OT - Handicap Parking

[deerslayer]

It really irritates me when I see obviously healthy people (often a teen) parking in Handicap spots. I know some handicaps are not obvious, but if the person doesn't have a walker or wheelchair and there are other parking spots, they should use them. When my wife had hip surgery she was given a temporary (3 month) handicap tag. I think we used it twice in that period. I printed out notes that say "Laziness is not considered a handicap", and put them on obviously non-handicap cars.

Don't be too quick to judge. I have knee problems. When they flare up, I look fairly normal walking, but if I have to take the long walk across the parking lot, I will have serious pain the next few days. I did that a few weeks ago and spent the next week nearly confined to the recliner, and only getting up when necessary for bodily functions and hobbling through the house with considerable pain.

AMEN
If the person that has the proper certificate, he /she is entitled to that spot. i keep the registration paper clipped to my placard.
common sense & consideration should also play a role in exercising ones choice. many times i will avoid handicapped spaces because of greater need by those less fortunate. I have a close friend who is only alive because of his pacemaker. if it stops he's a dead man PERIOD ..so judge not !
Non Enforcement is an issue because there are always those that could care less of the needs of others

[StuUnderPressure]

What about a handicapped toilet stall? They are roomy and comfortable, especially for us big guys, or those with a wide stance, as Larry Craig would say. I would avoid using one in a busy airport or other crowded location where someone else might really need it, but what about in an office building where the average number of people using the bathroom at any one time is zero. I usually walk right into the big stall. Does this make me a bad person?

In "MY" opinion, using a handicapped bathroom stall (even if it is in an uncrowed location) is just as bad as using a handicapped parking spot.

They should be left empty for the use of the handicapped only.

In fact, I am beginning to see in many locations that "For Use by Handicapped ONLY" has been added to the doors of those stalls. Not only were they being used by non handicapped people, but those people were being very "messy" & no handicapped person could use them until they were cleaned.

[zoocrewphoto]

What about a handicapped toilet stall? They are roomy and comfortable, especially for us big guys, or those with a wide stance, as Larry Craig would say. I would avoid using one in a busy airport or other crowded location where someone else might really need it, but what about in an office building where the average number of people using the bathroom at any one time is zero. I usually walk right into the big stall. Does this make me a bad person?

In "MY" opinion, using a handicapped bathroom stall (even if it is in an uncrowed location) is just as bad as using a handicapped parking spot.

They should be left empty for the use of the handicapped only.

In fact, I am beginning to see in many locations that "For Use by Handicapped ONLY" has been added to the doors of those stalls. Not only were they being used by non handicapped people, but those people were being very "messy" & no handicapped person could use them until they were cleaned.

I disagree. If there is a line of people and somebody needs that stall, then don't use it. Let the person who needs it used it. But it is a stall, and it is available. At work, we have a very busy bathroom with only 3 stalls. Even with that stall in use, there are often lines. There is no way people would not use the stall, just to be respectful of people who are not there needing it.

Toilet stalls and parking spots are very different. A parking spot could easily be in use for over an hour. A toilet stall should only be in use for a few minutes. It shouldn't be a hardship to wait 3 minutes.

[Uncle_Bob]

You would think a person blocking access to a h/c space would be worried about a wheelchair coming into contact and scratching their vehicle.

It seems here in Phoenix we must have the largest allocation of h/c spaces in the country. I've never even seem any allocation even close to half full. My local home depot has 8 spaces reserved at the front of 3 parking isles. I've only ever seen at the most 3 or so in use. However there is no excuse to park in these spaces though if you don't have a h/c tag.

I do however park in the regular sized spaces that have the stores own signs like mother and baby only parking. Thats BS and fair game for anyone to park in IMO. These spaces are annoying because they are not over sized and clearly marked out in paint like the h/c spaces, you normally only see the sign once you've actually pulled into the space.

~UB

[Madalot]

You would think a person blocking access to a h/c space would be worried about a wheelchair coming into contact and scratching their vehicle.

We came out of Target one day to find a car parked over those lines. My husband felt there was enough room and lowered the ramp. I BARELY managed to get in without scratching his car. I didn't have any "wiggle room" to spare. I shouldn't have worried about his damn car, but *I'm* the kind of person that doesn't want to cause harm to another one, even if they are jerks.

[idamtnboy]

handicapped johns are a MUST during those times. And I feel no shame using them. han - because there's a table in there to pile all my crap on
.

Ann Landers, or some other advice columnist, told a woman who complained about non-hc person using an hc stall, they are designed to accommodate hc, not reserved for hc only.

[Sheriff Buford]

I've purposely stayed out of this discussion, but I will slap around anyone illegally parking in a handicap spot. Let me know where...

Sheriff

[Madalot]

I've purposely stayed out of this discussion, but I will slap around anyone illegally parking in a handicap spot. Let me know where...

Virginia. You come to Virginia, I'll point them out to you and you can slap to your heart's content.

[Let me sleep]

Criteria for disabilityEdit

A person's medical condition must meet the legal definition of a disability to qualify for a handicapped parking permit. "Disability" means a condition in which a person has: Severe visual impairment (usually visual acuity of 20/200 or less); or Mobility problems, such as wheelchair confinement, lung or heart problems, arthritis, foot disorder, or medical conditions that cause a person to use a brace, cane, crutch or other assistive device.

The definition for "disability" according to Social Security is:

"Inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months".[1]

In Kentucky, the criteria to receive a handicapped tag includes:

"Any person who has a severe visual, audio, or physical impairment, including partial paralysis, lower limb amputation, chronic heart condition, emphysema, arthritis, rheumatism, or other debilitating condition which limits or impairs one's mobility or ability to walk may be issued a handicap placard. In addition, any agency or organization, which transports handicapped persons, may apply for a placard for each vehicle used in that capacity."[2]

[Let me sleep]

Cannot walk 200 feet without stopping to rest;
Cannot walk without the use of or assistance from a brace, cane, crutch, another person, a prosthetic device, wheelchair, or another assistive device;
Is restricted by lung disease to such an extent that the person’s forced (respiratory) expiratory volume for one second (when measured by spirometry) is less than one liter, or the arterial oxygen tension is less than 60 mm/hg on room air at rest;
Uses portable oxygen;
Has a cardiac condition to the extent that the person’s functional limitations are classified in severity as Class III or Class IV according to the American Heart Association leaflet “The Functional and Therapeutic Classifications of Patients with Diseases of the Heart” (printed June 1, 1990); or
Is severely limited in their ability to walk due to an arthritic, neurological, or orthopedic condition.
Blindness or impaired vision by itself is not a valid criterion to receive disabled reserved parking privileges.

[StuUnderPressure]

Well, I hate to be the one to report this, but even those with Handicapped Placards will abuse those.

Was out talking to my across the street neighbor this morning.
She says she has to hurry to take her visiting father (VERY old) to the Post Office before the rains begin.

I told her - No need - I am going there in a few minutes & I will take care of whatever business he needs there for him.

She says No, he insists on me taking him to do his own business.

Again, I say - No need - I am going anyway - Just let me take him for you.

She goes in to get him.
I have met the old boy before - so it is not like he is getting in a car with a total stranger.
He comes out WITH his Handicapped Placard in his hand.
Seems he has been to this Post Office before & knows there is no place to drop anyone off & we will have to park & walk about 60 feet.

We get there & I help him out of the car.
Once he gets out, he can walk by himself with his Walker.

We both conclude our business.
He only needed to buy stamps! Like I could not have done that for him?

I help him back in the car.

But as I am backing out of the Handicapped spot, a car pulls up perpendicular to & behind my vehicle & stops right in front of the Post Office & immediately gets out.

I can't back out because of him.
He is blocking me, the 2 other EMPTY Handicapped spots, & at least 1 regular parking space.

I saw him in my rear view mirror as he pulled up behind me, so there is no way I could accidentally hit him. But, he does not know that. So I start to back up as though I don't see him. He sits on his horn to warn me that I am about to hit him. I respond by sitting on my horn. Then, I lower my window & tell him he is not only NOT parked in a parking spot, he is blocking Handicapped spots.

He relents, gets back in his car & starts to back up.
By now I am milking this for all I can.
I back up as though it was my passenger doing the backing.
I force the guy to back up about 3 car lengths further back than was really necessary.

As I pull away, he pulls into the Handicapped spot I was in.

Since I had seen him just jump out of his car without any hesitation when he pulled up behind me, I thought that possibly he also should not be parking in the Handicapped spot.

So, I swing around for another look & sure enough, he also has a Handicapped Placard. He WAS driving a "Buick" & was decently old, so he probably WAS the owner of the Handicapped Placard.

But, he was willing to block off UNused Handicapped spots & at least 1 regular spot just to illegally park in a "Fire Zone" that saved him maybe 10 feet of walking. And of course, there were those 2 EMPTY Handicapped spots right next to where I was parked.

As I start to drive away, my passenger says "What an asshole!"

That made my day & possibly the rest of the week.

[Julie]

Wouldn't it be great to come back in 30 yrs and see a moving walkway (a la airports) going directly from the HC pk'g spots right into the store? And a guard (man or dog) keeping anyone (else) from taking the spots?

[StuUnderPressure]

I would have called Sheriff to come slap him around.

But, he was in Virginia helping out Madalot.

[Madalot]

I would have called Sheriff to come slap him around.

But, he was in Virginia helping out Madalot.

I wish. What I find so astounding that both of the infractions I encountered that week were people with legal handicap plates/placards. Both of them parked illegally on the lines that are for wheelchair ramps. One of them did it in a totally empty parking lot (tons of regular AND handicapped spaces) essentially blocking the door for my ramp. Luckily I don't drive or go anywhere alone anymore, but if I was able to drive, I would have had to wait for her to come out because I cannot get in any other way than my ramp.

We saw her come out and we know who she is. She's a very cranky woman that works at a fast food restaurant. Saying something to her would be like talking to a wall.

[StuUnderPressure]

Saying something to her would be like talking to a wall.

That is why I decided that since he had no problem inconveniencing me, I should return the favor.