# Your wife has a physical disability. You do not. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 19, 2008, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-wife-has-a-physical-disability-you-do-not/445982 "2008-04-19T05:33:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2008, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-wife-has-a-physical-disability-you-do-not/445982/21 "2008-04-19T15:07:32Z")
[QUOTE=Paul in Saudi] He does. I think it is in the current issue of Wired that mention he sometimes parks his very fancy sports car in his spot and the handicapped spot next to it. People have been known to leave notes reading “Park Different.” [/QUOTE] _snerk_ That’s perfect! ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2008, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-wife-has-a-physical-disability-you-do-not/445982/22 "2008-04-19T15:21:32Z")
[QUOTE=jtgain] It might be wrong, but how is it illegal if someone has a valid hang tag on the car to park in a handicapped spot? [/QUOTE] From the California Driver’s handbook > [@](#): > > Never park your car: \ > • In a disabled person parking > space unless you are disabled > and display a placard or special > plates. > • In the space next to a disabled > person parking space if it is > painted in a crosshatched pattern. > (VC §22507.8) and here is the actual code section: > [@](#): > > Placards or Plates: Evidence of Issuance; Misuse > > 22511.56. (a) A person using a distinguishing placard issued under Section 22511.55 or 22511.59, or a special license plate issued under Section 5007, for parking as permitted by Section 22511.5 shall, upon request of a peace officer or person authorized to enforce parking laws, ordinances, or regulations, present identification and evidence of the issuance of that placard or plate to that person, or that vehicle if the plate was issued pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) of Section 5007. > > (b) Failure to present the requested identification and evidence of the issuance of that placard or plate shall be a rebuttable presumption that the placard or plate is being misused and that the associated vehicle has been parked in violation 3 of Section 22507.8, or has exercised a disabled person’s parking privilege pursuant to Section 22511.5. > > (c) In addition to any other applicable penalty for the misuse of a placard, the officer or parking enforcement person may confiscate a placard being used for parking purposes that benefit 2 a person other than the person to whom the placard was issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles. A placard lawfully used by a person transporting a disabled person pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 4461 4 may not be confiscated. > > (d) In addition to any other applicable penalty for the misuse of a special license plate issued under Section 5007, a peace officer may confiscate the plate being used for parking purposes that benefit a person other than the person to whom the plate was issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles. > > (e) After verification with the Department of Motor Vehicles that the user of the placard or plate is not the registered owner of the placard or plate, the appropriate agency that confiscated the placard or plate shall notify the department of the placard or plate number and the department shall cancel the placard or plate. A placard or plate canceled by the department pursuant to this subdivision may be destroyed by the agency that confiscated the placard or plate. ---
**Author:** ![jacquilynne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/67e7ee/32.png) [@jacquilynne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jacquilynne)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2008, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-wife-has-a-physical-disability-you-do-not/445982/23 "2008-04-19T15:45:41Z")
Ick. My parents have a hang tag for a friend of theirs who my mother often chauffeurs around town. And when parking is scarce, they often joke ‘man, if only Vera were here, we could use the tag!’ But they’d never in a million years seriously consider using the tag when she wasn’t there. That would be defeating the whole purpose of having handicapped spaces in the first place. My vote is a report to HR (go the cowardly anonymous route if that’s possible) or parking enforcement for your town. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2008, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-wife-has-a-physical-disability-you-do-not/445982/24 "2008-04-19T16:00:21Z")
[QUOTE=jtgain] It might be wrong, but how is it illegal if someone has a valid hang tag on the car to park in a handicapped spot? [/QUOTE] Unless the handicapped person is in the car, you are not entitled to use the space. We have one for Ivylad. Once, while we were vacationing in Georgia, my BILs and SILs and I were out running around, and we took our minivan. Ivylad was not with us. My BIL said we could park in a handicapped space, and immediately my SILs and I screeched like harpies. ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2008, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-wife-has-a-physical-disability-you-do-not/445982/25 "2008-04-19T16:01:11Z")
[QUOTE=GameHat] In fact, you’re one of the hated “brisk walkers” - you walk too fast [/QUOTE] Does not compute. Now, the “not watching where you’re going” thing is a problem… but there’s no such thing as walking too fast. My life would be immeasurably improved if most people would stop moving through public spaces as if they were Romero zombies. As for the parking space, report him to HR. They presumably know that he’s not disabled. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2008, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-wife-has-a-physical-disability-you-do-not/445982/26 "2008-04-19T16:01:49Z")
My place of work has a few different buildings. There’s this one manager who works in a different building than I but is in my building a few times a week for meetings or to drop things off. He’s also a complete dick head. Apparently, he would sometimes park in the handicapped space in front of our building when he was only going to be there for a short time or when he was running late. The silly thing is that the entire lot isn’t all that big and it’s never totally full. He wouldn’t have had to walk very far in the worst of circumstances. I don’t know how a cop happened to be in the lot that day but he got a ticket. He was totally pissed off. Oh man, that was funny. I couldn’t stop laughing for minutes. ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2008, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-wife-has-a-physical-disability-you-do-not/445982/27 "2008-04-19T16:13:32Z")
[QUOTE=jtgain] It might be wrong, but how is it illegal if someone has a valid hang tag on the car to park in a handicapped spot? [/QUOTE] IANAD nor a lawyer - In NY, AIUI, the hang tags are issued to specific people, not vehicles. As such, unless that person is in the car, it’s not legal to use the hang tag. Even if that’s where you normally keep the it stored. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2008, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-wife-has-a-physical-disability-you-do-not/445982/28 "2008-04-19T16:17:02Z")
Oh, hell, Steve is known for that. They even repainted the logo into a Mercedes emblem once because of it. He also doesn’t have plates on his car. Why? Cause he’s Steve Jobs. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2008, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-wife-has-a-physical-disability-you-do-not/445982/29 "2008-04-19T16:44:10Z")
[QUOTE=Mr. Miskatonic] Caltrops. [/QUOTE] Thirded. Besides, they always remind me of [The Monkey Wrench Gang](http://www.amazon.com/Monkey-Wrench-Gang-P-S/dp/0061129763/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208623285&sr=1-2), which puts a grin on my face. ---
**Author:** ![brazil84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@brazil84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brazil84)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2008, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-wife-has-a-physical-disability-you-do-not/445982/30 "2008-04-19T16:53:08Z")
[QUOTE=DianaG] Does not compute. Now, the “not watching where you’re going” thing is a problem… but there’s no such thing as walking too fast. [/quote] I disagree. People need to slow down a bit when they are turning corners; carrying things like hot coffee or burning objects, etc. > [@](#): > > My life would be immeasurably improved if most people would stop moving through public spaces as if they were Romero zombies. I don’t mind slowpokes so much, unless it’s a group of people walking in such a way as to obstruct everyone else. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2008, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-wife-has-a-physical-disability-you-do-not/445982/31 "2008-04-19T16:59:11Z")
I get thrown for a loop when I go with somebody that has a disabled permit. Instead of passing the entrance and heading down the rows of cars, I’m stopped 10 feet from the doors. It’s like we’re parked, but we just pulled into the lot, we can’t be parked. ---
**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:** [April 19, 2008, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-wife-has-a-physical-disability-you-do-not/445982/32 "2008-04-19T17:14:08Z")
[QUOTE=danceswithcats] \ It’s perfectly legal for me to park the ladder truck in the fire lane at K Mart when we respond there for an automatic fire alarm activation. It’s not legal for me to do so because one of the guys wants to run inside and pick up his photos or a prescription. [/QUOTE] But do you think you could use your ladder truck to push all the other cars out of the fire lane who are just parked there to run in for a minute? And film it and post it here so I can get the cockles of my heart warmed? Please? I think the penalty for misuses of handicapped tags should be getting the word “JERK” tattooed on your forehead. That seems appropriate. ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2008, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-wife-has-a-physical-disability-you-do-not/445982/33 "2008-04-19T17:36:12Z")
[QUOTE=brazil84] I disagree. People need to slow down a bit when they are turning corners; carrying things like hot coffee or burning objects, etc. [/quote] You forgot scissors. Obviously, care should be taken. But certainly there’s a happy medium between the idiot who comes barreling out of the office kitchen carrying his very-recently-boiling cup-a-soup, and the idiot who shuffles at a snail’s pace down busy city streets. > [@brazil84](#): > > I don’t mind slowpokes so much, unless it’s a group of people walking in such a way as to obstruct everyone else. Hey, I’m delighted for all those people who apparently have nothing in particular to do today, as long as they stay to the right and don’t impede \*my \* progress. ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2008, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-wife-has-a-physical-disability-you-do-not/445982/34 "2008-04-19T17:44:23Z")
Louisiana actually issues you an ID card that goes with the number on the hanging placards. Nobody ever asked to see mine, but in theory, if somebody else uses one but doesn’t have the ID they can get in trouble (and they should!). I don’t know if any other states do this, but I think it’s a good idea. Or we could just break out the caltrops. That’d be cool. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2008, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-wife-has-a-physical-disability-you-do-not/445982/35 "2008-04-19T18:00:26Z")
The problem with caltrops is that they make the offending vehicle _less_ mobile. What we need is a winch. On a helicopter. ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2008, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-wife-has-a-physical-disability-you-do-not/445982/36 "2008-04-19T18:15:22Z")
[QUOTE=featherlou] But do you think you could use your ladder truck to push all the other cars out of the fire lane who are just parked there to run in for a minute? And film it and post it here so I can get the cockles of my heart warmed? Please? I think the penalty for misuses of handicapped tags should be getting the word “JERK” tattooed on your forehead. That seems appropriate. [/QUOTE] I’ve maintained for years that anyone who parks in a handicapped space when they are not qualified to do so should be immediately qualified to park there. With the nature of the qualifying handicap to be determined by a panel of handicapped people who previously had been deprived of the use of a handicapped space by illegal users. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2008, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-wife-has-a-physical-disability-you-do-not/445982/37 "2008-04-19T19:04:17Z")
[QUOTE=LurkMeister] I’ve maintained for years that anyone who parks in a handicapped space when they are not qualified to do so should be immediately qualified to park there. [/QUOTE] “I was trying to find a parking spot and this guy pulls into a handicapped spot. He gets out and there’s nothing wrong with him! …So I ran him over. I made an honest man out of him!” - Walter, Jeff Dunham ---
**Author:** ![Eben](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a8b319/32.png) [@Eben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eben)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2008, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-wife-has-a-physical-disability-you-do-not/445982/38 "2008-04-19T19:13:22Z")
[QUOTE=Bosstone] “I was trying to find a parking spot and this guy pulls into a handicapped spot. He gets out and there’s nothing wrong with him! …So I ran him over. I made an honest man out of him!” - Walter, Jeff Dunham [/QUOTE] Then his wife got out of the other side and started beating me with her crutches! -Walter, Jeff Dunham -Eben ---
**Author:** ![Omegaman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e480ec/32.png) [@Omegaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omegaman)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2008, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-wife-has-a-physical-disability-you-do-not/445982/39 "2008-04-19T19:14:11Z")
[QUOTE=GameHat] But your wife doesn’t come with you to work, so stop fucking parking in the handicapped spot just because your car has the tag. It’s trash, you’re trash. Every day I’m a bit closer to keying your minivan. DIAF. [/QUOTE] That’s quite a mature position to take. If you feel that this person is trash and you have no interest in getting the law involved, why would you want to damage his vehicle? I don’t know any people who are trash, although I do know some who are misguided and prone to thinking of themselves rather than others, and although it might cause this person monetary costs, so would getting a ticket. Perhaps you should round up all your anger and just confront the person head on. You certainly sound like one of those badasses I hear so much about, espescially with the calling people trash thing. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_and\_a\_Half\_Inches\_of\_Fun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea666f/32.png) [@Two\_and\_a\_Half\_Inches\_of\_Fun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_and_a_Half_Inches_of_Fun)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2008, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-wife-has-a-physical-disability-you-do-not/445982/40 "2008-04-19T19:20:16Z")
[QUOTE=GameHat] Every day I’m a bit closer to keying your minivan. DIAF. [/QUOTE] Sounds like somebody is jealous that his wife isn’t disabled. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-wife-has-a-physical-disability-you-do-not/445982.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-wife-has-a-physical-disability-you-do-not/445982.md?page=3)