Handicapped Parking Abuse (cost, ideas, location, daughter)

[Baltic_Celt]

Originally Posted by Sampy123

I am one of those people who legitimately have a handicapped placard due to an "invisible" illness, in addition to having had open heart surgery. A doctor has to indicate a diagnosis on the application and state medical necessity in order to get one. On my "good" days, I leave the handicapped spot open for someone who can use it more than I can, and I take the next closest spot. On the "not so good' days, I will take the spot.

Once, on one of my "not-so-good" days, this older lady (about 30 yrs. older) stopped me after I had parked and was complaining endlessly, and quite loud, how the younger, healthier people can get these placards, and that she was unable to because her dr. said she was healthy. My response to her was, "Thank goodness you don't have to have one of these handicapped cards". I added that she "was probably healthier than I was anyway" and I really believed that to be true. I also told her that she should "try walking in my shoes for a day". Although I could understand where her anger came from, sometimes I think having an invisible disability is more of a burden than a blessing. If I feel someone is watching me, I will throw in a limp, just to avoid another confrontation. But I do understand the frustration where people try to take advantage of the system.

Sampy -

I'm very sorry to hear of your ordeals, not only healthwise, but, with folks who so readily/easily jump to vocally judge, rather than think first. We just never know to whom we're talking & gosh, I'd love to see/feel a bit more compassion from those I encounter, in any realm. Rudeness makes my heart ache, it truly does.

"Invisible" illness, as you've described, is far more prevalent than healthy folks realize or take the time to consider. I am in no position to judge. As others have suggested that walking is good, please consider, that it would depend upon one's health, hidden or evident. No? The entire society isn't lazy. Individuals can be, but, isn't that one's choice? Yes. I try to remember when I see a very overweight, slow-moving soul, that perhaps the weight came after a disability. And, if the weight caused the disability, I'm not their doctor so it's still none of my business. I can't possibly tell anything by looking at them. It's not anyone's place to judge.

Feel better, Sampy & good thoughts/positive energy in spades, to all of us who could use hugs/healing... Baltic_Celt

[thevoiceover]

I too have a handicap that can't always be seen. I have been very frustrated lately and need some advise from you guys. I work at a company with many employees. They have appropriate spaces but we have a few people in "Upper Managment" that like to park up close in these spaces.

One of them in general to me has gone over the edge in my opinion. She recently went to facilities b/c a security guard questioned her on her handicap status - her reply was she hurts all the time and needs to park there (as she flies in and up the stairs) well facilities gave her some made up handicap parking paper that she keeps in her windows that isn't a valid placecard. She is abusing these spots and many times has kept me from parking close up when I needed it (here in Colorado we get big snows and I can't get around in that at all!).. As the security guard who questioned her said "I don't think being overweight is a handicap", I agree... I wasn't giving the choice for my status and regardless, she shouldn't be parking here..

Is there some sort of law that can be enforced here? She is not giving up the space even thought two or three "true" handicap people have mentioned something to her.. Will the police issue her a ticket on private property? How can I get this resolved and get it resolved ASAP!

Thanks for the time,
TVO

[CabinFever]

As long as it's not being observed,people will continue to violate handicapped parking places.What kills me is people that have family that are handicapped will use their handicap sign so as they can get good parking.

[my3arabs]

Originally Posted by momof2dfw

LMAO!!!!!! That and the fact that it is the ones that need the excercise the most that won't walk. They have to park closest to the door and won't even take 15 steps to return the buggy in the parking lot. But these are also the ones that are just as bad when it comes to their parking abilities. I've noticed that REALLY bad more lately. People just pulling into a spot and parking so crooked that they literally block the car beside them in. Or so close to them that if the other person comes out first they won't be able to get into their car. It's just plain lazy and disrespectful to me.

Did you notice that some of those same ppl are driving the new Fords, Chevys etc that are hard to climb into? We get that here and they can't park and they try to run you over in the parking lot.

Here at the school we have ppl without the sticker that park in that space and run and get their kid. Like it is too far for their kid to walk. Same with some of the "normal" ppl parking in the middle of the road or double parking cuz they can't get close enough to their kid.

I leave early to get the right spot so my son can see our pickup. When at the grocery store I park in the back so I don't get my dorrs dinged by the idiots that can't park. And I NEVER keep my mouth shut when a person who is like the young woman from the other post park in the blue spot!!

[christina0001]

Please don't assume that just because you can't see someone's disability, that they are truly not disabled. There is abuse of the system of course, but there are also times that people have problems you can't see. Also as others pointed out, some sick people have good days and bad days. Sometimes a good day can quickly turn into a bad day, and they are safer parking close to the entrance in case they become ill.

low energy (ex. chronic fatigue syndrome, HIV/AIDS, many kinds of cancer, heart conditions)
breathing problems (ex. COPD, emphasema, lung cancer)
chronic pain (ex. different kinds of arthritis, neuropathies)

Rather than spending time fruitlessly wondering if someone is really "disabled enough" to park in a handicap spot, just be glad that it's not something you need to worry about for yourself.

[LoveBoating]

Excellent thread for me.......I have a Colorado Handicap Placard and use it all the time. How did I get it? I asked my doctor for one, when I found out thru x-rays, that I had Degenerative Bone Disease in my right hip. The first Placard I got was a 60-day one and after using up the time on that, I went back to my doctor and ask him for another 60-day one and he done a form requiring a 3 year one to be given to me. In Sept. of last year ('05), I had a hip replacement surgery done, but I still get some pain in that hip area if I walk to far/to much and have to take either a medication from my doctor or 3 Motrin. My current Placard expires June '08 and I will ask my doctor for either a permanent Handicap license plate or another 3 yr. one.
I also get upset if I see someone parked in a Handicap spot, but does not have a Placard showing or a Handicap sign on their license plate. And, yes, a lot of people do seem to abuse this privilege, but sometimes they don't have a "visible" problem. Then again, some handicap people allow a family member or friend use their vehicle and that person just pulls out the Placard, hangs it up, or just pulls into a Handicap spot because there is a Handicap license plate on the vehicle.
Depending how small a town/city you live in, a lot of police agencies don't pay much attention to Handicap parking violators.
But, as long as my doctor deems it necessary for me to have one, I will have one.

[Vicki3455]

Originally Posted by thevoiceover

I too have a handicap that can't always be seen. I have been very frustrated lately and need some advise from you guys. I work at a company with many employees. They have appropriate spaces but we have a few people in "Upper Managment" that like to park up close in these spaces.

One of them in general to me has gone over the edge in my opinion. She recently went to facilities b/c a security guard questioned her on her handicap status - her reply was she hurts all the time and needs to park there (as she flies in and up the stairs) well facilities gave her some made up handicap parking paper that she keeps in her windows that isn't a valid placecard. She is abusing these spots and many times has kept me from parking close up when I needed it (here in Colorado we get big snows and I can't get around in that at all!).. As the security guard who questioned her said "I don't think being overweight is a handicap", I agree... I wasn't giving the choice for my status and regardless, she shouldn't be parking here..

Is there some sort of law that can be enforced here? She is not giving up the space even thought two or three "true" handicap people have mentioned something to her.. Will the police issue her a ticket on private property? How can I get this resolved and get it resolved ASAP!

Thanks for the time,
TVO

Are you in Colorado Springs? If so, their police department has a Handicapped Parking Enforcement Unit. If not, you might want to contact them anyway to see what the specific laws are in Colorado regarding handicap parking. At the very least, they should be able to tell you whether tickets can be issued on private property.

[thevoiceover]

Nope, in Engelwood... Do you buy chance have a link to the enforcement group? I heard common citizens can also issue tickets in denver area, I wonder how they come about doing this?? Last question, I also heard that you can park in metered parking without payment in certain counties - is this true in the denver metro area??

Originally Posted by Vicki3455

Are you in Colorado Springs? If so, their police department has a Handicapped Parking Enforcement Unit..

[exhdo1]

Originally Posted by totally_annoyed

i am totally irritated with the amount of people i see that possess handicapped hang-tags, but aren't handicapped! they use them to park wherever they want. as a borough security worker, i just dealt with someone who parked in a handicapped spot. when i approached him and asked him to move his car because he was in a handicapped spot, he said "i'm handicapped."
"where's your tag?" i asked.
he then bent over into his car, produced a tag that looked brand new, not faded, barely used. what choice did i have? "hang it up." i said, and walked away, furious that this perfectly capable young man was getting away with this. he walked off, and later i noticed that he was walking all over our park, no limp or crutch in sight.

why is it that these people are allowed to get away with this? maybe that guy drives his crippled mother around, but to use the handicapped sticker when obviously he was not handicapped should be a crime. i would love nothing more than to see this man's car being towed.

what are your thoughts on this? how, if possible, can it be changed?

Believe it or not there are people that have handicap I.D.s for another family member believe that if they are alone they can still park in a handicap space (somehow the vehicle is handicapped). Some are just totaly oblivious to whats going on. I can only hope that the ones that aren't handicaped but take advantge of the situation someday will become handicapped. People that are handicapped (in the state of NJ) have an I.D. to go along with their handicapped placards or plates. Some placards have an expiration but people continue to use them when they expire. A police officer can ask to see the I.D. if he suspects that a person parked in a handicap space is not handicapped. Some towns are big on having their officers writing handicap summons (BIG REVENUE). I personally know of a judge that will berate a person if they are caught violating the law. If I were a judge I would assign the violator to eight hours of maintenance of handicap parking signs within my jurisdiction on top of the fine. By the way for those of you that don't get it, the blue crosshatched area painted on the ground between handicapped parking spaces is actually part of the space (designed for people with wheelchairs or side ramps to enter or exit their vehicles) and it is not the special bonus up front parking space when you need to run into shoprite for a gallon of milk!

[MMUSMM]

Originally Posted by totally_annoyed

what are your thoughts on this? how, if possible, can it be changed?

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