity to renew a handicapped hangtag. Because of this, we get people that obviously aren't handicapped parking in the spots with a handicapped hangtag in the window. (Think pimp-mobile with custom rims and the guy driving it that RUNS into the store)

In these cases there is nothing that an average person can do, because the person does have a legal hangtag displayed.

[Silound]

$1000 in Louisiana now. New bill just passed to make parking in any emergency/handicapped place velly expensive. I watched a guy break down and cry when he found out the hard way.

[Inyidd]

In these cases there is nothing that an average person can do, because the person does have a legal hangtag displayed.

Are you sure? I'm pretty sure that use of a legal handicapped tag by a non-handicapped person is just as illegal, if not more, as not having the tag and parking there in the first place. Maybe it's on a state-by-state basis?

--Inyidd

[Lilosh]

Yeah, every now and then I see people who aren't really handicapped parking in handicapped spots with proper stickers. and it kind of irks me. I ca't say anything , because they might have some kind of "Secret" handicap. But seeing some 18 year old couple park in a handicapped spot at work, and then run and skip into the store laughing and giggling makes me think that perhaps they're using Mommy or Daddy's sticker. But who knows?

Years ago, My father wasn't disabled. My mother has been for many many years. We always had a handicapped sticker growing up, but if my mother wasn't in the car, My Father wouldn't park in a handicapped space.

I guess I was just raised like that. We weren't handicapped, so our car didn't go near the space.

As an side note, we have one or two customers at work that I see on a semi-regular basis that inspire me. One is walking with a cane, and is obviously having serious medical difficuties. And I've yet to see him park in the handicapped spaces. And then there's the man who is in a wheelchair who drives himself, has a folded up/disassembled wheel chair in the back seat of his car. Parks in the disabled spot, gets his wheelchair from the backseat, assembles it himself, and slides himself into it. Never asks for help from anyone, even though we always offer and do what we can. If I ever see him pull in, and someone's illegaly parked in the handicapped space, I'm going to FIND THEM inside, and make them move. Probably after I call the cops.


And , in regard to Nhin's comment about making people disabled, I have to bite my tongue a hundred times a day. I've decided that threatening to make people disabled isn't in my best interest, whether at work or at play. But I always wonder if hoping that they find out how difficult it is to be handicapped isn't in their future.


-Noishpa "Please don't use this thread to laugh about where I work" Taltos.

[Nhin Impious]

One problem in the state of Maryland is that a person does not need to show continued necessity to renew a handicapped hangtag. Because of this, we get people that obviously aren't handicapped parking in the spots with a handicapped hangtag in the window.

Actually, there are two types of tags given out, temporary and permanent (in the states that issue special plates for it, the plates are only given for a permanent one). Not everyone who is entitled to a disabled parking space is that way because they use a wheelchair or walk in an obviously different way all the time. In fact, like my grandmother, they may be walking briskly INTO that store, and then limping back out 20 minutes later when the pain catches up with them. (She thinks just because her knees are only 10 years old, that they should be in better shape than the rest of her.) Other people have back conditions or heart conditions that aren't immediately apparent.

Think pimp-mobile with custom rims ...

Just because you're disabled doesn't mean you can't drive an expensive car. A personal friend of mine races a Ferrari for a living-- with custom-built hand controls. Her website has some pretty cool pics, but since it's advertising the race team, I won't link it here (but you can PM me if you want to see it.)

Anyways, usually the best thing to do if you see someone suspiciously able-bodied parking in the wrong spot is to approach them and brightly say "Oh, look! You forgot your little hang tag! Better go get that out, huh?" rather than making assumptions about someone's physical state.

(If they blow you off, THEN go for the knees.)

Nhinx Aphsion

[Sanna]

/agreed.

My grandmother lives with my family now (she has my old bedroom, now that I don't need it), and she had three back surgeries in... six months? five? Cause the docs kept messing up (*scowls... what would you like your tombstone to say?*). We highly suspect that my aunt ninja-looted one of her handicapped hangtags last time we saw her....

Mom drives Grandmom's car, now that i have the van... if Grandmom is there (and she does like to get out of the house and go shopping ^_^), she uses the tag... if it's just her, tag goes in glovebox.

O ye that maketh my Grandmother walketh too far... phear the wrath of the Sanna...

/nod /nod.

-- Sanna