Handicapped Parking Abuse (things to do, best, how many, actor)

[fuzzymystic]

You could always tell them 'stupidity is NOT a handicap', find someplace else to park.

[think.reciprocity]

*** FYI: I have started with the OP & have not read this entire thread yet... ***

I get so frustrated with thinking such as this - truly. I am one of those "able-bodied" people who qualifies for a handicap parking tag. We cannot see all disabilities that make one qualify for that tag. The only thing we can do as citizens is respectfully ask the person if they are the one who qualifies for that tag & when they say yes, leave it alone. The rest is none of our business. I have asked people sometimes, "I apologize for the inconvenience, but I just want to be certain that you actually qualify for that spot, because there are plenty of folks who legitimately do need it. I have hidden disabilities so I understand. But, just want to be sure you are thinking about your choices." Not exactly that - but something to that effect.

There are those who misuse these tags but what tweaks me is the thinking that assumes the eye sees all. Don't assume you know the whole story. Ask respectfully, then leave it alone. It's enough for those dealing with disabilities to manage - then we have to deal with the assumptions of others. This is just my humble opinion & perspective... peace out...

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?

[think.reciprocity]

Originally Posted by Evey

Just a thought here. I have know several people who at a glance appear to be healthy, but do have real health concerns. I have a very good friend who has MS. Some days she can walk better than others, but she can't do it for very long. My mother had serious lung problems and also could not walk far. They both look sooo much worse when coming out of a store (or wherever) than they do going in.

Thank you for saying so...

[think.reciprocity]

Originally Posted by MoMark

I totally agree with you. I was at Price Cutter ( a local southwest Missouri grocery store chain) and had to park quite a ways out in the lot. As I was walking to the front of the store through the parking lot, a young woman pulled up in an SUV with a handicap tag, parked in the handicaped parking spot, hopped out, and RAN to the front entrance. Luck would have it that I was walking out with my groceries when she was and there were a lot of people now in the parking lot around us and I was really close to her as I walked past. I fell to my knees while looking right at her and in a super loud voice yelled: "Praise be Jesus!!!! She's healed!!!!" The other people around started laughing and the woman abusing the sticker turned red and got in her car quickly and drove off.

MY GOD... What a positively repulsive thing to do! I am horrified - this is one of those times when, I shake my head in horror & disbelief at the shear inhumanity "we" can show towards one another.

I hope you are joking, I really do.

You have no earthly idea what that young woman's health issues were - just because you can't see something doesn't mean it doesn't exist. In every likelihood your behaviour may have exacerbated her health issues. You have no idea what damage you could do... Shame on you!

[think.reciprocity]

Originally Posted by MMUSMM

I have one part hanging on the rearview mirror and the other part in my billfold. One is no good without the other. Parking enforcement can and does ask to see the part one has on them and the numbers better match.

We don't have this sort of thing here in Minnesota. We just hang the tag on the rear-view mirror. That's it. Unless something has changed since last I had one a couple years ago.

[think.reciprocity]

Disability law as it relates to employment allows & in some cases, requires, an employer to make a reasonable accommodation for those with certain medical/health issues. My guess would be that she filed a request through your disability services and/or HR office & as an accommodation they gave her parking privileges there because she met some level of need that a doctor recommended & their offices determined to be reasonable. It's legal & as legit as your permit...

BTW... My background is in HR

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

[autumngal]

Originally Posted by think.reciprocity

MY GOD... What a positively repulsive thing to do! I am horrified - this is one of those times when, I shake my head in horror & disbelief at the shear inhumanity "we" can show towards one another.

I hope you are joking, I really do.

You have no earthly idea what that young woman's health issues were - just because you can't see something doesn't mean it doesn't exist. In every likelihood your behaviour may have exacerbated her health issues. You have no idea what damage you could do... Shame on you!

think....Momark is sadly no longer with us, he is deceased,

[think.reciprocity]

Originally Posted by autumngal

think....Momark is sadly no longer with us, he is deceased,

Yes, mjb sent me a DM to tell me. I feel badly that he has passed. Period. I hope he passed peacefully & his family has found their own peace.

I didn't know him - I only read his post & responded accordingly - clearly I meant no offense towards the deceased.

[autumngal]

I'm sure you didn't mean any offense think.reciprocity.

I just thought you should know, as he is not here to defend himself
and explain his thoughts further on this topic.

[sparklebrain]

It really irratates me when people give me dirty looks when I park in handicapped sopts. I'm 24 year old female that on most days looks compleatly normal. Unfortuanitaly, I have a joint disorder and lots of physical activitie or carrying too much weight or even just walking/standing too long will make it so I can hardly move. So I have to use thoes spaces because I never know how much will do it on a certian day. Would you worry about it if was an olderperson getting out of there car looking like there just fine? All I'm trying to say is don't be so quick to judge, most people have them for a reason even if they look "fine" to you. Btw trying to teach someone a lesson or embarass them really dosn't help the situation. Someone stole my pass and now I have to go stand in line for couple hours at the secretary of state(Which will make it so I can't get around the rest of the day) just to get a new one because someone thought I was "fine" and didn't need it.