# Abuse of handicapped parking privileges. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 26, 2012, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abuse-of-handicapped-parking-privileges/635884 "2012-09-26T14:20:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2012, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abuse-of-handicapped-parking-privileges/635884/21 "2012-09-27T00:59:13Z")
I am in a wheelchair, thank you for not abusing the placards. My old friend was in the habit of using his mother’s. I told him it was a bad idea, and he finally got busted! $800 ticket. I did smile inwardly. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2012, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abuse-of-handicapped-parking-privileges/635884/22 "2012-09-27T01:03:24Z")
> [@obbn](#): > > You can’t nudge a disability by looking at someone. (I’m assuming this was meant to be “judge”.) Very true - and it’s thus inappropriate to confront or offer dirty looks. But I recall sitting in a restaurant that offered a good view of a bank of 4 handicapped parking slots. There was obviously something nearby that led to quick turnaround, because I saw a regular procession of cars arrive, park, and depart. I decided to keep score in two categories: people who were clearly under 40 and showed not the slightest trace of any infirmity, and everyone else. The final score was 11 to 1. The one was an older guy who walked rather well, but had a cane. I wanted to go out and congratulate him - I’d begun to worry about a shutout. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2012, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abuse-of-handicapped-parking-privileges/635884/23 "2012-09-27T01:38:51Z")
> [@obbn](#): > > You can’t nudge a disability by looking at someone. _Sometimes_ you can. I will agree that many disabilities don’t present any outward, visible manifestations many times but when you see an 18-yr old, fit teenager hopping out from his car, wife-beater on, running to catch up with his buddies in the gym parking lot; you can safely hazard the guess that he is parking illegally in handicap parking and using a placard that doesn’t belong to him. ---
**Author:** ![qualityleashdog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/9f8e36/32.png) [@qualityleashdog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/qualityleashdog)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2012, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abuse-of-handicapped-parking-privileges/635884/24 "2012-09-27T04:02:21Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > _Sometimes_ you can. > > I will agree that many disabilities don’t present any outward, visible manifestations many times but when you see an 18-yr old, fit teenager hopping out from his car, wife-beater on, running to catch up with his buddies in the gym parking lot; you can safely hazard the guess that he is parking illegally in handicap parking and using a placard that doesn’t belong to him. I still wouldn’t bet money on that situation. I had a 22 y/o male come for a stay in the nursing home I work in. He was bouncing off the walls and restless. Basically, he was only there because he refused to be responsible enough to watch his diet and his familiy used our home as a babysitter. But, I’m very certain the Dr. would have given him a handicapped plate or placard if he asked for one (come on, Doc, I’m in a nursing home, for christsakes!). A private citizen should never question someone that parks in a handicapped space with the placard or plate, and if they are concerned, call the police and have them interview the suspected violator. Someone on the up and up would not mind showing their license to an inquiring cop, if the validity of their parking permit was in question. In Indiana, there is nothing more than a permanent plate or tempory placard, no wallet ID card or anything else for the handicapped parker. If a cop wanted to check up on someone, they would have to run the plates and compare it to who is present in the car. There’s no magic wallet ticket to show people that you are really handicapped. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2012, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abuse-of-handicapped-parking-privileges/635884/25 "2012-09-27T04:53:55Z")
In SF it is well known that a lot of the handicapped plates are used for perfectly able drivers. Of course, to be fair, SF govt is so anti-car that some degree of striking back is to be expected. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2012, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abuse-of-handicapped-parking-privileges/635884/26 "2012-09-27T06:14:02Z")
The common sort of horror story frequently seen in news reports goes something like this: Healthy son or daughter drives Granny to the doctor, parks in handicapped space, and walks Granny in. Then returns alone to the car and drives off. Later, returns to pick up Granny. Either when he returns to the car without Granny, or returns to pick up Granny, he is there without Granny at his immediate side, using a handicapped space. The horror stories typically entail this driver being ticketed or harassed by a cop for abusing the handicapped space, when in fact he has just dropped off Granny or is picking up Granny. This sometimes happens at places other than doctors offices too. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2012, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abuse-of-handicapped-parking-privileges/635884/27 "2012-09-27T06:31:21Z")
> [@China\_Guy](#): > > As to hidden disabilities, my youngest has rights to handicapped parking because she is on the autism spectrum. She has a tendency to bolt off with zero sense of danger. Busy parking lots are dangerous places for her. Also, while it is rare, that occaisional BBQ Pit rant about a child melting down in public might have been about my youngest. At times, I have to just physically pick up a completely out of control 7 year old that’s kicking, screaming, at danger of self harm, could bolt off with dire consequences, etc, and carry her out to the van. Handicapped parking is a godsend for my daughter. Don’t all kids do that? 🙂 My son wants to touch cars driving by in the street. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2012, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abuse-of-handicapped-parking-privileges/635884/28 "2012-09-27T07:00:41Z")
All I can say is, some folks are damn lucky I don’t have a badge and a radio.:mad: ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2012, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abuse-of-handicapped-parking-privileges/635884/29 "2012-09-27T13:15:33Z")
> [@qualityleashdog](#): > > I still wouldn’t bet money on that situation. I had a 22 y/o male come for a stay in the nursing home I work in. He was bouncing off the walls and restless. Basically, he was only there because he refused to be responsible enough to watch his diet and his familiy used our home as a babysitter. But, I’m very certain the Dr. would have given him a handicapped plate or placard if he asked for one (come on, Doc, I’m in a nursing home, for christsakes!). A private citizen should never question someone that parks in a handicapped space with the placard or plate, and if they are concerned, call the police and have them interview the suspected violator. Someone on the up and up would not mind showing their license to an inquiring cop, if the validity of their parking permit was in question. > > In Indiana, there is nothing more than a permanent plate or tempory placard, no wallet ID card or anything else for the handicapped parker. If a cop wanted to check up on someone, they would have to run the plates and compare it to who is present in the car. There’s no magic wallet ticket to show people that you are really handicapped. Not sure the exact wording of the law in every place - but impulse control generally should not be a handicapped qualifier. The point is, the person has difficulty making the walk from what may be the outer reaches of the parking lot, hence the shortened walk. Issues that do not affect mobility should not result in a handicapped sticker. (A 7yo needing to be controlled from running out into traffic might be the margin of the qualification IMHO). Ontario puts the emphasis generally on “mobility issues”. > **[ontario.ca](https://www.ontario.ca/?source=serviceontario)** > > The official website of the Government of Ontario. Find information on programs and services. > [@](#): > > **Getting, Renewing or Replacing an Accessible Parking Permit (APP)** > > The Accessible Parking Permit (APP) is issued to an individual or company and entitles the vehicle in which it is displayed to be parked in a designated accessible parking space. For permits issued to individuals, the person to whom the permit is issued must be transported in the vehicle and the permit must be visibly displayed on the dashboard or sun visor when it is parked in the designated accessible parking space. Individual permit holders may use the permit in any vehicle in which they are traveling. There is no fee for an APP. ServiceOntario issues four types of permits, which are colour coded; a Permanent Permit (blue), a Temporary Permit (red), a Traveler Permit (purple) and a Company Permit (green). > > The name “Accessible Parking Permit” was adopted to focus on the functionality and benefits of the permit to the holder. Holders of a valid “Disabled Person Parking Permit” (DPPP) may continue to use their existing permit until it expires. > > **Who is eligible for an individual APP?** > > To qualify for an APP, the individual must be certified by an APP Program recognized health practitioner as having one or more of the following conditions: > Cannot walk without assistance of another person or a brace, cane, crutch, a lower limb prosthetic device or similar assistive device or who requires the assistance of a wheelchair. > Suffers from lung disease to such an extent that forced expiratory volume in one second is less than one litre. > Portable oxygen is a medical necessity. > Cardiovascular disease impairment classified as Class III or Class IV to standards accepted by the American Heart Association or Class III or IV according to the Canadian Cardiovascular Standard. > Severely limited in the ability to walk due to an arthritic, neurological, musculoskeletal or orthopedic condition. > Visual acuity is 20/200 or poorer in the better eye with or without corrective lenses or whose greatest diameter of the field of vision in both eyes is 20 degrees or less. > Condition(s) or functional impairment that severely limits his or her mobility. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abuse-of-handicapped-parking-privileges/635884.md?page=1)