General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThere was an article in the L.A. Times today about a crack down illegal handicap parking.
The DMV set up a "sting" of sorts at a mall in Glendale.
The media was there.
One lady was caught parking her Mercedes in a handicap spot. The officer identified himself, and she insisted the placard was her husband's. She was written up for using her husband's placard and she became angry. Soon her husband and daughter showed up and they began yelling. The media was filming at this point, and the daughter yelled:
"You portray our president as bad!" And yelled expletives at the media.
It figures it would be Trump supporters who become indignant after being caught cheating handicap out of parking.
http://www.latimes.com/sdhoy-this-common-misuse-of-disabled-parking-permits-could-cost-you-1-000-20170414-story.html
mrs_p
(3,012 posts)But in one of the images of a family with a young woman in a wheelchair the caption says they were cited b/c their placard is from out of state. I never knew that you couldn't use them in other states. What is someone supposed to do, especially someone in a wheelchair when they are in another state?
C Moon
(12,188 posts)Rincewind
(1,199 posts)the letter that came with it said it was good in all 50 states, and several Canadian Provinces.
PoindexterOglethorpe
(25,746 posts)Several years ago a friend gave me a ride and we needed to stop at the post office. He pulled into a handicapped space and put up his placard. I made him take it down and move the car, because I was the one who'd be going inside, and I'm quite able-bodied, thank you very much. He needed it and deserved it, but I would not let him use it inappropriately.
I'm as lazy as anyone else, but I also understand that I do not have any mobility issues, for which I am extremely grateful. Especially as I get older and I'm genuinely horrified to see how many people my age cannot get around easily, are in ill health, need oxygen, and so on. If ONLY those who need to use the handicap parking would do so, it would be much better.
Although I will say I sometimes have an issue with an excess of handicapped spaces. At my local bank, some years back, there were three handicapped spaces directly in front of the bank, and in all the times I went there (over 18 years) I doubt I saw someone with the handicapped placard or license more than two or three times. It was overkill. Okay, so I'd mutter a bit as I walked an extra 20 feet. I would still never park in those spaces.
silverweb
(16,402 posts)[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]We need more people with integrity doing the right thing!
PoindexterOglethorpe
(25,746 posts)the only parking space left was a handicapped space. I started to pull into it, realized I just couldn't, and drove away. Came back a while later to do my business. The real problem here was a distinct lack of parking spaces of any kind, regular or handicapped.
silverweb
(16,402 posts)[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]Like you, I couldn't take that spot if it was the last one. Someone who really needs it might arrive in the meantime.
Initech
(99,914 posts)silverweb
(16,402 posts)[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]I was quite young and had recently had an open total knee reconstruction (no arthroscopy available yet). I was still hobbling around on crutches, although I could drive again with great discomfort and I was determined.
Handicapped parking was a pretty new thing at the time and I was barely aware of it at all, living in a semi-rural suburban area. When I stopped to see a friend who lived in a new high-rise city apartment, I spotted a very convenient "handicapped zone" and thought, oh how nice! - thinking it was an amenity for visitors to this lovely upscale building and completely unaware that I needed a permit.
When I returned to my car, an officer was writing a ticket and I naively said, "Oh, but I am temporarily handicapped! I can't get around without these crutches yet and it's still quite painful." He just smiled and I swear suppressed a laugh, and patiently explained about the permit requirement. I felt like a complete dunce (which I kind of was at the time) and meekly took the ticket, but I did appreciate that he was so nice about it.
Oh, to be young again - but not so stupid!
C Moon
(12,188 posts)silverweb
(16,402 posts)[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]How we learn things as we grow up, eh?
Lochloosa
(16,019 posts)Leave the spot for someone who really needs it.
silverweb
(16,402 posts)[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]May you always find a good parking spot when you need one!
Lochloosa
(16,019 posts)They just seem to appear.
silverweb
(16,402 posts)[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]Good instant karma!
madokie
(51,076 posts)we have three vehicles and one old bastard, (me,) who has a legitimate need for a handicap placard. Many times I'm alone and my handicap placard is in the wifes car as it is what we drive most when we go places where it would be handy to have so what do I do. I'll tell you and that is I park as close to a handicap spot as I can get as generally they are close to the door. What I don't understand is why can't I have a placard for each of our vehicles? Invariably I'll be in one of the three vehicles that doesn't have it in it.