# blue spaces & "i'll only be a minute" **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 16, 2005, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-spaces-ill-only-be-a-minute/335866 "2005-12-16T04:44:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-spaces-ill-only-be-a-minute/335866/21 "2005-12-16T21:27:07Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > A co-worker mentioned something about parking in the handicapped spaces. “Why not; I have a tag?” she says. The tag was for her mother who has since passed away. She had not the slightest bit of shame telling me this. In fact, she seemed a little proud of it. I wish I’d had the nerve to tell her what an ass she is. Even handicapped people having a good day and therefore not needing the closest space are not legally allowed to use a handicapped tag (and yes, I have looked this up in our local laws). Your co-worker truly is a dogshit. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-spaces-ill-only-be-a-minute/335866/22 "2005-12-16T21:31:59Z")
> [@PoorYorick](#): > > People who don’t _look_ particularly disabled, but who are nonetheless. I’ll second this. My dad certainly looks disabled, but my friend, a 23 year old woman looks quite healthy, despite her inability to walk for either long distances on in the cold (given the parking and weather in SF, both are very much valid concerns). ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-spaces-ill-only-be-a-minute/335866/23 "2005-12-16T21:36:02Z")
> [@UncleRojelio](#): > > Especially the assholes who follow you to your car and wait for you to vacate the spot. I don’t care what kind of hurry I am in, I’ll sit there till they get pissed and leave, or if another car approaches from the opposite direction, I’ll pull out so as to block the first asstard and allow the interloper to take the spot. Screw’em. Wow that is kind of mean. Why do you care? ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-spaces-ill-only-be-a-minute/335866/24 "2005-12-16T21:37:50Z")
> [@Boggette](#): > > Yes. This is especially fun when you have two toddlers with you. I take the time I need to get them properly strapped into their car seats. They can blow their horn all they want. Ain’t gonna make me move any faster! Now I agree with this, you should not be expected to move faster or rush for them, but to intentionally stall is just being sort of rude. Sort of like people sitting in the fast lane just because “they can” and the person behind them really wants to go faster. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-spaces-ill-only-be-a-minute/335866/25 "2005-12-16T21:44:45Z")
Our ambulance drivers park in the fire lane when they go in for lunch. My husband called the fire dept. to complain and THEY DEFENDED THEM. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-spaces-ill-only-be-a-minute/335866/26 "2005-12-16T21:46:13Z")
When you see the offending person, try this trick, it works sometimes and makes them nervous. “Excuse me, Sir/Mam, did you know it is a $100 fine to park their and they have stepped up enforcement this week?” Jim ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-spaces-ill-only-be-a-minute/335866/27 "2005-12-16T21:47:23Z")
Come on now. Haven’t you noticed that there are wayyy to many handicapped parking spaces based on common use? People say “Well you never can tell when several handicapped people will want to park at once.” Yes, you can. Probability distributions say that all 145 handicapped spot being taken at say, a typical shopping mall is 183 trillion to 1 barring some kind of convention or recent terrorist activity. If those are the case, then alternate planning can be made in advance. Either handicapped people need to get out more, or the use it or lose it rule needs to be called. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-spaces-ill-only-be-a-minute/335866/28 "2005-12-16T21:48:39Z")
> [@Troy McClure SF](#): > > I’ll second this. My dad certainly looks disabled, but my friend, a 23 year old woman looks quite healthy, despite her inability to walk for either long distances on in the cold (given the parking and weather in SF, both are very much valid concerns). [One of my favorite SDMB handcapped parking stories](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=64254&postcount=10) ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-spaces-ill-only-be-a-minute/335866/29 "2005-12-16T21:51:35Z")
Perhaps we should eliminate handicapped spaces in favor of limited time spaces where the time limit is waived with a properly displayed handicapped plate or placard. … of course that means someone has to properly enforce the time limits … ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-spaces-ill-only-be-a-minute/335866/30 "2005-12-16T21:54:34Z")
[Check out this fraudulent attempt to obtain a tag.](http://www.chron.com/c/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/3471158.html) ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-spaces-ill-only-be-a-minute/335866/31 "2005-12-16T22:04:28Z")
> [@Dolores Reborn](#): > > [Check out this fraudulent attempt to obtain a tag.](http://www.chron.com/c/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/3471158.html) I suppose “dead” can be interpreted as “extremely disabled.” ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-spaces-ill-only-be-a-minute/335866/32 "2005-12-16T22:06:59Z")
> [@Lissa](#): > > Wow that is kind of mean. Why do you care? If I’m walking alone in a parking garage/lot and some yutz in a car is tailing me at walking speed, it’s fucking _creepy_! I dunno that I’d take my time any more than usual, but I don’t see that as an acceptable practice. > [@Bearflag70](#): > > … of course that means someone has to properly enforce the time limits … And these cars would also have to be towed, as ticketing does nothing to help handicapped people who are already there. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-spaces-ill-only-be-a-minute/335866/33 "2005-12-16T23:00:43Z")
> [@Daithi Lacha](#): > > I had the exact same thing with a cow-orker. Her daughter was disabled, so she’d drop her daughter at school every morning and then park in the handicap spot here at work. She made no bones about it either – she’d tell anyone that she just plain didn’t like walking too far. > They “retired” her last year. In Irvine California a disabled friend of the chief of police mentioned that way too many healthy people were using the handicapped spaces. The chief did not believe him so they bet $5 on it. So the chief had a couple of cops stake out the handicapped spaces at a local mall. Turns out a large percentage of people parking in the handicapped spaces weren’t eldigible. Reasons included: [ul] [li]They did not have the disabled person in the car with them[/li][li]They had a permit from a dead relative / friend[/li][li]They got one using fraud[/li][li]The permit was stolen[/li][li]The permit was expired (issued for a temporary condition, like a broken leg)[/li][/ul] The fines for this type of activity in California starts at several hundred dollars and they go up from there. The chief paid up on the bet, and now has officers regulary go out and stake out mall / theater / office building parking lots. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-spaces-ill-only-be-a-minute/335866/34 "2005-12-16T23:11:24Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > In Irvine California a disabled friend of the chief of police mentioned that way too many healthy people were using the handicapped spaces. The chief did not believe him so they bet $5 on it. So the chief had a couple of cops stake out the handicapped spaces at a local mall. Turns out a large percentage of people parking in the handicapped spaces weren’t eldigible. Reasons included: > [ul] > [li]They did not have the disabled person in the car with them[/li][li]They had a permit from a dead relative / friend[/li][li]They got one using fraud[/li][li]The permit was stolen[/li][li]The permit was expired (issued for a temporary condition, like a broken leg)[/li][/ul] > The fines for this type of activity in California starts at several hundred dollars and they go up from there. > The chief paid up on the bet, and now has officers regulary go out and stake out mall / theater / office building parking lots. Now that is cool. I’ve always been of the opinion it is quicker to parker legally away from the store/mall and walk that to take a handicap spot or be one of those creepy squatters that just hold up the flow of traffic in the lot. Jim ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-spaces-ill-only-be-a-minute/335866/35 "2005-12-16T23:20:01Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > Come on now. Haven’t you noticed that there are wayyy to many handicapped parking spaces based on common use? Actually no, I haven’t. In fact I’ve occasionally seen all handicapped spaces taken at some malls (at least at some mal entrances) and big-box stores, which to me means there aren’t enough. > [@](#): > > People say “Well you never can tell when several handicapped people will want to park at once.” Yes, you can. Probability distributions say that all 145 handicapped spot being taken at say, a typical shopping mall is 183 trillion to 1 barring some kind of convention or recent terrorist activity. I’d like to see the math. How many non-handicapped spaces does this “typical” mall have, and how many building entrances? (And what percentage of customers are you assuming are disabled? Or are you just making this up, and using words like “probability distribution” to make it sound like it’s more than an unsubstantiated claim? ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2005, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-spaces-ill-only-be-a-minute/335866/36 "2005-12-16T23:23:59Z")
You folks who have posted in this thread are very likely to enjoy **Tepper Isn’t Going Out** by Calvin Trillin. Parking is a current that runs through the whole book. If you get a chapter or two into it, you’ll get the joke in my first line. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2005, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-spaces-ill-only-be-a-minute/335866/37 "2005-12-17T00:21:31Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > Actually no, I haven’t. In fact I’ve occasionally seen all handicapped spaces taken at some malls (at least at some mal entrances) and big-box stores, which to me means there aren’t enough. But if we add more then needed then the need to crack down on people who illegally take these spots will go down, since the disabled will get a spot anyway. The real way to do this is limit the # of spots and enforce them. The %age of blue spots should never excede the % of eligable disabled people IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![MLS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2005, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-spaces-ill-only-be-a-minute/335866/38 "2005-12-17T00:42:23Z")
True story: A co-worker’s father had a h/c tag, justifiably. Things took their course, as they will, and eventually the old gentleman passed away. On the way back from the hospital, my co-worker and her sister were arguing about who should get custody of the deceased’s h/c tag. As the dispute escalated, a gust of wind came through the car window and blew the contested tag away! (“No, you don’t, girls, it’s MY tag and I’m taking it with me!”) ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2005, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-spaces-ill-only-be-a-minute/335866/39 "2005-12-17T02:53:00Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > Funny I see it from the other end, hey they are risking a ticket parking in a spot I wouldn’t, so that frees up a spot for me somewhere else 😃 > > What gets me is people who have the proper permit but shouldn’t - these are the super elites, able to legally break the law - I hate those bastards! who the hell are you to say who should and should not have a permit? A coworker has a severe medical condition that like **PoorYorick** ’s friend can cause dire conditions if she exerts herself. To the unknowing, she looks normal. I have severe arthritis, artificial hips and a condition that causes an asthma like reaction if I exert myself. But I do not use a cane or walker, so I “look” normal. are you a medical professional who has examined these “super elites” and have determined they have no physical or medical reason to keep their levels of exertion to a minimum? I’d like to see your license, jerkface ---
**Author:** ![MLS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2005, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-spaces-ill-only-be-a-minute/335866/40 "2005-12-17T02:56:36Z")
I’m sure kanicbird can respond for him/herself, but I took those comments to be addressed to those who had the tags illicitly – using them when no longer needed, or when the handicapped person was not in the vehicle, for example. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-spaces-ill-only-be-a-minute/335866.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-spaces-ill-only-be-a-minute/335866.md?page=3)