# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2008, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-wife-has-a-physical-disability-you-do-not/445982/41 "2008-04-19T19:20:20Z")
Personally I favor calling the cops. A handicapped parking violation is expensive. In Michigan it is fro 200 to 500 dollars depending what city it is. It should only take one. ---
**Author:** ![NightRabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbce88/32.png) [@NightRabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NightRabbit)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2008, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-wife-has-a-physical-disability-you-do-not/445982/42 "2008-04-19T19:48:19Z")
Is this a large company? How can he do this repeatedly without anyone having yet turned him in? Wouldn’t it be funny for the girl in a cast to limp up to him and ask politely if he could refrain from using the handicapped spot while she’s healing… bwahahaha ---
**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, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-wife-has-a-physical-disability-you-do-not/445982/43 "2008-04-19T20:09:15Z")
[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] > [@Eben](#): > > Then his wife got out of the other side and started beating me with her crutches! -Walter, Jeff Dunham 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Danalan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@Danalan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danalan)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2008, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-wife-has-a-physical-disability-you-do-not/445982/44 "2008-04-19T20:32:42Z")
[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] Yeah, but if one guy goes inside to check the tags on the fire extinguishers, and another guy runs in to get his photos since he’s there already, then it’s all good. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2008, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-wife-has-a-physical-disability-you-do-not/445982/45 "2008-04-19T20:39:32Z")
As far as the girl with the injury mentioned in the OP, she probably doesn’t have a handicapped tag, even a temporary one. And injured people do not have the right to park in a handicapped space without a legit tag. But yeah, this guy’s an asshole and you should turn him in. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2008, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-wife-has-a-physical-disability-you-do-not/445982/46 "2008-04-19T22:46:47Z")
[QUOTE=Danalan] Yeah, but if one guy goes inside to check the tags on the fire extinguishers, and another guy runs in to get his photos since he’s there already, then it’s all good. [/QUOTE] No, it’s not. That person is an asshole, bringing dishonor upon the profession. ---
**Author:** ![Obsidian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/51bf81/32.png) [@Obsidian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Obsidian)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2008, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-wife-has-a-physical-disability-you-do-not/445982/47 "2008-04-19T23:10:37Z")
[QUOTE=EJsGirl] As far as the girl with the injury mentioned in the OP, she probably doesn’t have a handicapped tag, even a temporary one. And injured people do not have the right to park in a handicapped space without a legit tag. But yeah, this guy’s an asshole and you should turn him in. [/QUOTE] I got a handicapped tag with a broken ankle-- all you have to do is ask your doctor. A corporate parking lot can be a loooong walk if you’re on crutches. About a month after I had the surgery to fix my broken ankle, two friends and I wanted to go down to the outlet mall in Gilroy. My best friend’s dad owned a wheelchair from breaking his hip a few years ago, and lent it to us. We pull into the parking lot in the handicapped spot in a my best friend’s fancy car, and two healthy young women spring out. Some lady on the side walk is just giving them the death stare. While they go around to the back and pop the trunk, she confers with her friend and then marches towards them, I assume ready to give them a piece of her mind. Just in time to see them wrestle my wheelchair out of the trunk. The look on her face was priceless. At my office we had a lot of problems with workers parking in the handicapped spots and the landlords hassling us for calling the cops on them. One day they rolled out carpet to be installed in the building across two of the spots, so they could cut it. They went to lunch and left it there. Someone with a tag drove right into the spot and parked on top of the carpet. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2008, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-wife-has-a-physical-disability-you-do-not/445982/48 "2008-04-20T00:01:18Z")
[QUOTE=Obsidian] I got a handicapped tag with a broken ankle-- all you have to do is ask your doctor. [/QUOTE] True- but most people don’t get one. This can be easily abused, too- my MIL got one from her podiatrist that was at least 98% bullshit, and I told her so. Then we hid the tag from her. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2008, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-wife-has-a-physical-disability-you-do-not/445982/49 "2008-04-20T00:33:52Z")
I’ve become convinced that the level of honest compliance with the spirit and letter of handicapped parking is around 10%. You’re MUCH more likely to see a fit-looking teenager bound from the car with the tag than you are to see someone with an evident disability, even a slight one. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2008, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-wife-has-a-physical-disability-you-do-not/445982/50 "2008-04-20T00:46:53Z")
Well, if my son is driving, you might indeed see that. Then, you’ll see him go around and get his father’s walker out of the car and bring it around to the passenger side as my husband gets out of the car. I think 10% is a bit pessimistic. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2008, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-wife-has-a-physical-disability-you-do-not/445982/51 "2008-04-20T00:53:18Z")
Here’s the thing that needs to whispered into his ear, and others like him. Any person, while physically sound, choosing to park in the handicap space, based on a disingenuous technicality, is begging the God’s for a life lesson. The kind of life lesson that ends with a permanent physical disability. Perhaps not for themselves, but for someone they love. Could a primo parking space really be worth that? I promise he’ll never use that space again without these words ringing in his head. Wouldn’t you stop? ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2008, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-wife-has-a-physical-disability-you-do-not/445982/52 "2008-04-20T01:01:57Z")
[QUOTE=elbows] I promise he’ll never use that space again without these words ringing in his head. Wouldn’t you stop? [/QUOTE] See, I wouldnt’ do it in the first place, 'cause I’m not a self indulgent prick. What makes you think a self indulgent prick would react the way you hope? You really believe they’ll suddenly see that they’re a fuckwad? ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2008, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-wife-has-a-physical-disability-you-do-not/445982/53 "2008-04-20T01:14:37Z")
No, I think every time they pull into that spot they’ll think about those superstitious words. And they’ll wonder, “Is it worth tempting fate?” Look there’s another spot not 10’ away! ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2008, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-wife-has-a-physical-disability-you-do-not/445982/54 "2008-04-20T01:24:42Z")
Don’t know many assholes, do you? ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2008, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-wife-has-a-physical-disability-you-do-not/445982/55 "2008-04-20T01:36:09Z")
[QUOTE=ivylass] Well, if my son is driving, you might indeed see that. Then, you’ll see him go around and get his father’s walker out of the car and bring it around to the passenger side as my husband gets out of the car. [/QUOTE] In my observations I’m very careful to look for the possibility of a handicapped passenger. Which raises an interesting question: if the qualified person is a passenger who never gets out of the car, is it legal and ethical to use a handicapped parking slot? I’d say no, but I’m rather a strict constructionist here. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2008, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-wife-has-a-physical-disability-you-do-not/445982/56 "2008-04-20T01:38:34Z")
[QUOTE=elbows] Here’s the thing that needs to whispered into his ear, and others like him. Any person, while physically sound, choosing to park in the handicap space, based on a disingenuous technicality, is begging the God’s for a life lesson. The kind of life lesson that ends with a permanent physical disability. Perhaps not for themselves, but for someone they love. Could a primo parking space really be worth that? I promise he’ll never use that space again without these words ringing in his head. Wouldn’t you stop? [/QUOTE] What the hell? “the God’s” are going to permanently disable a loved one for parking in a handicapped space? And this will dissuade the offender from doing it again? Not bloody likely. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2008, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-wife-has-a-physical-disability-you-do-not/445982/57 "2008-04-20T03:15:58Z")
[QUOTE=Xema] Which raises an interesting question: if the qualified person is a passenger who never gets out of the car, is it legal and ethical to use a handicapped parking slot? I’d say no, but I’m rather a strict constructionist here. [/QUOTE] For my part, no. If I’m driving, and we stop at a store and Ivylad doesn’t feel up to getting out of the car, I won’t park in the handicapped space. It’s for his use, and if he isn’t using it, we don’t need it. ---
**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 20, 2008, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-wife-has-a-physical-disability-you-do-not/445982/58 "2008-04-20T05:24:39Z")
[QUOTE=Xema] In my observations I’m very careful to look for the possibility of a handicapped passenger. Which raises an interesting question: if the qualified person is a passenger who never gets out of the car, is it legal and ethical to use a handicapped parking slot? I’d say no, but I’m rather a strict constructionist here. [/QUOTE] I’d say no, too; as I understand handicapped tags, even the handicapped person is not to use them if they’re having a good day and don’t really need to park closer that day (if it’s the kind of disability that has good and bad days). It is supposed to be self-monitored and used only when necessary. Operative being “supposed to,” of course. One thing I’ve learned from the Dope is not to assume no handicap just because you don’t see an obvious one. If I saw a persistent user of handicapped spots who I knew didn’t require them, I’d probably do something about it at that point, though. ---
**Author:** ![IrreverentTone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@IrreverentTone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IrreverentTone)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2008, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-wife-has-a-physical-disability-you-do-not/445982/59 "2008-04-20T05:41:03Z")
[QUOTE=Xema] Which raises an interesting question: if the qualified person is a passenger who never gets out of the car, is it legal and ethical to use a handicapped parking slot? I’d say no, but I’m rather a strict constructionist here. [/QUOTE] I totally agree with **ivylass**. If my mom isn’t up to getting out of the car, I don’t park in a handicapped spot. ---
**Author:** ![Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cab0a1/32.png) [@Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Man_With_a_Cat)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2008, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-wife-has-a-physical-disability-you-do-not/445982/60 "2008-04-20T05:59:05Z")
Extreme response which I don’t recommend but which would be fun, in a way: Follow him home. Get out of your car wielding a large sledgehammer. Offer him the choice of either NOT parking in the handicapped space anymore, or becoming permanently disabled and earning the right to use the tag. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-wife-has-a-physical-disability-you-do-not/445982.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-wife-has-a-physical-disability-you-do-not/445982.md?page=4)