"This Parking Space Reserved For Expectant Mothers."

[BlueIris]

I was visiting the infamous PostSecret website today, and I saw a post card confession with a picture of a sign in a parking lot with that phrase on it. Now, I'm sorry if I'm just a big, old travel-challenged dork who has rarely left the West Coast and then only to go to the Midwest, but...do these things exist in the United States? Where? I've never seen one in my whole life. Parking spaces reserved for pregnant women. In the states I've been to, the pregnant ladies are on their own in the parking lots.

[Vektor]

1. I've see them in Florida, where I lived for a while.

How pregnant do you have to be? Like, if you aren't showing do you get beat down like those non-handicapped individuals who park in the handicapped spaces?

[BlueIris]

4. Florida. Of course. As for "how expectant..."

the actual text of the post card reads: "I always park in spaces reserved for expectant moms, but I've never been pregnant. I just stick out my stomach and waddle into the store."

Sigh. I really can't get over the idea that there are special parking spaces reserved for women who are pregnant and that stores are insensitive enough to lable those spaces for "expectant mothers." Also? I've sent some inane and insane secrets into PostSecret, but that is just...why?

[Vektor]

6. Yeah...I was actually surprised to see those spaces. I have only

seen them in Florida, at grocery stores.

Also, I cannot read PostSecret - I tried and some of the secrets are so horrible, that they continue to haunt me to this day. Like people who are suffering in silence after a rape, or an abortion they can't come to terms with. It was sad.

[KitchenWitch]

2. I have seen them here, but they are rare!

[NMMNG]

3. Most of the grocery store parking lots I've seen have them

They are for "Expecting and new mothers". Apparently if you are hauling around a young-un, either internally or externally, you get a break.

[BlueIris]

5. Okay. That makes a little more sense to me. I guess.

You'd think they could have used different language, though. But why extend courtesy to all the pregnant people who will be giving their babies to adoptive parents? It is the 21st century after all and only the mothers are important. Oh, wait...

[eyesroll]

24. Why is "expectant mother" an insensitive term?

A woman who gives her child up for adoption is often called a "birth mother." Hell, in abortion discussion, even our side discusses "the health of the mother" rather than "the health of the woman."

[REP]

25. Well, We Shouldn't!

Unless the woman in question already has child(ren), she isn't a mother yet! (I never do; I don't think woman = mother.)

[eyesroll]

26. Well, the term "expectant" kind of takes care of the "not yet."

I see your point. But I don't have a problem with it.

[Cobalt Violet]

16. We have them here in MA. grocery stores.

I'm just waiting for someone to give me a pregnancy test to park.

[JVS]

7. Those are not legally binding from what I've heard, so park freely

[tjwmason]

8. One of the British supermarkets has them.

They cover pregnant mothers and those with young children.

Makes perfect sense to me, whilst I'm able to cross a car-park, and get in and out of a car with ease - I can see why a pregnant woman, of person trying to sort out children would need to be closer to the door, and would need a wider space to facilitate easier access.

[RebelOne]

9. They have them at the Krogers here in Georgia.

[REP]

10. Not Legally Enforceable; Park At Will

What are they going to do - make you pee on a dipstick?

At least those spaces might keep the pregnant *without* hcap permits out of the hcap spots! My disability *wasn't* a choice, and I need that spot.

[KitchenWitch]

11. No kidding.

I get so annoyed with people who park in the blue spots with no permit. I have a disability and have taken the time to get a permit.

[REP]

12. I Just Call The Cops and Smile

At first I was a little embarassed to have an hcap permit ... it wore off.

[BlueIris]

13. Holy shit. You've caught people claiming their pregnancies

alone qualify them to park in the HC spot?! Dear Lord. There are so few good things about my state, but if you get caught in a "blue spot" without a permit you are so fried ($400 + tickets for the offense are common--so common that no one but a complete asshole or a moron from outside the region would dare try to steal a blue spot from a person with a disability.). As far as I know, you can't get a permit for a pregnancy alone.

[REP]

20. Pregnancies, Expensive Cars - All Reasons To Park Illegally!

A week before I got my permit, I was just as disabled as the week I got it - but I didn't park in those spaces until it was legal for me to do so. Some people just feel entitled to do whatever the hell they feel like. The person claiming pregnancy didn't look especially preggo, but I didn't make her pee on a stick - just got her ticketed.

[trogdor]

29. You ought to get a temp permit in the 3rd trimester.

No questions asked. As for these "other" special spots, they're a joke, but I try not to park there. We have one at Price Chopper for moms with kids. Extra wide for their damn minivans. I doubt I could get away with parking there in my Scion xA without getting keyed.

[tjwmason]

15. What a charming attitude to take. n/t

[REP]

17. About Handicapped Parking Spaces? Hope You Never Need One.

Or about peeing on a stick?

[tjwmason]

18. It was peeing on a stick.

Pregnant women are literally dis-abled - thus it strikes me as reasonable togive them parking spots - encouraging others to use them despite not being pregnant is not exactly a pleasant attitude to take - i.m.o.

[fudge stripe cookays]

22. You're kidding, right?

Pregnancy a disability? Only if your doctor has told you to stay off your feet and you have other people doing things for you because you're bedridden.

Pretty much every doctor out there encourages pregnant women to get exercise just as much as the next person in a limited capacity.

There are people out here with REAL disabilities. We need those spaces.

[tjwmason]

31. Dis-ability rather than disability.

One of the main difference over here is that handicapped and pregnant spaces have wider spaces between cars - given the nature of pregnancy, slipping out between two closely parked cars is not quite as easy.

Also, this is not about handicapped spaces - this is about encouraging people to park in spots which have been reserved for pregant women (NOT for handicapped people) because it's not "legally enforceable". If you think that there are not sufficient handicapped spaces, that's a whole different argument.

[fudge stripe cookays]

34. These are not signs put up by the city or the township....

These are cutesy little signs put up by stores to encourage the overly-fertile not to worry their pretty little heads about parking SOOOO far away, when it's usually only an extra foot or 2. They're NOT enforceable. Is someone going to come up to me and force me to reveal the waistline of my pants? Pee on a stick? Nope. If all the close spots are gone and my legs are crawling, I'm parking there.

Sorry, not buying it. Wider spaces are one thing. If you're in your 8th month and you're waddling, get a temporary handicap tag.

Don't treat pregnant women any differently than anyone else.

[tjwmason]

38. Well sitting a few feet away from me is one of these "overly-fertile"

women (first child in a country who's population will shrink given current fertility rates) who has had trouble getting in and out of her car in the company car-park for a couple of months, and will do so for the next nearly three months until she goes onto maternity leave. But no - let's not put ourselves out at all to help others. :eyes:

Enforceability has nothing to do with it.

[fudge stripe cookays]

39. I put myself out plenty to help others.

But I have a REAL disability, that I did not CHOOSE, unlike pregnancy.

If there's no spot close, I'm taking it if there's one available.

[REP]

118. Just The Facts - People Are Free To Act As They Will

I'm not encouraging or discouraging anything - I'm merely pointing out that 1) "Stork Spots" are not legally enforceable and 2) maybe they will keep preggos without hcap permits out of the hcap spots.

The spots do not say "for women in the third trimester only" or for "women with wretched morning sickness only." While some may think they are to accomodate the heavily pregnant, they are but a coldhearted marketing ploy. Women, even pregnant ones, are not fragile little crystal eggs that must be treated oh-so-delicately. For the very few women who *are* disabled by difficult pregnancies, their state will issue them a temporary hcap permit.

[REP]

23. They Are Not Legally Enforceable

If a woman is disabled by her pregnancy, she can always get a temporary handicap permit. Just like anyone else! The elderly shopper, in my opinion, is even more entitled to convenience than a pregnant one; after all, pregnancy ends and is freely chosen. Not all elderly are qualified for an hcap permit.

Pregnancy is just about the only "disability" one can choose.

[tjwmason]

33. You're just making my point.

I've never said that they are legally enforceable - my point was that encouraging people to park in spaces which have been designated for pregnant women, whilst they are not pregnant, is encouraging the sort of attitude which leads to non-handicapped people parking in handicapped spaces.

Choice is neither here nor there - we're talking about how able a person is to get in and out of a car. Whether senior citizens are allowed handicap permits is utterly irrelevant, we're talking about pregnant spots.

[fudge stripe cookays]

35. No it won't.

Most intelligent people know they can't do anything about pregnant women spots.

If you park in a handicapped spot, you're looking at a couple hundred dollar fine, which in iteself is usually enough. But as in RFP's case, I'll be happy to get on the cell phone and help certain people remember.

[tjwmason]

37. So rules should only be obeyed from fear of prosecution?

Interesting political philosophy - but not one to which I subscribe.

I don't park in handicapped spots because I think that they should be left free for handicapped, so too pregnant spots because they should be left free for pregnant women. Whether I'd get fined is neither here nor there.

[ET Awful]

54. Courtesy is a dying concept it would seem.

Odd that not one of these people complaining about these parking spots is ranting about "Employee of the Month" parking or the like.

[JVS]

62. That's because Employee of the Month appeals to the lofty values..

of meritocracy, whereas preggo parking is just a bone thrown to a bunch of breeder sluts who shit out kids like turds :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm:

[Telly Savalas]

114. Why do you hate America?

[REP]

120. Please. Pregnancy is Freely Chosen and Not a Disability

Why give preference to the pregnant over say, the elderly? Why not have dozens of special interest parking spaces all over the lot? I don't like anything that infantilizes women, pregnant or not.

[ET Awful]

36. Well, the spots are on private property. The property occupant or owner

has the legal right to have someone towed for parking improperly. Someone parking in such a spot may not receive a ticket, but they are subject to having their car towed at their expense.

[LostinVA]

49. It's illegal to tow someone from any space but a handicapped one

At least in my state. There are still certain laws owners must obey, even on private property. I do indeed park in pregnant spaces if there is no other space. Would I ever park in an HC space? Of course not.

[ET Awful]

52. Actually, when parked on private property, you can be towed at any time

for any reason. It's at the property owners discretion. That is why at many places of business you will see signs that say "Parking for customers of XXXXXXX only, all others will be towed at owners expense."

The decision to allow you to park on private property is solely at the discretion of the property owner, lessee, or occupant.

If you park in someone's driveway, they can and should have you towed. If you park in someone's parking lot contrary to their stated parking rules, they can and should have you towed. It's that simple.

As to it being "illegal", I'll believe that when you present me with a statute saying that a private property owner is prohibited from enforcing their own rules on their own property.

[xmas74]

79. Thank you.

I used to dispatch and I stated something similar below. You are correct about private property-a vehicle can be towed at any time and for any reason w/ consent of the lot or business owner.

[LostinVA]

89. I'll see if I can find it

I had TWO COPS, whop patrol a large shopping center, tell me this, so I trust their knowledge of this.

[xmas74]

78. Not in every state.

In my state, if a store designates an area to be used only by certain people they have the right to tow. I worked at a police station and a few times we did tow people who parked in, for example, the store manager's space because it was not designated as open to the public.
You just need the lot owners signature for a tow and the vehicle will be towed at the car owner's expense.

[LostinVA]

87. I said in my state

[xmas74]

99. It's still an argument of personal property.

If someone parks in your driveway they can be towed. That spot was not assigned to them, simply put. It tends to be the same w/ privately owned parking lots. Everything is at the owner's discretion.

[ET Awful]

102. My point exactly. n/t

[REP]

121. And Being Sued

Prove someone's not pregnant! Not the kind of publicity a store wants. It doesn't happen.

[Xithras]

131. In most states they are legally enforceable.

We tow illegal parkers from our employee lot here at work all the time. As long as the lot is posted, owners are typically free to put in any parking regulations they choose. They can't move or eliminate handicap places because they're legally required, but other than that, it's a free country. We could say that only green cars are allowed to park in Row 3, or that Section J is reserved for people born between January 1953 and September 1962. As long as the rules are clearly posted and you can prove that the vehicle is in violation, you can usually tow at the managers discretion.

I've seen Expectant Mothers parking, Elderly Only parking, Carpool only parking (ex-employer reserved the close-in parking lot for employees who carpooled), Employee of the Month parking, Managers parking, and a dozen other specialty reserved signs over the years. In fact, the spot where my car is parked right now has a sign in front of it reserving it for faculty at our college. If anyone else tried to park there, be it a student or some random parker, they'd be towed in under an hour.

Now, whether they'd actually do it is another story. Most businesses don't want to piss their customers off by towing their cars, so they won't say anything over the occasional brief violation. You'd probably have to be doing it pretty regularly to get their attention and make them take action against you.

[JVS]

28. I'd say that the issue is not so much about disability as it is about...

whether business owners should encourage their customers to show particular courtesy to any group (pregnant women, the elderly, people with kids, etc.) that might have special difficulties in public.

[LostinVA]

47. Sorry, you are medically mistaken

A woman with a normal pregnancy is healthy, although oft uncomfortable at the very end. She si certainly not disabled! If a pregnant woman literally can't walk 20-50 feet, then she has a medical problem, and should be home on bed rest.

Good grief. Disabled.

[tigereye]

96. seems just like a courtesy to me

when I was pregnant I had no need for a space close by, although by the end of your pregnancy, you wish you didn't have as far to walk.

I think those spots make more sense for new moms with babies and other little ones, it's just safer and easier.

Kind of like holding the door for a woman with a stroller or someone in a wheelchair or on crutches, etc. It's the little niceties of the world that make this a civilized society. I'm not sure what all the hue and cry is about.

[TheProphetess]

111. THANK YOU!!!

Very well said!

Finally, the voice of reason. :yourock:

[tigereye]

128. that's funny, that's what people tend to call me at times

:hi:

As a parent and as a person, I really don't understand what the fuss is about. All people deserve consideration.

[Fleshdancer]

72. it's called an honor system.

it's not about enforcing some law, it's about showing a small amount of courtesy for no other reason than to be nice. The stores in my area that created expecting mother spots didn't take away from handicapped spots.

[Mutley]

14. There are a few around here in MD.

Even though they're not enforcable by law I won't park there. I know how hard of a time my sister had in the last month of her pregnancies, and she used to get pissed when people would take those spots. If she had to park in the back of the lot, by the time she got to the store she was almost too tired to even do her shopping.

And I hate when people park in the HCAP spots. I've never needed to do so myself, but it's so freaking lazy of people to park there when they don't need to. :grr: People do that in front of my apartment all the time.

[lakemonster11]

68. About the apartment...

Is it general parking or assigned?

At my bf's apartment complex, his assigned spot is a handicapped spot, regardless of him not having a permit. It really weirded us both out at first, but, of course, there's no where else to park without getting towed, so that's where the car goes. My theory is that they're required by law to have a certain number of handicapped spaces, but since all of their parking is assigned anyway, it doesn't technically matter---if someone parks in a spot that isn't theirs, they'll be towed, even if they are handicapped. (Oh, and all of the spots are about equidistant from the apartments---there's no advantage to the handicapped spots at all).

I'm just curious about whether this is a common practice. :shrug:

[Mutley]

116. It's general parking.

The last apartment I lived in was assigned parking, but as far as I know they never assigned the hcap spot. That's weird.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

115. I appreciated them when I was pregnant...

Also liked the ones set aside for moms with little kids.

So I don't park in those spaces now.

[Mutley]

117. I've never had kids

and I can appreciate the argument some here make about how they might need those spots more, but I would not use those spots unless I really had to for some reason.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

130. "unless I really had to for some reason"

is an excellent point. Certainly there are situations where someone who isn't pregnant or doesn't have a handicapped sticker should be able to use one of these parking spots. I didn't use the spaces myself until I was in the last couple of weeks of my pregnancy.

If someone sprained their foot and hadn't yet been to a doctor, I wouldn't have any problem with their use of one. Maybe the spaces should be reserved for those whom, in their best judgement, really need them.

[Allenberg]

19. I've seen plenty of them here in Pittsburgh.

[miss_american_pie]

40. Most of them read

Expectant mothers and new parents though.

My hubby still won't use one.

[tigereye]

97. I've mostly seen them near Doctor's offices here

In Pittsburgh as well.

[fudge stripe cookays]

21. Yup, Texas.

Irritating as fuck too.

I've got freaking MS. I'm not to the point of needing a handicapped sticker yet, but I do have my bad days.

If you're going to do anything, put a few more spaces close instead of starting the parking several hundred yards back from the store in the first place. We need more flowerbeds! :eyes:

[fishwax]

43. you could get a tag and only use it on your bad days

That's what I wish my mom had done. She had a temporary one a few years back after back surgery, but let it expire when she "felt better." But while she might not need it every day, there are stll days where (for a collection of reasons), she has lots of trouble walking, especially after being up and down on her feet for most of the day. Is it a sticker for your car in Texas, or a tag you hang from your mirror?

I don't mind the expectant mother spots, personally, but I like to park in the middle spots and hike.

[fudge stripe cookays]

44. That's a thought.

It's a hang from the mirror type.

I need to do it, just haven't felt like doing the research involved yet. I was just diagnosed last summer.

But one trip to the mall this weekend definitely woke me up about my mobility nowadays.

[JVS]

27. I want spots for drunken or stoned drivers. It's hard for them!

[bleedingheart]

30. They are typically for Expectant Mothers and New mothers

and yes I have seen them...they are a courtesy to women who are heavily pregnant and or who have small tiny babies in those bulky carriers...and they are normally very very close to the cart return.

[bridgit]

32. they're pretty much on their own here too, if they look like their going...

to pop, or explode, they should prolly have someone go to the store for them anyway :eyes: otherwise, for a little paint on a sign or the blacktop of your parking lot, you too can project a 'family values mystique' = "goo goo"

:rofl:

[LeftyMom]

41. The only place around here that has reserved spots for expectant mothers

is the huge (it's about the size of a grocery store) high end baby gear store. They have a ton of parking spaces, but the ones in the very front of the store are marked are for expectant mothers on one side of the door and disabled people on the other.

I don't mind, I remember being hugely pregnant and how difficult getting around was.

[fishwax]

42. I've seen them in Oklahoma

at Toys R Us, I think, and probably at grocery stores.

[LostinVA]

45. I've seen them all over the East coast

And yeah, I park in them.

[CanuckAmok]

46. Those are my favourite places to park. Nice and close to the shops.

I park in the "mothers and mothers-to-be" spaces at the grocery store when there aren't any other convenient spaces. Why? Because being pregnant or having young children is a choice someone makes, and people have successfully managed to get across mall parking lots with a bun in the oven and/or two screaming toddlers in tow for decades. Now all of a sudden there's "family parking" right next to the handicapped spaces because yet another retailer is sucking up to the "consumers-to-be" crowd? The hell with that, I say. My money is just as good as the Baby Factory's, and I won't be penalised just because I have decided to not have children.

I'm sick of the discrimination against non-breeders in this society which continues to sell the outdated ideas of wide-scale repopulation in this already crowded world.

Nuts to that.

(of course, I would never park in a handicapped spot; that's a whole other kettle of fish)

[antigone382]

76. So, you call pregnant women "baby factories" and "breeders"

...and then you claim that you're sick of discrimination. :shrug:

Look, I don't have any kids, and I'm all about birth control and stabilizing the world population and all of that, but it's not gonna kill me or anyone else to consider the needs of pregnant women, whether or not they "chose" their condition. By that logic, anybody who is in a wheelchair because they were in a biking accident, any veteran who volunteered for a war and took shrapnel in the knee doesn't deserve to park in a handicapped spot, because they "chose" to take the risks that led to their condition. Does that seem fair to you?

For the human race to continue existing, at least SOME women are going to have to "choose" to get pregnant and have kids. That doesn't make them evil or ignorant, and frankly the implications to the contrary that I've seen throughout this thread are pretty frickin' insulting. Claiming that businesses are "sucking up" to families while "penalizing" you is just silly...could it be that maybe they're just being considerate? If it's not gonna kill that pregnant chick with the two toddlers to walk a couple of extra feet, it's going to be even easier for you to do it, isn't it?

[xmas74]

80. You hit the nail on the head. n/t

[CanuckAmok]

82. That's pretty spurious.

First of all, by "breeders" and "baby factories" I was referring to families who breed. Don't try to diffuse this point by making it a "womyns' issuy".

How you can even suggest that someone injured in an accident "chose" to be handicapped? That's pretty much the most moronic thing I've ever read on this forum.

Pregnancy = choice.

Yeah, your life gets more difficult when you're pregnant. Get used to it. It's only the tip of the parenthood iceberg.

How do you know I (for example) haven't just worked a fifteen hour day of manual labour, and walking across a parking lot is just too much to consider. Here's how: You don't. To suggest that someone has more rights than I do because she's pregnant or has kids is unfair and discriminatory.

When it's the law that only breeders may park in breeder spots, I'll obay it. It's not currently a law, because being pregnant isn't widely recognised as a disability. And one of the reasons it isn't is because it's voluntary.

And just for you, I'm going to make a point of parking in them, even when other spaces are available. I can't wait until the first person calls me on it.

[antigone382]

92. "Spurious"

I didn't make it a "womyn's issue" (umm, and I spelled it "woman," in case you didn't notice. But go ahead and lump me into some "crazy man-hating feminazi" category if it suits your agenda). Looking at your post again, it still seems to me that you *were* referring specifically to pregnant women, but I'll take you at your word and accept that I took you out of context. Either way, whether you are referring to men OR women who choose to have kids, the terms "breeders" and "baby factory" are pretty discriminatory.

You didn't like the motorcycle example? Here's a different one: I ride horses for fun. If I fall off a horse and break my back and am thereafter unable to walk, it is a result of my *choice* to engage in what I know is a potentially risky activity. Does that mean that I shouldn't get to park in a handicapped parking space?

Nobody suggested that pregnant women had more "rights" than you. It's up to the owner of the parking lot to make the rules for parking there, and *some* privately owned companies choose to extend a courtesy to pregnant women and new mothers. If you really find that so offensive, why do you want to give your money to those stores at all? Boycotting them--and telling them why you are doing so--would be the honorable way to show your opposition to their policy...not parking in some spot because you think it's going to piss them (or me) off.

[tigereye]

98. that's cuz our money is worth more than yours CA

;)

And it's kind of mean to park there just for spite. Some day you too may breed and will appreciate the courtesy.
Seriously, it's a convenience that businesses choose to have.

I really don't like being referred to as a "breeder," thank you.

[HEyHEY]

91. I call them lazy!

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

103. they're not?

[miss_american_pie]

84. So, if you are so

upset? offended? that retailers would cater, then why not take your money elsewhere?

Exactly how does it teach those retailers a lesson by you parking in those spots?

[CanuckAmok]

88. It has nothing to do with "teaching anyone a lesson"

It's about me not being inconvenienced.

What's so difficult to comprehend?

[miss_american_pie]

90. You just made it crystal clear

Thanks

[antigone382]

93. lol.

:thumbsup:

[LynneSin]

48. I've seen them but mainly in front of Kid/Baby stores

Like Kids R Us. I could see a space like that for expecting moms.

[ET Awful]

53. How is a grocery store any different?

I fail to see how going to a grocery store to buy infant formula, baby food or diapers is any different than going to Kids R Us to buy a blanket.

[LynneSin]

55. So how are we going to proove the woman is expecting?

Hell I'll park there. Let the store pay for the damn pregnancy test if they don't believe I'm with child

[ET Awful]

56. Once again, you said it was okay at "Kids R Us" but not other places

What's the difference?

[LynneSin]

61. Hey, I'm not the one who decides there these things are put

:shrug:

You want to start a flame war with me or something - go for it, I have my flame-retardant undies on today

:loveya:

[ET Awful]

65. Yeah? Well my kitty is cuddlier than your kitty.

:evilgrin:

[LynneSin]

74. My Kitty can kick your kitty's ass

Abbott is confident in that threat!

[ET Awful]

75. Althea is a lover not a figher.

Quinn just doesn't care unless it involves salmon, chicken or tuna :P

[RubyDuby in GA]

64. I'm 5 months pregnant

and wouldn't park in them until I started showing just so I could shut up anyone who questioned me.
It's a judgement call on the part of the expectant mother whether or not she feels like showing off a nice big belly to complete strangers who feel more entitled than her to park in a closer spot.

[GirlinContempt]

66. Expectant mothers need to go all sorts of places

I don't see how shopping at a baby store makes them more (or less) necessary

[caty]

50. We have them

at some stores in Michigan. Sears is one.

[HEyHEY]

51. Have em here in British Columbia

[GirlinContempt]

57. We have them here

So what?

[RubyDuby in GA]

58. Some in GA - and as a pregnant woman I truly appreciate them

I don't park in handicap spots and I routinely call the police on people who do and are not handicapped. I also don't park in any other spots that are labeled for specific purposes.

There in turn, I appreciate it when people who aren't expecting don't park in a spot that is clearly labeled For Expectant Mothers and does not apply to them. Strap on a 20lb weight, have someone hit you in the back with a baseball bat and do something to swell up your feet and ankles, then walk from the far end of the parking lot. See how you like it.

And you're right. Being pregnant is my choice. It's also the choice of the store/place of business to clearly label their spots as reserved for whomever they choose.

If you're that damn rude, inconsiderate and overwhelmed with such a sense of entitlement to blatantly disregard posted regulations, do us all a favor and stay home.

[ScreamingMeemie]

60. GMTA!

:hi:

[GirlinContempt]

63. Right on

[ET Awful]

73. GO RUBYDUBY!!!

You rock :P

[xmas74]

81. Thank you!

When I was pregnant I was put on bedrest. I was single and alone. Someone had to do the grocery shopping and pick up the prescriptions and that someone was me. I lived in a small town where there was no delivery service for meds (at that time), groceries, etc.
Those parking spaces were a godsend. And in response to the temp parking pass I was informed that pregnancy was not a valid reason for a temp parking pass.

[ScreamingMeemie]

59. We have them here, and (Hold on to your Hats) I think they are a good idea

When I was pregnant with James, I was borderline (and then full blown) PIH (pregnancy induced hypertension/preeclampsia). Without the benefit of a live in aid, or a job free husband, I still had to take care of business with another child in attendance at all times. It made a rough time a bit easier. Yes, people will abuse it. But that's a societal problem. We're takers by nature.

FWIW, now that I qualify for a handicap sticker...I will never get one. I don't feel I'm handicapped enough. :)

[fight4my3sons]

67. I used them when I was pregnant with my twins and I had a toddler

in tow. My husband worked two jobs and I didn't have the luxury of someone who would go shopping for me or enough money to hire a babysitter for my son. I was huge and could not walk very far. I was not supposed to carry my son. The shorter the distance to the store the better. Forgive me for being happy about a closer parking space to a grocery store.

[DeaconBlues]

69. I even see them here in Nebraska at grocery stores

I am surprised to see so many posts here against the idea of reserving a spot for expecting and new moms. I'm even more shocked to here that people think its a great idea to take spaces from people who need them. To me, such griping and rude behavior either signifies extreme laziness (how 'bout walking a few more car spaces?) or a political puritanism that leads to a lack of compassion (like calling people who desire children "breeders").

Stop thinking so much of yourself and your political obsessions and give another person a break for once.

[ScreamingMeemie]

70. We shoot ourselves in our collective foot so many times.

:(

[Fleshdancer]

71. Is see them in grocery store parking lots here in Austin

It's not like you'll get a ticket parking in those spaces like you would in a handicapped spot, it's an honor system thing. I think it's nice thing to do.

[xmas74]

77. My local Walmart and grocery stores have them.

Small town in the Midwest. They are right next to handicapped parking.

[Hoooweee]

83. they have them at Ukrops up in Richmond

I happily ignore them whenever I see them

[ScreamingMeemie]

86. Welcome to DU Hoooweee! Very nice user name.

:hi:

[Hoooweee]

94. merci and merci!

It's better than my old one: WMliberal

[swimboy]

101. Huh! You were on my buddy list.

Do I need to update that?

[Hoooweee]

105. I haven't changed my AIM, but i don't get on very much

[swimboy]

100. Hey there, neighbor!

Welcome to DU! :hi:

[nini]

85. oh brother

Unless a woman is having complications (which would qualify her for a temp disabled placard) she doesn't need this and actually should keep active and walk more.

I worked until 2 days before my son was born and actually never felt better in my life.

[Maine-ah]

95. we have them here at Hannaford

right next to the handicap spots.

[bertha katzenengel]

104. I've seen a few: "for expectant mothers or mothers of infants"

Hard to see how they're enforceable. They rely on a woman's good sense and charity - can't see much reason for a healthy woman to use it before her 3rd month.

[Pool Hall Ace]

110. But what if it's Dad who is out with the infant?

Men with kids should be able to use them, too.

I actually saw a mom abuse one of these spaces. She hopped out of her car, leaving her snoozing companion and infant behind, and went into the store alone. I thought the whole point of those spaces was to make it easier to get the kids in and out of the car.

I don't use the spaces myself, because I prefer to park somewhat far away. However, I do think allotting spaces for parents is silly, so I can understand why others do.

[BlueIris]

119. Yeah, that bugs me, too. I'm not wild about their existence,

but if a business or living area with parking facilities wants to feature them, could the language at least NOT exclude male parents with infants? Jeez.

[qnr]

106. They're here in Augusta, Maine n/t

[YellowRubberDuckie]

107. Yes, there are some at the mall here in OKC...

I park in them all the time...

[LSdemocrat]

108. I've seen them in malls here in St. Louis

[I Have A Dream]

109. I've seen them a few places in Pennsylvania.

I'm surprised by how much some people seem to resent them in this thread. It just always seemed like the logical thing to do, to me. However, I think that they shouldn't be used by pregnant women until they're really having difficulty getting around or are having complications. It would have to be the honor system because of the latter, which might be before she's gotten bigger.

I don't have children (and never will have children), but I know that I'd really appreciate these spots if I did have them. I won't be parking in these spots.

[ChoralScholar]

112. Wal-Mart #5 in Conway, AR

had a few of these. They read:

Space reserved for expectant mothers and parents of sick children.

They were the sideways parking spaces, like you might see for a van with a wheelchair ramp.

[deadparrot]

113. We've got them at our malls in St. Louis.

Also in child/baby-themed stores, like "Babies R Us," etc.

[dr.strangelove]

122. We have them in Westchester, NY and my wife uses them.

She is due in 2 weeks, and during the past month or so, these spaces have been very helpful for her. I wish more places used these spaces. Women in the last trimester have enough difficulty dealing with simple things like stairs and inclines. I think a closer parking spot is something easy to give to someone in a difficult physical condition. Anyone who does not think the last tri-mester of pregnancy is physically difficult should have their head examined.

[newportdadde]

123. I've seen them at the YMCA(expecting and elderly) which is ironic.

Now I do have a pregnant wife with twins on bed rest and I'm sure she would appreciate the spot but I always found it odd at the YMCA to have these spots. Your going to WORK OUT right.... but the extra 30 feet for the elderly/pregnant is just too much for them.. I don't get it.

Of course I'm that guy who parks at the very end of the parking lot to avoid door dings to his car.

[xmas74]

126. But the Y, in some places, offers

classes for expentant parents. In some places you can take Lamaze there, do yoga for pregnant women and parenting classes. And they offer classes for babies. My daughter took swimming at a Y when she was 3 months old.
As for the elderly, it's not all just working out. They offer socialization opportunities, such as crafts(like knitting circles and pottery) or games (such as Bingo and card tourneys). Some of the elderly who might be there to play bingo cannot walk very far, due to the use of canes or wheelchairs.
Still makes sense to me.

[VaYallaDawg]

124. My doctor's office has one, so does the pharmacy I use.

[Bridget Burke]

125. I've seen these in Houston....

Not a bad idea. The store makes a "gesture" & the ladies have good feelings about the store.

There are always plenty of other places to park--most of us could use more walking in our lives. Some pregnant ladies breeze through the 9 months & others don't. Especially when they have another kid or two in tow. Ladies hoping to stay home while the kids are little often space them pretty closely, so they can get back in the working world before their skills are outdated. And some of them are still holding down jobs, are pressed for time & can't depend on hubby to do all the shopping.

Anyone who needs a handicapped tag should GET ONE! Even if you only have a few "bad days"--it's better to use the handicapped spot when you need it than to drive around grumbling about "breeders."

[calico1]

127. I live in CT and I have seen them here.

I usually park at some distance from the supermarket because I try to fit in as much acitivity into my day as I can. But on occasions, if it is raining hard or something I have parked in one of those spots and I don't feel guilty at all. The way I see it, if a woman were truly disabled by her pregnancy then she wouldn't be in a supermarket to begin with. And as for women with little kids, my mom had 5 and we didn't live in a suburb. We lived in the city. She took us all around with her. Lots of women did. It was no big deal then. Now all of a sudden it is. I don't get it. I think the whole idea is silly.

[ghostsofgiants]

129. I say we put them at the very back of the lot...

With a moat around the expectant mothers section. Fill the moat with toxic sludge and piranhas. Surround the moat with an electric fence and razor wire. And maybe get the Rover from The Prisoner. That'll show those dumbass breeders what's what.

:eyes:

[xmas74]

132. Well done!

I'm tired of this argument on here. I have a kid so you know whose side I'm on here.

[RubyDuby in GA]

133. Pul-leaze

Any woman who's had a baby can handle that shit in her sleep.

That the best you can do to show us breeders what's what??? :silly:

[ghostsofgiants]

135. So you're saying breeders aren't human at all?

More like cyborgs?

[Bossy Monkey]

134. One area mall has "This space for expected mothers" painted on the space

which always affords great amusement.

The correctly spelled signs are at every supermarket except maybe Food Lion.