Disabled Parking bays: Yesterday, this really happened...

[Boo Boo Foo]

I live in Southport, Qld, Australia. I was born here. It's a lovely seaside town which is surrounded by other areas otherwise known as "The Gold Coast". Like all cities the world over, slowly but surely it continues to grow and more and more dropkicks start to show up around the traps.

Yesterday, I was walking from the undercover carpark at the Runaway Bay Shopping Mall at 10:30 am on a Sunday morning after having been in a cycling race earler in the day. I was in a great mood, merely popping in to get some fruit and nibblies etc for Mrs Boo Boo and our 15 month old daughter. A lovely day in the making, if you know what I mean.

At the particular entrance to the mall which I was entering is a "drop off zone" for disabled passengers. It's obviously meant specifically to help disabled folks make the trip just that little bit easier. It's not a parking zone, purely a temporary drop off zone, and then, about 50 yards away in the undercover area are a whole bunch of disabled parking bays proper. It's a great system. Fair, and considerate. Except for one wanker... who I happened to come across yesterday at 10:30 am.

This bloke pulls up in his convertible Mercedes 320 CLK and (no shit) parks it smack bang out the front of the mall entrance in the disabled dropoff zone. So, he's not only parked his car in a "no-standing zone", but he's breaking the disabled taboo thingey too. I couldn't believe it. So, I took a look at him, and everything about his appearance, and his demeanour just screamed of him being a bloody nightclub drug dealing slimebag. I dunno... maybe I was wrong... but certainly, he gave off the air of being a dickhead.

So I said to him as I walking across the pedestrian crossing to the entrance...

"Excuse me sir, but did you see the disabled parking dropoff sign there, just above your car?"

And that was all I said... nothing else.

"Ummm... yeah... but I've just got to go inside for a few minutes and do a few things..." he replied.

So I thought to myself... "Uh huh, I get it. For some reason, you don't think the rules apply to YOU huh? OK... dickhead alert... dickhead alert..."

I chose not to say a word, and simply keep walking. But Mercedes boy just didn't get it, did he? Instead of simply copping it sweet, nah... he decides to get all narky with me and give me a hard time.

Next thing I know, as I'm walking through the sliding doors, I've got this asshole screaming in my ear, basically slagging me off and challenging me to a fight blah, blah, blah. Ahhh drugs I thought.... wonderful things aren't they? I know, he's probably just a real estate guy or something, but he LOOKED like he sold pills in night clubs as near as I could tell...

Well, I didn't say a word. I just kept walking a dead straight line. The more he screamed, the more I totally pretended he wasn't there, and the more he looked like a total idiot. We got about 20 yards inside and a security guard had watched it all unfold and he stopped the wanker - as in forcefully stopped him. He called in the disturbance on his two way and within 30 seconds two other security dudes were on the scene. I told 'em what had happened, and how the lovely pretty Mercedes convertible was parked where it was parked etc.

The security dudes wished me a happy day and I went about my business.

When I came outside, the Mercedes had been locked dwn with official Shopping Mall wheel clamps. That car wasn't going ANYWHERE. Mr Druggy Boy was screaming blue murder and making a threats into his mobile phone.

So, in hindsight fellow Dopers... what would you have done differently? Please be aware, I am by no means some friggin Parking Nazi - but there was just something so astonishingly arrogant about this guy's actions that when I saw it happen I couldn't keep my mouth shut - not this time anyway.

Whaddya reckon?

[Zabali_Clawbane]

I too, might have spoken too him, just a simple sentence similar to yours. It might have been better not to speak to him, just to go straight to security and let them sort it out, maybe not though. Glad the Prick got what was coming to him. *Walks off singing "Asshats, asshats, asshats, asshats, asshats..."* (Think "Ode to Joy")

[EddyTeddyFreddy]

Good on you! You gave him an opportunity, politely, to correct his "mistake" and instead he demonstrated his total assholiness. In front of security, no less. Wonderful! Your total refusal to react to his tantrum was just right.

I once had occasion to flag down a mall security car to report a van with no handicapped plate or placard parked in such a way as to block TWO handicapped spaces. The guard was appreciative and went right over to deal with it.

I may have been more sensitive to the issue than most people, since I was bringing my wheelchair-bound mom to the mall at the time and we'd had to park farther than we should have from the entrance.

[leafrog]

Oh glee! I love it when there is instant karma.

Boo Boo Foo, you did the right thing, and walking away when the guy turned snarky and asshatish must have been tough.

Glad you got to see the results of your good deed. :D

[whiterabbit]

Well, I'd like to think I'd have said something to him since I need to use such spots! But I wouldn't have if I were alone because, frankly, if he'd gone psycho and jumped me I might have gotten hurt. I'd have gone inside and told security, though.

Asshole.

[Eva Luna]

As someone who once upon a time needed a temporary handicapped parking decal, but was all too often unable to use it because of jerks like the one you encountered, I salute you. I used to try to do the same thing when I was working in a mall in high school, but was forbidden to call the cops (our mall was too small to have its own security guys) because my manager decided it was "bad customer relations."

It irks me to no end when people abuse handicapped parking spaces/privileges. If I had my way, there would be driver's license suspensions for people like that, because they have proven they cannot behave in civilized society.

[Scylla]

So, in hindsight fellow Dopers... what would you have done differently? Please be aware, I am by no means some friggin Parking Nazi - but there was just something so astonishingly arrogant about this guy's actions that when I saw it happen I couldn't keep my mouth shut - not this time anyway.

Whaddya reckon?

What would I have done differently? I probably wouldn't have done anything or said anything. That's what I would have done.


You, on the other hand, were perfect.

[whiterabbit]

This has me wondering -- the mall just down the street from us has security guys that drive around the parking lot all the time. I wonder if they go so far as to go after people who illegally use the handicap spots. I think they're more there to keep bands of roving kids from breaking into cars, though.

[Diogenes the Cynic]

I don't see how things possibly could have worked out any better. Your own actions were perferct. You informed him in a non-confrontational manner that he was illegally parked, and you did not respond to his verbal assault. His behavior, and his behavior alone was responsible for his downfall.

You were a good citizen. I can tell as a person who works with and frequently transports disabled people that there is nothing more aggravating than finding those spots taken up by assholes who think that the rules don't apply to them.

I think it should be legal to vandalize any vehicle that is illegally parked in a handicapped spot but i know I'm just a dreamer.

Good on ya, mate.

[OtakuLoki]

You were much more polite than my first inclination would have been: "Ahh, illiteracy is a handicap, after all." (Being male, about 350 lbs, and rather sturdy on my feet, I don't worry about any single person giving me problems.)

All in all, I think your comments were much more acceptable.

[Lynn Bodoni]

I think that things turned out perfectly, but what in the world does "Like all cities the world over, slowly but surely it continues to grow and more and more dropkicks start to show up around the traps." mean?

[Gorsnak]

I believe 'dropkick' is a aussie slang for idiot shitheads such as the Mr. Parking Violation. Presumably it derives from the notion that they oughta be dropkicked themselves.

Can't help you with 'traps', though the overall meaning is clear enough I think.

[Larry Mudd]

I carry stickers.THE DRIVER OF THIS VEHICLE PARKS WHERE THEY DAMNED WELL PLEASEI printed them up when I got home after the third time I had to walk around a car parked on a crosswalk at a lit T-intersection, in front of a fire hydrant and a sign reading "NO STOPPING ANY TIME."

I consider that the time that they spend trying to remove the sticker is a sort of convenience propitiation.

[Tony Montana]

I'd have punched the guy in the mouth three times before he hit the ground, but that just me. You did the right thing.

This reminds me of the time a young girl (I'd say about 19yrs old) driving a spanking new Jeep zipped into a parking lot the wrong way (using the one way exit)
She then proceeded to zip her little Jeep into a diabled spot. Her boyfriend then bounded out of the vehicle then into the building. I looked for a placard/plate, none. So I sat there in my car and glared hoping(sp) she'd look my way. Nope, she was oblivious, as is often the extremely self-involved are.

So I got out and did a very obvious walk around her Jeep looking for a placard. By the time I decided to say something the BF bounded out of the building, jumped in and they screeched out of there. If I had a cell at the time I woulda called the little shit in, thats a $100.00 fine here.

[Princhester]

"Lovely seaside town" my arse, BBF! Las Vegas at the beach, more like :)

Anyway, well done.

[Ferrous]

What would I have done?

Probably just glared at the guy. Look pointedly at his car and at the sign, at at him and his non-handicapped self...then not said anyhting, and gone over what I should have said for the rest of the day.

Or possibly I would have said something similar to what you did. And then when he started screaming in my face about it, I'd probably have hit him.

Neither of those options would have been as good as what you did. As others have said, you handled it perfectly.

[Martha Medea]

I salute your actions. I have often seethed in cowardly silence faced with similar situations. And the car involved is more often than not a Mercedes. Funny, that.

If I were to get stickers printed for cases like this, they would say 'morally handicapped'.

[Martha Medea]

Apologies for the consecutive post but imagine my surprise at this coincidence (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/3485239.stm) in today's news.

[buttonjockey308]

Excellent work. Were it I, I probably would have flattened two tires after the wanker skipped away, and maybe even drawn my key filled fist down the length of the cars' shiny finish... But your solution was much better.

[zweisamkeit]

Damn, good on you!

Although I'll admit that whenever something like this happens, whether or not it even makes sense in the context (it never does), what flits through my head is, "Yeah well, the <i>jerk store</i> called, and they're runnin' outta <i>you</i>!"


:)

[zweisamkeit]

And holy hell, I can't believe I forgot to us VB Code. :: hangs head in shame :: It's the website I'm hand-coding now, dammit. It's not myyyyyyy faaauuuuuulllt!

[LurkMeister]

I think it should be legal to vandalize any vehicle that is illegally parked in a handicapped spot but i know I'm just a dreamer.

Good on ya, mate.
I've been saying for years that any driver who parks illegally in a handicapped space should be made eligible to use it. Preferably with a baseball bat to the kneecaps.

There is, howsever, one thing about the OP that bothers me:
When I came outside, the Mercedes had been locked dwn with official Shopping Mall wheel clamps. That car wasn't going ANYWHERE.
So now the car was going to be blocking the handicapped drop-off space until its asshole owner decided to bow to the inevitable and pay his fine (or whatever needed to be done to have the wheel clamps removed), which from his earlier reactions would probably be a while.

[Eats_Crayons]

Excellent work. Were it I, I probably would have flattened two tires after the wanker skipped away, and maybe even drawn my key filled fist down the length of the cars' shiny finish... But your solution was much better.Nah, I'd have used the big red button on my shiny watch that opens a trap door (yes, even on the pavement by the grocery store) that drops the offending dickhead into a canyon *whhhhhhiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiistle -BAM!* with a puff of dust when he hits bottom. Just like Wile E. Coyote!




What? I can dream can't I?

[lurkernomore]

Anyone else recall a commercial where some arrogant guy parked a convertible either illegally or cut off an old guy to do it, and the old guy threw a bunch of popcorn or seeds or something in the car... luring birds, who came and left processed popcorn (aka birdshit) all over the interior?

[Dr. Lao]

So now the car was going to be blocking the handicapped drop-off space until its asshole owner decided to bow to the inevitable and pay his fine (or whatever needed to be done to have the wheel clamps removed), which from his earlier reactions would probably be a while.
Presumably they are going to call a towing company and impound the vehicle and not return it until he has paid his fine and impound fee.

[Metacom]

So now the car was going to be blocking the handicapped drop-off space until its asshole owner decided to bow to the inevitable and pay his fine (or whatever needed to be done to have the wheel clamps removed), which from his earlier reactions would probably be a while.
Or they were immobilizing it until the police or the towing service they contract with can stop by. :)

[WernhamHogg]

That story honestly warms the cockles of my heart. Sniff. I am so touched to see the asshole get what was coming to him, and one so rarely does... usually the prick would just ignore you, probably because he's on a celphone talking too loudly to notice anyone in his path, and get back before his car was ticketed.

Of course he's learned nothing, being a fucking sociopath, but at least he has to pay to get his car back. I hope security went over him go and proper with rubber houses and socks filled with frozen oranges.

[Cosmopolitan]

As a wheelchair user, I think that the way in which you handled the situation was perfect; you didn't threaten him, vandalize his car, or give a sanctimonious speech - you calmly informed him of his violation and left it at that.

I might have approached a security guard rather than the bloke only due to the possibility that said bloke might become irate and violent, but that's me.

[Max Carnage]

I usually hock a big loogie on their windshield when they're not looking. Does no good to anyone but I feel better about it. The more expensive the car the better.

[kanicbird]

I usually see things differtently then others. This is no exception. I would only park in such a space in a rare emergency situation. Other then that the space is useless for me. If someone does park there who shouldn't that means one less car parked in legal spots and hence one more parking spot for ME.

Add to that the fines people rack up are like a tax I don't have to pay.

But that's just ME.

[Shodan]

Not to be contrary, but don't you think you might have over-reacted to a situation you didn't necessarily understand?

People with disabilities don't always look disabled. My father has a handicapped sticker for his car, after he had his knee replaced and his back surgery. And you can't tell that my mom has arthritis by looking at her, and their car has as much right to a handicapped parking spot as anyone else.

I think the guy might really have been handicapped, and you owe him an apology, and restitution.

Since he obviously left his handicapped sticker at home, help him out by taking your keys and drawing the words "I Am Handicapped" on the sides of his car, for next time.

It's the least you can do.

Regards,
Shodan

[Green Bean]

Shodan: Re-read the OP:

It wasn't a handicapped parking spot. It was a drop-off lane. Nobody at all was allowed to park there.

[Bippy the Beardless]

I would have done as the OP had done.

But I would have wished have answered him back
"Dude, you need to be handicapped to park there, would you prefer a broken leg or broken neck?"

[Quartz]

Bravo! Bravo!

[troub]

Shodan: Re-read the OP:

It wasn't a handicapped parking spot. It was a drop-off lane. Nobody at all was allowed to park there.

Whooooooossshhhhhhhh. :D

Since he obviously left his handicapped sticker at home, help him out by taking your keys and drawing the words "I Am Handicapped" on the sides of his car, for next time.

[Leaper]

I'd like to add my kudos to the OP. The closest I ever got was reporting such a car (in an actual space, where there was no sign of any placard or special license plate) to mall customer service so they could inform their parking patrol. No one was around; if there had been, I have no idea if I'd have had the courage to say anything to their face.

One of my best friends from college is quadraplegic, and he drove us around all the time (really, he did!), so this is a subject that pushes more buttons for me than it might for the average person...

[Snooooopy]

One of my best friends from college is quadraplegic, and he drove us around all the time (really, he did!), so this is a subject that pushes more buttons for me than it might for the average person...

How is a car modified to give a quadriplegic the ability to drive it?

[Leaper]

Hmm. I looked up the word, and it didn't mean what I thought it meant! Looks like the friend I mentioned and I used this term a LOT more loosely than it actually warranted. He CAN move his arms to a limited extent, though his hands are frozen to a good extent.

Oops. Learn something new every day.

[Cervaise]

So, in hindsight fellow Dopers... what would you have done differently?If you were any more flawless, you'd be at risk of being nailed to a post.

--thumbs up--

[photopat]

You did good. Have a Fosters on me. Or two. Hell, make it three and call it a week.

[Gorsnak]

You did good. Have a Fosters on me. Or two. Hell, make it three and call it a week.
Hey, I thought there was no wishing death on people in the Pit! :D

[pantom]

Salutes in the general direction of Australia: good job! And hurry up with summer already down there! We need some up here!

[Cat Whisperer]

People who get caught pulling shit like this should have the phrase "I was just running in" tattooed on their foreheads for all to see what kind of jerk they're dealing with.
Why'd you leave your kid alone in the car? "I was just running in!"
Why'd you park in the handicapped space? "I was just running in!"
Why'd you park in the fire lane? "I was just running in!"
Why'd you park across three parking spaces in a crowded lot? "I was in a hurry, and I was just running in!"
People suck.

[The Asbestos Mango]

I have this fantasy in which I am the owner of some sort of business with a parking lot. Over every handicapped space, and at the fire lane, there is a sign that says "violators will be towed at owner's expense."

I have a deal with a tow truck company- at least one truck is standing by on the premesis at all times. The non-handicapped owner of the vehicle in the handicapped space, or the ijit who parks in the fire lane enters the store, and the tow truck driver immediately goes into action. Decent human beings applaud as the vehicle is towed from the parking lot. Even if the owner of the vehicle is in the store for only a few minutes, he/she comes out to find his/her vehicle gone.

I have a real mean streak when it comes to asshats.

[Zoe]

kanicbird: I would only park in such a space in a rare emergency situation...

I am trying to think of a situation in which someone would die if you could not park at the handicapped drop-off zone at the mall. Anything short of that is not good enough.

The reason that you always see things in a different way from others is that they long ago moved beyond the knuckle-dragging stage into an upright position. Until then you are limited by non-awareness of otherliness. (See below.)

Boo Boo Foo, well done!

I have a friend who is cannot even move his head and yet he makes the effort to go out to dinner with us from time to time. One night as his wife was about to unload him in his chair from the van, a car swerved in to park next to the van. It ran over my friend's ramp. The other driver was mad that the ramp was in their way. (It wasn't out of bounds of the handicapped parking lane.) I don't understand that kind of non-awareness of otherliness.

[flodnak]

Quadraplegia, as the medical community uses the term at least, doesn't mean that all limbs are completely paralysed, but that the patient's use of his arms is severely impaired. Some quadraplegics have enough use of their arms to drive specially modified vehicles but can't, for instance, button their own shirts or sign their names. Others can't voluntarily move their arms at all, and still others need to be on respirators just to stay alive. It all depends on exactly where the spinal cord got damaged.

[Leaper]

Quadraplegia, as the medical community uses the term at least, doesn't mean that all limbs are completely paralysed, but that the patient's use of his arms is severely impaired. Some quadraplegics have enough use of their arms to drive specially modified vehicles but can't, for instance, button their own shirts or sign their names. Others can't voluntarily move their arms at all, and still others need to be on respirators just to stay alive. It all depends on exactly where the spinal cord got damaged.

Aha! The first part describes my friend, although he can sign a scrawl that pretty much counts as his signature. That's probably how the term got associated with my friend in my (and his) mind. Thanks for the info; I'm glad to know I wasn't COMPLETELY wrong! :)

[kanicbird]

I am trying to think of a situation in which someone would die if you could not park at the handicapped drop-off zone at the mall. Anything short of that is not good enough.

Both time (that I recall doing it) was for a medical reason, one my wife was sick and parked there to get her inside to the Dr., the other time happened when my sister was struck in the head by a iron bar and I went to help her. I really don't give a flying one what those spots were marked, and would have acepted any fine for parking there.

You elightened metrosexual Zoe

[TeaElle]

My applause to the OP. Nicely done, Boo Boo Foo, nicely done indeed. I hope it costs the asshat a pretty penny to get his car back.

On the topic of handicapped parking spaces:

My husband, ever inventive, once suggested an electronic way of preventing the use of handicapped spaces by those who were not entitled. Since we now have the ability to attach electronic badges to cars that can send out signals (like EZPass for tollbooths or the SpeedPass gas badges) we could also place such badges in the cars of the handicapped. In each space, there would be a couple of rows of those "severe tire damage" spikes that are used to prevent people from entering parking lots through the exit. If a receiver got a signal that the approaching car had an electronic handicapped badge, the spikes would be lowered. If there was no badge, the spikes would stay in place and anyone who parked there illegally would have to replace their front tires. I thought it was quite ingenius, but likely cost prohibitive.

[Snooooopy]

I am trying to think of a situation in which someone would die if you could not park at the handicapped drop-off zone at the mall. Anything short of that is not good enough.


But I really needed to buy the latest copy of Big Jugs magazine!

[SkeptiJess]

Boo Boo Foo -- perfectly done! Miss Manners would concur, BTW -- her recommended method of dealing with this type of thing is exactly what you did -- pretend the offender is making an honest mistake and would appreciate having it pointed out to him or her. Your refusal to respond in kind to the abuse he then heaped on you would also warm Miss Manner's heart. And, the actual outcome is the ultimate payoff -- because of his own personal assholery, the guy ruins his own day more thoroughly than even those of us who love people who need the handicapped spaces could hope for. As I said: perfect!

kanicbird -- I do respect the occasional emergency. This is why Boo Boo Foo's initial response was so perfect -- when he asked the guy if he knew he was in a handicapped space, the guy should have responded with a rushed, "I know! It's an emergency!" Instead, he wasted time abusing our board-buddy -- definately the work of an asshole, not a poor-soul-with-an-honest-emergency.

Shodan -- you had me going, there!

[Princhester]

You did good. Have a Fosters on me. Or two. Hell, make it three and call it a week.

Fosters? Fosters!

We do not drink Fosters here. We are not fucking southerners. Please take note.

Thank you.

[kambuckta]

Fosters? Fosters!

We do not drink Fosters here. We are not fucking southerners. Please take note.

Well, I will admit that I don't drink Fosters either, but I do fuck southerners.

:D

[tavalla]

I believe 'dropkick' is a aussie slang for idiot shitheads such as the Mr. Parking Violation. Presumably it derives from the notion that they oughta be dropkicked themselves.

Can't help you with 'traps', though the overall meaning is clear enough I think.

The etymology I've always heard is that 'dropkick' is short for 'dropkick and punt'. Rhyming slang on the 'punt' part.

'The traps' - as in 'around the traps - is just around town, the usual places you'd see someone.

We're really going to have to do something about this Fosters business, I can tell. An ad campaign funded by ordinary Australians telling the world that there's no way in hell that 'Fosters is Australian for beer', perhaps?