Handicapped parking

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
61

[QUOTE=Aunt Flow]
Wow you can do that? I’d love to do it! I have a bit of a ‘nark’ streak in me.
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I would really like to to “hit” the local apartment complexes and shopping centers. I think a four-hour shift on Saturdays and Sundays could bring in some decent revenue. Yeah, it’s the ‘nark’ in me, too. But I also work with a few folks in wheelchairs and you wouldn’t believe some of the stories of parking abuse they encounter. One guy told me how he got threatened by an able-bodied individual after his wheelchair bumped an illegally parked truck partially blocking the chair ramp. I kid you not!

62

Caridwen, all I’m saying is that people should sometimes say things to other people. If that’s what you were saying, too, then I guess we’re in agreement.

63

FWIW, I just finished three weeks in a orthopedic boot for a stress fracture in my foot. The doc says for this week I can wear my sneaker again, but to limit my time walking, and then next week start ramping up my activity.

So I’ve continued to use HC spots (I have a temporary placard), even though you wouldn’t know there was much wrong to look at me. Similarly, when I tore my SI joint, I couldn’t walk far without incurring massive pain, but in a short walk you wouldn’t have seen anything wrong with me.

In the “there’s hope for humanity yet” column, I have seen plenty of HC spots filled up this holiday season, but all the cars have had placards.

As for speaking up to assholes, I’m not sure it would do much good. Last week I openly confronted some asshat who was “returning” her grocery cart by leaving it at the juncture of four spaces, and she just gave me a weird look and left it there.

64

[QUOTE=Unauthorized Cinnamon]
In the “there’s hope for humanity yet” column, I have seen plenty of HC spots filled up this holiday season, but all the cars have had placards.
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Unfortunately, as several posts have noted, this by no means guarantees that they are being used properly.

65

[QUOTE=Big Bad Voodoo Lou]
For the record, “handicapped” is considered a derogatory term these days, and frowned upon by people with disabilities (which, also for the record, is the most P.C. term).

I don’t mean to be the P.C. Police, since I often shrug off political correctness in other areas of life, but I am becoming finely-tuned to issues regarding people with disabilities since my girlfriend is one of them. I’ve learned a lot from her. I also get to use her disabled parking hang-tag whenever we go out, since I always drive! I’ll often pull up into a disabled parking space in front of a crowded restaurant and jump out of the car, occasionally earning eye-rolls and death-looks from the people standing around. But when I open the passenger side door to help out my girlfriend, a stunning beauty who just happens to walk with a pronounced limp, people get the message.
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Somebody should tell the N.C. legislature. Here are selected relevant parts of that state’s general statute (emphasis mine):

"§ 20 37.6. Parking privileges for **handicapped ** drivers and passengers.
(a) General Parking. – Any vehicle that is driven by or is transporting a person who is handicapped and that displays a distinguishing license plate, a removable windshield placard, or a temporary removable windshield placard may be parked for unlimited periods in parking zones restricted as to the length of time parking is permitted. This provision has no application to those zones or during times in which the stopping, parking, or standing of all vehicles is prohibited or which are reserved for special types of vehicles. Any qualifying vehicle may park in spaces designated as restricted to vehicles driven by or transporting the handicapped.
(b) Handicapped Car Owners; Distinguishing License Plates. – If the handicapped person is a registered owner of a vehicle, the owner may apply for and display a distinguishing license plate. This license plate shall be issued for the normal fee applicable to standard license plates. Any vehicle owner who qualifies for a distinguishing license plate may also receive one removable windshield placard.
(c) Handicapped Drivers and Passengers; Distinguishing Placards. – A handicapped person may apply for the issuance of a removable windshield placard or a temporary removable windshield placard.

(d) Designation of Parking Spaces. – Designation of parking spaces for handicapped persons on streets and public vehicular areas shall comply with G.S. 136 30. A sign designating a parking space for handicapped persons shall state the maximum penalty for parking in the space in violation of the law.

(e) Enforcement of Handicapped Parking Privileges. – It shall be unlawful:
(1) To park or leave standing any vehicle in a space designated with a sign pursuant to subsection (d) of this section for **handicapped ** persons when the vehicle does not display the distinguishing license plate, removable windshield placard, or temporary removable windshield placard as provided in this section, or a disabled veteran registration plate issued under G.S. 20 79.4;
(2) For any person not qualifying for the rights and privileges extended to handicapped persons under this section to exercise or attempt to exercise such rights or privileges by the unauthorized use of a distinguishing license plate, removable windshield placard, or temporary removable windshield placard issued pursuant to the provisions of this section;
(3) To park or leave standing any vehicle so as to obstruct a curb ramp or curb cut for handicapped persons as provided for by the North Carolina Building Code or as designated in G.S. 136 44.14;
(4) For those responsible for designating parking spaces for the **handicapped ** to erect or otherwise use signs not conforming to G.S. 20 37.6(d) for this purpose.

66

[QUOTE=Big Bad Voodoo Lou]
For the record, “handicapped” is considered a derogatory term these days, and frowned upon by people with disabilities (which, also for the record, is the most P.C. term).
[/QUOTE]

Except for people with disabilities such as my husband, who freely uses terms like “crippled” and “gimp”. He got tired of chasing changing euphenisms about 40 years ago.

67

The DOJ’s ADA search page has approx 550 hits for the word “handicapped”.

68

If I was talking about a person I’d propably call them disabled just because that pops in my head. I never knew one was considered a derogatory term. Parking I call handicapped because that’s what the sign says, doesn’t it?

69

[QUOTE=Broomstick]
Except for people with disabilities such as my husband, who freely uses terms like “crippled” and “gimp”. He got tired of chasing changing euphenisms about 40 years ago.
[/QUOTE]

OT, but some of my favorites over the past few years-

Used cars are now pre-owned cars

Mixed breed/mutts - now called designer dogs and they charge about $300 for the puppies.

70

[QUOTE=Duckster]
I’m applying to my local police as a volunteer disabled parking inspector. It’s a $250.00 fine for violating the state law for offenders. In addition, if private property owners do not police their own disabled parking spots sufficiently, they risk themselves being fined $250.00 for every offense committed on their property.
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Now, see, I think private property owners should be able to decide if they need a handicapped space or not. Currently, they can’t.

For instance, in the handicapped space I had to park in, I was afraid of getting a ticket. I was not afraid of leaving some handicapped person with no place to park, because the lot was reserved for my office and only my office. And the only handicapped person there refused to park in that space.

Or, at the hospital where I used to work, there were lots of spaces designated as handicapped near the ER night entrance. People who took childbirth classes were told to park there when they came in in labor and it would be okay. It’s likely that none of those people had a tag or a window placard–but the nurses at the admission desk could see who came in, so they would know if somebody just parked there. However, a “volunteer parking inspector” would not know.

71

Speaking of “voluntary parking inspectors”…

My husband just came back from the store. He pulled into a handicapped spot, and as he got out of the car some busy-body yelled out “HEY, YOU CAN’T PARK THERE!”

Husband indicated appropriately displayed placard.

“You don’t look handicapped to me! You can’t park there!”

“Yes I can!”

Whereupon this VPI (full of holiday cheer) threatened to “kick your ass”. Husband then pulled a Self Defense Tool out of the back seat of the car and, sprinkling the invitation with various types of short, Anglo-Saxon adjectives, invited the person to exit his vehicle and learn about disability first hand, after which Husband would drag his [many expletives] into the store to register a complaint.

Apparently, a limping, enraged cripple waving a Self Defense Tool was enough to encourage the VPI to drive off. (“Cripple” doesn’t necessarially mean “helpless” or “non-dangerous when provoked”)

Whereupon the girl fetching the empty carts and two other bystanders asked Husband if he was alright, if he needed any help, etc. The local cop cruising the area said something about trouble always being on the opposite side of the parking lot from where he was, had Husband fill out a report, said that if they could find him and identify him the self-appointed VPI would be dealt with, and followed Husband out of the lot and partway home to make sure no one was following him intent on trouble.

Just thought it made an interesting story

72

I have to ask - what in ---- is a self-defence tool? A sword in a cane? A cane with a lead end for bashing people? Nunchaku?

73

[QUOTE=Canadjun]
I have to ask - what in ---- is a self-defence tool? A sword in a cane? A cane with a lead end for bashing people? Nunchaku?
[/QUOTE]
It’s a weapon that masquerades as a common household implement, such as a hammer or baseball bat or a 36-inch aluminum level. I believe an operating power tool would also fall under this category, though some might consider it too extreme.

Of course you know that many martial arts ‘weapons’ are actually agricultural implements…

74

My Mom has a tag due to Lung Disease and other health problems. I will not use the space if she is not in the car.

What p*sses me off to no end is not only the misuse of parking spaces, but people who use the electric shopping buggies that don’t need them, thus forcing my 68 Year Old Mother to wheeze throughout the store while she has to lean on the cart while perfectly healthy people are using the carts. Some of them have no shame and will not offer the cart even when it is obvious that she is having problems. Some of the worst offenders are kids who treat them as toys and their parents do NOTHING to correct them.

Yes, Mom does have a scooter, but why pack it up in the back of the car when the store should have them available for the consumers who actually need them?

For the record, I’m near Tampa.

75

[QUOTE=Hilarity N. Suze]
Now, see, I think private property owners should be able to decide if they need a handicapped space or not. Currently, they can’t.
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Because owning a business is considered opening oneself up to public space, IIRC. Or something to that effect.

76

My mother has MS and when I was living at home (throughout high school and college) I often drove her around town. Several times I got some busybodies giving me glares when I hopped out of the drivers seat. Of course, I immediately removed her wheelchair from its lift and set it next to the passenger seat so they stopped pretty quickly. But it always annoyed me that they thought I was that type of person.

One incident involving handicapped placards and parking that struck me as absolutely ridiculous occurred at my nana’s apartment complex. She lives in a complex devoted to seniors and of course there are a great many HC spots right out front the doors. One day my mom and dad parked in one of the front spots to go visit nana, and immediately a senior who lived there stepped out of the building and ranted and raved at them. Apparently the 30 or so HC spots that were in front of the building were residents only. My mother was instructed to park out behind the building, a good 200 yards away, in their visitors HC parking. There was poor sidewalks to the entrance and overall it was a pain in the ass to get mom into the building.

Seriously, there are people who lived there who, while likely qualified as handicapped, could still walk on their own. Unlike my mom who barely has the use of their legs. It was such a stupid thing.

77

I have lupus, and I would feel like a gigantic fraud if I took a handicapped tag. Yes, I have joint pain and fatigue and am sometimes covered with a very ugly rash, but that doesn’t make me handicapped. I’m not disabled. I have a bummer of a disease that I will have for the rest of my life, and walking another 40 feet through the parking lot is not going to make any damn difference. The more I do, and the harder I push, the more I can do. It’s actually far worse to sit around and do nothing.

I think there are a lot of people who go for handicapped tags and don’t need them.

78

I’ve posted both of these complaints in other threads somewhere in the pit … don’t have the gumption to go searching for it right now.

Qualification: My wife has had two major back surguries in the last three years and truly needs the permanent HC plates we have on our vehicle when she is out and about on her own. It should be noted here that I have no disability, and no need to park in a HC space.

First Complaint: When I drive, I frequently drop my wife off at the front door at Wally World or other stores and go in search of a regular parking place. Then, while she is in the checkout, I’ll run out and grab the car and pick her up at the front door when she emerges. All is fine and good with the world so far … the problem comes when I actually find a parking place.

You see, sometimes, I’m lucky enough to find a space that is close to the front door.

All too often, I am confronted by some Indignant Moron who believes that because the vehicle has HC plates, it must be parked in a HC space. I’ve had dozens of people confront me because I’m not using a HC space “when I could legally do so”. It’s getting quite old.

Honestly, folks, just cause the vehicle has permanent HC plates doesn’t necessarily mean the person driving it is the one with the handicap. If I can leave an HC space open for someone that needs it, I will. Even if it means using that coveted regular spot close to the front door that you want.

As if to provide an exclaimation point to this, I (very recently) had just such an incident. And it just went past the point of reason.

By several light years.

The Saturday before Christmas, I was threatened with physical violence for parking in a regular parking space that just happened to be the closest space to the store’s front door. This 30 something Indignant Moron got out of his Ford Expedition with a baseball bat and threatened me: if I did not move my vehicle to an HC space where it “belonged” - he would give me the handicap I “deserved”! This punk then proceeded to smash out one of my tail lights to prove that he was serious. All because he wanted that parking place.

Local police were called to intervene.

Indignant Moron was ultimately arrested for disturbing the peace, threatening with a deadly weapon, vandalism to private property, interferring with a Peace Officer, assault on a Peace Officer in the performance of thier Duty, and resisting arrest.

Like I said: past the point of reason. By several light years.

Second Complaint: To the (I’m sure) Deserving Handicaped Individual who parks in the HC space and waits in the car while perfectly able-bodied person literally runs into the store to grab something - while my wife hobbles in from the north forty …

Not only should you know better, you should know that there is a special level in hell reserved just for your lazy ass.

That is all.

Lucy

79

[QUOTE=LucyInDisguise]
All too often, I am confronted by some Indignant Moron who believes that because the vehicle has HC plates, it must be parked in a HC space. I’ve had dozens of people confront me because I’m not using a HC space “when I could legally do so”. It’s getting quite old.

Honestly, folks, just cause the vehicle has permanent HC plates doesn’t necessarily mean the person driving it is the one with the handicap. If I can leave an HC space open for someone that needs it, I will.
[/QUOTE]

If my husband is having a good day and the weather is nice he’ll opt for a regular spot, leaving the HC one for someone who needs it more than him.

Then again, we don’t have plates, we have a placard, so it’s mainly a matter of hiding the placard.

Still, I just don’t get some of the violent busy-bodies who appoint themselves police… :rolleyes: