Parking / Standing in Handicap Spot?

[bcp]

I'd seen a no parking or standing sign before. Now I know what it meant. I had never seen one in Texas or in this area.

Of course, my favorite sign in Texas was always, "Head in Parking Only"

Always got a giggle.

makes sense, much safer than getting it while driving

 

[FromTexas]

makes sense, much safer than getting it while driving

I can't say that a..uhm...friend..uhm.... and female friend of theirs.. hadn't tried to follow the sign... wondering if we..err..they.. could tell the cop that it was legal if caught.


What were we talking about?

 

[itsbob]

I got hurt pretty bad playing rugby in college..I got crushed inbetween two huge..umm..ladies and really hurt my leg. I needed to go to the atm and get cash out ... I didn't want to drive and in emmitsburg, just getting to sheetz was a drive..soo my roomate took me. I was in pain and there were probably 4 hc spots open so she parked in one of them to let me gimp my way in..she sat in the truck, with it on, in case for some crazy reason all of the other three got filled. They didnt. but some older guy, who was getting around pretty good, as far as I could tell ( i realize he could be having a good day, or something, im not being mean) said to me as I was obv wincing painfully "you know, some people sacrificed a lot to get that spot" pretty nasty. I was a little shocked..I am obv in pain, and not driving, there were other spots open..and this guy was acting like it was some kind of medal or award ...or food I was stealing from a starving child..or he was a higher caste than me and deserved it..I just shook my head and carried on with my business.

so no, you shouldnt just park there for sheer convenience..but if there is something going on and you need to for whatever reason and there are spots open for other folks, I don't see the big deal.

I don't have a placard but when my gout is so bad that I can't walk I'll park in a handicapspot knowing that I need it, but also understanding that the saved amount of pain is worth the cost of the fine if I get a ticket.

 

[Larry Gude]

Obviously, there is a lot of trauma out there that only special empty parking spaces can assuage. I use handi-spaces all the time if I see three or more empty ones...which is all the time. There are about 12 spots, total, at our local convenience store and two are handi's. Everyone uses them...all the time. And I think the owners are more than happy rather than seeing people drive off because they 'can't' use an empty space. And we have no St. Pious the Angry to yell at folks about this outrage. The guy in the chair who comes in every single day uses whatever is open. We do selfish things like hold the door for him, ask if he needs any help getting stuff and everyone says hi. We seem to do just fine with balancing the letter of the law, intent, common courtesy and common sense. The cops, who are in and out, all the time, seem to agree.

I guess we're a less angry lot. Or just don't have as many folks who need to park at the front door?

Now that I think about it, there's at least 8 or so at our grocery store and they're always empty. Except for the scofflaws that use them in defiance of the law. When they're in a hurry. Or, have some temporary injury. Or whatever. I haven't done any studies on this so, I am just assuming they are capable of making such decisions without my, or anyone elses, aid.

Oh, the angry age we live in.

 

[FED_UP]

Interesting news I saw last night, DC is putting special parking meters in HC spaces to cut down the dishonesty. It said if your handicap the money you put in gives you double time on the meter, so there is another slot for non HC people to put money in also. Don't know how well that will work.

 

[bcp]

Interesting news I saw last night, DC is putting special parking meters in HC spaces to cut down the dishonesty. It said if your handicap the money you put in gives you double time on the meter, so there is another slot for non HC people to put money in also. Don't know how well that will work.

DC has always been that way, they are just changing the meter so they can actually make sure that the handicap tagger is not overstaying his double time welcome. Bethesda allows handicap parking at the meters with no payment. The extra time is in consideration of a handicap person not moving as fast as the rest of the world.

 

[warneckutz]

what you should do is go and get handicap in some way, maybe cut off one of your legs or something, then come back and complain about a parking spot that may be a few feet closer than what you can currently get.

Nitwhit it...

 

[FED_UP]

DC has always been that way, they are just changing the meter so they can actually make sure that the handicap tagger is not overstaying his double time welcome. Bethesda allows handicap parking at the meters with no payment. The extra time is in consideration of a handicap person not moving as fast as the rest of the world.

WASHINGTON - If you want to park at a D.C. meter, you are going to have to pay up, even if you have a disability permit. That is the new rule announced by the D.C. Department of Transportation.
DDOT says the free handicap parking policy was being abused by too many people. DDOT says drivers would often use disability parking tags or placards to access free parking all over the city.

OK so they have always been there and it was free for HC, but making sure everyone pays now.

Read more: No More Free Parking in DC For People With Disabilities

 

[JosephIV]

Obviously, there is a lot of trauma out there that only special empty parking spaces can assuage. I use handi-spaces all the time if I see three or more empty ones...which is all the time. There are about 12 spots, total, at our local convenience store and two are handi's. Everyone uses them...all the time. And I think the owners are more than happy rather than seeing people drive off because they 'can't' use an empty space. And we have no St. Pious the Angry to yell at folks about this outrage. The guy in the chair who comes in every single day uses whatever is open. We do selfish things like hold the door for him, ask if he needs any help getting stuff and everyone says hi. We seem to do just fine with balancing the letter of the law, intent, common courtesy and common sense. The cops, who are in and out, all the time, seem to agree.

I guess we're a less angry lot. Or just don't have as many folks who need to park at the front door?

Now that I think about it, there's at least 8 or so at our grocery store and they're always empty. Except for the scofflaws that use them in defiance of the law. When they're in a hurry. Or, have some temporary injury. Or whatever. I haven't done any studies on this so, I am just assuming they are capable of making such decisions without my, or anyone elses, aid.

Oh, the angry age we live in.

I wouldn't say it's an angry age as much as an age of blissful stupidity and selfishness. It says a lot when you can drive around St. Mary's County and see that more respect is given to carry out parking at Outback or Ruby Tuesdays (no one dares take those spots) than parking for persons with disabilities.

What can anyone say other than we don't have those 8 spots that are as you say "always empty" at our Giant or Food Lion or McKays. Do you happen to live in Mayberry? Tell Andy and Barney that I think they're doing a wonderful job! The empty handicap parking spaces must soothe your soul or you wouldn't feel the need to park in them.

Where is this Bodega you speak of? I'm out of ZigZags.

 

[glhs837]

You know whats funny, is that I was thinking of Larrys post on the way in, and thats what struck me, that he was applying a local condition to a global problem (not truly global, of course). Around here, there are times most are open, but other times they are full. And at Blockbuster, there are only two, and quite often they are filled, both with handicapped placarded vehicles. Sol, Larry, given only a couple of spots, and a busy store, still okay, or are you willing to concede that your local condition might not be the norm?

 

[nutz]

I am sick and tired of handicapped people receiving special privileges and preferred parking. Its just not fair and a slap in the face of every hard working normal citizen.

That is just wrong on so many levels. Maybe if you had a man sized appendage, you'd drop the attitude and wouldn't need the Z.

 

[FED_UP]

Total Number Of

Parking Spaces
Number of Handicapped

Parking Spaces Required

201 – 1,000
1.0%

1,001 – 2,000
10 plus 0.8% of spaces over 1,000

2,001 – 3,000
18 plus 0.6% of spaces over 2,000

3,001 - 4000
24 plus 0.4% of spaces over 3,000

4,001 or more
28 plus 0.2% of spacesover 4,000

I don't know why this subject seems interesting, I must be bored, her is some 2008 data I came across.

 

[mAlice]

This thread reminds me of the time I posted the license plate number of someone parked in a handicap spot. Boy, did that cause a #### storm!

 

[RoseRed]

This thread reminds me of the time I posted the license plate number of someone parked in a handicap spot. Boy, did that cause a #### storm!

I recall that.

 

[Larry Gude]

This thread reminds me of the time I posted the license plate number of someone parked in a handicap spot. Boy, did that cause a #### storm!

I bet FB was pissed at you for a whole hour!!! maybe two!

 

[Larry Gude]

Yo, Larry, given only a couple of spots, and a busy store, still okay, or are you willing to concede that your local condition might not be the norm?

Absolutely and may it ever be so. Angry, sucky people make me love my town every day. Anti Smoke Nazi's, parking space Nazi's, food Nazi's, Lady Gaga, we are a Nazi free zone!

 

[Larry Gude]

I wouldn't say it's an angry age as much as an age of blissful stupidity and selfishness. It says a lot when you can drive around St. Mary's County and see that more respect is given to carry out parking at Outback or Ruby Tuesdays (no one dares take those spots) than parking for persons with disabilities.

What can anyone say other than we don't have those 8 spots that are as you say "always empty" at our Giant or Food Lion or McKays. Do you happen to live in Mayberry? Tell Andy and Barney that I think they're doing a wonderful job! The empty handicap parking spaces must soothe your soul or you wouldn't feel the need to park in them.

Where is this Bodega you speak of? I'm out of ZigZags.

What'sa 'Bodega' and a ZigZag?

I'll let Barn and Andy know.

My initial reaction is more about the Parking Space Nazi someone mentioned, the frustrated Hall Monitor who just KNOWS there is ZERO justification for ANYONE to EVER use a Handi Spot and feels it there civil duty to read someone the riot act. They are also the same sorts who are so self righteous they even ask smokers to not smoke in the few designated smoking zones in the universe. That's what more peeves me. All sorts of people are hurting yet haven't gone the 'official' route and I figure we can trust folks, by and large, to be judicious in their use of the 'Forbidden Zone'. The alternative is the furthering of the Nanny State. In my view.

 

[libertytyranny]

I don't have a placard but when my gout is so bad that I can't walk I'll park in a handicapspot knowing that I need it, but also understanding that the saved amount of pain is worth the cost of the fine if I get a ticket.

That's just it. Those spaces are there to make it easier for people who are handicapped, for whatever reason. But it is clear, from reading this thread..that people have for some crazy reason made it into a moral issue. there is nothing even remotely moral about parking, sorry. I empathize with people who have to overcome disabilities, chronic and acute, and recognize those spaces can be very useful for them. I get it, that's why they exist. I don't think they are special privledges or any of that craziness..they serve a real purpose. But it doesn't make you a terrible person for utilizing a spot without a placard if you need it. thats what this has turned into..oh my GOD..you parked in a HC spot WITHOUT A FREAKIN PLACARD??? You hate people with disabilities don't you? You want to practice eugenics..youre a piece of ####... I have a friend who cured cancer who needs that spot because he was born without hands and feet and has to walk on his wrists, backwards because of traumatic brain injury...blah blah I'm morally superior to you because I have never needed them.

When I was super pregnant and had gout and BP problems I didn't go anywhere but work..there are a few HC spaces and several "HC" people who go golf every afternoon my coworkers made me a spot at the S&R door because they knew I needed a close spot the most. I surely wasn't going to go get a HC placard for two-three weeks just so I could be morally superior.

besides handicapped people aren't helpless. If they see someone parked in a spot they need without a placard, they can call the police or business and have it removed..they don't need the moral police going around telling their sob story so that people who are injured feel guilty.

 

[Larry Gude]

That's just it. Those spaces are there to make it easier for people who are handicapped, for whatever reason. But it is clear, from reading this thread..that people have for some crazy reason made it into a moral issue. there is nothing even remotely moral about parking, sorry. I empathize with people who have to overcome disabilities, chronic and acute, and recognize those spaces can be very useful for them. I get it, that's why they exist. I don't think they are special privledges or any of that craziness..they serve a real purpose. But it doesn't make you a terrible person for utilizing a spot without a placard if you need it. thats what this has turned into..oh my GOD..you parked in a HC spot WITHOUT A FREAKIN PLACARD??? You hate people with disabilities don't you? You want to practice eugenics..youre a piece of ####... I have a friend who cured cancer who needs that spot because he was born without hands and feet and has to walk on his wrists, backwards because of traumatic brain injury...blah blah I'm morally superior to you because I have never needed them.

When I was super pregnant and had gout and BP problems I didn't go anywhere but work..there are a few HC spaces and several "HC" people who go golf every afternoon my coworkers made me a spot at the S&R door because they knew I needed a close spot the most. I surely wasn't going to go get a HC placard for two-three weeks just so I could be morally superior.

besides handicapped people aren't helpless. If they see someone parked in a spot they need without a placard, they can call the police or business and have it removed..they don't need the moral police going around telling their sob story so that people who are injured feel guilty.

Bravo.

 

[itsbob]

Yes, the girl at work in a wheel chair is quite proud every time her mother helps her out of the car and people stare at her and her deformities. Do you ever exit your house? I can paint you with a wide brush as some hippy drug using dude but I know as much about you as you do of everyone with a disability that utuilizes handicap parking. It's not a "privilige". For some (like the girl that works on my floor) it may be a necessity since jerks aren't likely to leave her enought space to get her powered chair out of the car.

Well, she would be the reason for the handicap passes in the first place.. and if you remember that was basically their "poster child" (for the lack of a better term) for getting all the handicapped rules put in place in the first place. The truly handicapped that really did need help getting in and out of buildings, up and down stairs, and couldn't walk the 20 feet to the store.

I would guess more than 80% of the people that use the handicap stickers, placards and spaces don't even come close to her need, and probably 90% or more of the people that use them are a relative of the person they were issued to.


Now we have redefined the term handicapped, and nobody really knows where the line is drawn, or if there really is a line.