Anecdotally, I will share that one of the local grocery stores has four handicapped spots in front of the store, and on more than one occasion I’ve been there when all four were occupied. (I didn’t check to see if all of them had a placard displayed.)
I figure, cops like it best when you make their jobs easy for them. Probably few cops will object to a big fine like a handicap violation if you don’t make it work for them - Jamie probably would be better served getting a camera and a portable photo printer and clearly taking pictures of the car in the space and clear non-display of both the placard and the license plate, and then calling the cops. I suspect they probably would write a ticket with that evidence every time even if the suspect had already left.
My wife’s doctor’s office has one(small lot). Guess how often that sucker’s open. Local grocery stores have 6-10, all full. The only place I’ve seen a surplus is the local megamall.
I’m afraid you’ve misconstrued Czarcasm’s reply here. He’s not doubting Ca3799’s truthfulness in thinking it was a thread calling for various parking lot anecdotes. He’s doubting that it was the intention of the OP to have such a thread. His subsequent explanation clearly addresses indications of what the OP had in mind, not evidence that Ca3799 was lying.
Apologies. I must have misread you when you said “jamie, the better way is to get on your cell phone and call in their license number. Make it the cops problem.” I erroneously interpreted “get on your cell phone,” “call in,” and “Make it the cops problem” as instructions to call the police.
Calling the police, on their emergency line or otherwise, over an improperly displayed handicapped placard is still --without hyperbole-- the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.
Until it was pulled out of the glove compartment, for all intents and purposes it didn’t exist. Should Joe Citizen do anything at all when he sees what he thinks is an abuse of handicapped parking?
I have a cousin whose neighbor called the police on him because he went two days without raking his leaves in fall. There, now you’ve heard something stupider. Viewing the YouTube comments of the video of your choice would also be an option.
He found out there was a permit, and still kept pestering. But no, every time you spot a car without a visible permit, you shouldn’t go run off sniveling to the police. What a complete waste of everybody’s time to bother them with improper parking.
Cops: Los Angeles Police Department; how may I direct your call?
Me: Hello. I’m standing outside of a handicapped parking spot at Rite Aid, and I do not see a handicapped permit displayed on the car parked in it. I don’t believe it has one.
Cops: <click>
While reading my placard instructions, I noted that it’s illeagal to leave it hanging from your rear view mirrow while you drive. I knowingly break the law and leave it there, though, because I know that if I didn’t, I’d forget to take it out of the glove compartment and display it. I’m guessing this is what happened here. Unless is was more like I’m just popping in and out, why bother?
I’m glad I read the instructions, though. Otherwise I wouldn’t have found out that you can use the placard to park for free at a meter.
also wondering if we’re going to see an apology or retraction for the knee jerk reaction to lukeinva’s post.
to the op, i can’t say much more that hasn’t already been said. i have to agree that you’re looking for trouble with this kind of behavior. it wouldn’t bother me if you just made one comment, but following someone into a store and harassing the elderly passenger is a bit much. let it go.