Handicapped Parking Abuse (women, Canada, strange, check)

[cherry251]

Yes it did.

[Zig'sbird]

This is rather unusual. On a different board I belong to we have a very similar thread going.

Anyways...

About 2 years ago I went into the DMV to get new plates. For some reason, this time around I wanted Veterans plates for my vehicles. No big deal and I had my DD214 in hand. Also, around this time our DMV had upgraded their computer and now had access to a lot of different networks. What they have access to I have no clue though. Well, during the process of getting plates, she asks exactly which veteran's plate I want. I look at her dumbfounded and told her obviously the one that I'm entitled to.

You can imagine my surprise when she placed DAV plates in front of me. Being the idiot that I am, I argued with her but finally took them. Within a week, I went to my VA counselor and questioned her about the plates. Needless to say, I almost had to pick her up off of the floor from her laughing.

Do I still disagree about having the plates? Hell yes.

However, I WILL occasionally use them. The first place is at my community college where they do not have enough parking but yet an over abundance of handicapped spots. The second is when I drive downtown (Indy). Parking meters are hard to find and maybe 10% of the time I end up having to using a handicapped meter spot. I hate using it but sometimes I just can not find any other spot. That being said though, in Indiana if you have DAV plates you do not have to feed the meter. Needless to say, I ABUSE this

Only once have I had someone that I REALLY noticed give me a nasty look. He even went to the point of going to the back of my car to see if I have handicapped plates because I do not have a placard (since I have plates). I rather got a laugh out of it when he saw my DAV plates.

Overall though, outside of those two situations I never really use my plates. First reason is that I would rather park in the back of a parking lot to avoid parking lot door dings. The second is I would not want to park there and then see some 80 year old woman with a walker walking from the back of the lot.

Ultimately though, I still do not honestly consider myself handicapped.

Besides, I still do not understand why the need to park up front to get to the door closer but still having to walk the entire store. What's another 200 feet?*


* This is only for people who do walk the store - except for people who have the sensitivity to the sun.

[AliceT]

I am one of those people that is misunderstood and hated. i8 am guilty. Call me whatever name you care to. I have a valid placard and walk with a cane when I don't know how long I'll be standing or walking.

I often park near and use a grocery cart abandoned in the parking lot to use that instead of carrying my cane. But then, of course, on the flip side, when I use that cart to get back to my car, I will be given the wicked glare from those who think I am just too lazy to take it back to the store door when I have put my packages in my car. I can't help what people think about me.

Exercise is not a viable option for everyone across the board. I am horrified that there are people who think that and worse, that they glare or make nasty comments - and teach their children to make nasty comments - to people they don't even know. That's a seriously sadcommentary for our free society
There are so many reasons that people have a handicap placard and it's so easy to be pleasant and let others live peacefully in their communities. Where does all this hate come from? I don't get it. I am absolutely lost that Americans have become so hostile toward each other - and especially toward people who apparently have a health issue to start with.

[canibeyou]

Zigs bird... your post disgusts me.

You know you're not handicap. Yet you feel because someone made a mistake it's their fault so you'll take advantage of that mistake and chose to park in places you know truly handicap people need. Note I said NEED. And you clearly stated yourself that you don't need it... to you, it's just a convienience and a way out of paying a few dollars to park somewhere.

Truly pathetic.

That is all.

[Zig'sbird]

Originally Posted by canibeyou

Zigs bird... your post disgusts me.

You know you're not handicap. Yet you feel because someone made a mistake it's their fault so you'll take advantage of that mistake and chose to park in places you know truly handicap people need. Note I said NEED. And you clearly stated yourself that you don't need it... to you, it's just a convienience and a way out of paying a few dollars to park somewhere.

Truly pathetic.

That is all.

Thanks

And according to the VA, VA hospital and VA benefits, they do consider me handicapped. I said I don't feel handicapped. I never said what the VA stated. To them, I'm 40% disabled, with more to follow in about 6 months.

So, if a mistake was made, it was by A LOT of people. I just chose to not accept it yet.

And did you notice where I talked to my VA (Veteran's Administation) representative about returning it and she, who knows my file (unlike you) laughed in my face about returning it? According to her (again, an 'expert') I am qualified for the DAV plate. Also, I take it you did not notice where I said we have a new network system that connects the DMV to other systems. It is in the state files that the VA considers me handicapped.

So I'm glad that I disgust you by not accepting what the experts say about me. And like others here - I have both good days and bad days.

So do I feel bad about using the handicapped spots on the rare occasions that I do? Hell no.

Do I occasionally use it for convenience? Yes. But only when all metered parking except the handicapped is full. And saving money is with ANY metered spot, not just the handicapped

[Jaxson]

Yes we shouldn't judge but some cases are obvious they are being abused and those are the ones that irk me.

Last week we were at the famous Wal Mart while I sat in our car waiting for my DD to put the cart back into the store I saw a young couple walk out of the store. I was just people watching as she was jumping on her honey's back both laughing having a young love time. Then she saw our car parked in front of what would be the car they would get into. At this moment she stopped said something to her b/f then she turned her right foot to the side and limped the rest of the way to their car. She snatched the card off the mirror and threw it in the back seat. Gave me a big ole smile as they backed out.

I agree with another poster here that when ones needs a wheelchair or walker the spots should not be taken up by somebody with a medical problem. Sure they are there to use but I see lots of times people in wheelchairs not being able to park and unload because they need the extra wide space to do so.

[jtur88]

Society just has to get used to the idea that no matter what, there will be some people who will abuse it. Live with it.
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I have a policy that Ive told my friends about, and most paople adopt it and use it. When I go to a crowded parking lot, I never take the "best" spot. I leave it there for somebody who needs it worse than I do. I don't mind the walk.

[Jaxson]

Originally Posted by jtur88

Society just has to get used to the idea that no matter what, there will be some people who will abuse it. Live with it.
------
I have a policy that Ive told my friends about, and most paople adopt it and use it. When I go to a crowded parking lot, I never take the "best" spot. I leave it there for somebody who needs it worse than I do. I don't mind the walk.

True enough but we as a society have forgotten about courtesy to others replacing it with me mentality. We as a society live longer than the generations before us so we have more eldely that are still active and about. Very seldom do I see people holding open doors for others especially elderly or handicapped outside my family members.

Instead of able bodied people being happy they are blessed to be able to walk the parking lot distance they want to gripe about fat, lazy, nothing wrong with people that use handicapped spots.

[old_cold]

We know this is wrong but sometimes try to get away with it.
I know why someone in a chair needs the extra space to get in and out.
I also know (locally) the approximate percentage of times a van rather than a car will be parking and it's extremely low.
Two cars can fit into a space and we have sometimes pulled in between two already parked cars to use up the loading section.
5 spaces become 10 if everybody did it and I also realize if everybody did it there would seldom be a spot for vans so I'm not promoting it.
It's also only done if a lot is packed and there is no reasonably close slot.
A security guard made me move once but the funniest time was when I got a real lecture by the lady next to me that had no HC plates or placard on her vehicle at all.

How bad am I?

[jtur88]

I now feel uncomfortable holding doors for women strangers.

Women never make eye contact with men, anywhere, except maybe hookers on the clock. If I hold the door for a woman, I detect that she has some kind of a disgusted confusion, because it forces her to decide whether to break out of the mold and make eye contact, which she is hard-wired to not do.

So, to avoid placing a person in a no-win quandary, I just stand back and wait until they have gone through the door in their rigidly-enforced societal vacuum, and then I go myself. I feel like I have done her a favor, which she will never know about.

This does not apply in Canada, only the USA.