Never knew this: Handicapped Parking Issue

[Jeepnik]

Depending on the lease, business owners can 100% dictate the length of stay in parking spots. Don't know how it relates to disabled spots though.

Depends on state & local laws. California law clearly states that with a placard you can use time limited spots as long as you want, you do not pay at meters, and one most don't know, park on the street in areas that require resident parking permits.

 

[dadstillsurfs]

The Handicap Placards themselves are rarely used properly. It states right on the placard that they are to be removed when driving. I assume it is to not obstruct the drivers view. It makes you wonder what disability the drover has, maybe optical or possibly mental? Both of which has an effect on parking ability. I have such a placard but I remove it when driving.

I used to remove mine but I found that I can spin it up 180° and it will stay there, tucked into the headliner.
The plastic kinda takes a set after a bit, but "backbends" out just fine.

 

[xtratoy]

I feel your pain. I ave the same problem using my 98 Explorer sport. Invariably I end up with a couple of jacked up 4x4s, one on each side and I can't see me until it's too late. About the best way that has worked for me is to creep out really slow, preferably on the idle. At least it's worked for me so far. I could use my F150 4x4 which also has the proper plates but someone scraped the hell out of my Explorer in the Wallyworld lot and then knocked out both taillights for kicks I guess.

I do most of my grocery shopping as Walmart and there's usually a couple of sheriff's deputies on hand. I see someone without a placard or proper license plate and I jot down the number, name and color of the vehicle and hand it to one of the deputies. One will always go out and ticket the vehicle. Instant $532 fine.
Paul B.

That is why I back into parking spaces if possible. You have better sight of oncoming vehicles.

 

[jimbo1096]

I can’t help but get my two cents in on this. This is Louisiana, where you get a handicap plate you also get a second license to carry in your wallet that shows your handicapped and you can pull that out to prove anytime your parking in a handicap and your questioned. And if you’re in someone else’s car, you can have them park in the handicap and leave that license on the dash of the car and it serves the same purpose as the blue hang tag or a handicap license plate.
Also, the police around here say they can’t come onto private property unless called by the store owner and a complaint it made. Also accidents in public parking lot they give you a form to fill out and they don’t do an accident report.
I’ve got a handicap license and will park as close as I can to the store but only use the handicap spaces if I don’t have anywhere else or if I’m particularly short winded that day. I had the blue hang tag on my old truck, but it set there so long that it got hard and chrispy and I moved it one day and it fell into pieces. Guess I need to go by and get a replacement.
One of my big complaints is watching a car pulling into the handicap spot and one of the kids will get out and run into the store or the driver gets out and obviously does not have any physical limitations. I have stopped them and asked why they’re using the handicap space and they usually reply, I have it because of my son or my husband or some other similar response. The most common area to have infractions is Wally world. Almost everyone knows that there’s no policing on handicap spaces so they will park there regardless of anybody else complaining.

 

[mexicanjoe911]

I noticed a young man park his convertible in handicap parking, jump our and go inside a business. I had my blind quadriplegic son in my van, and no parking spots. Sooooo, I parked behind our sprinter, unloaded my boy and went inside. Came out about 30 minutes and Mr. Runner was hopping mad. I told him he had taken my parking spot and I just didnt feel like walking an extra 100 yards to the store. I loaded my son into the van and bid him a good day.

 

[DocSkinner]

If only there were a cure for this.
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Looks like it is an extremely short parking spot, and people with long cars angled in so they wouldn't block the drive area.

 

[TheTexasRAT]

I am happy you were able to get the fines dismissed.

Yep but it took another trip the following day for the court house to be open.

So being my sister was the driver she had to go, which intailed her three young children also. Grandma was needed as a witness so I had to go to load and unload grandma in and out the vehicle. It was a long morning, and especially difficult for my sister and grandma when toilet time come round.

Anyway we lived through it and you can believe that we made sure grandma placed the card on the mirror from then on!

 

[Jim Walsh]

Looks like it is an extremely short parking spot, and people with long cars angled in so they wouldn't block the drive area.

This was not the case.

 

[Jim Walsh]

I would bet the folks parked crosswise have to unload their fold-up wheelchair or walker from the back seat.
AND I don't see why you've got heartburn with it. They are a handicap placarded vehicle in one handicapped parking space.The one that infuriates me are the "my car is so expensive that I need two spaces" guys.
BTW the answer to any parking issue is a mobile floor jack.

Nice theory but this was not the case at all. I did not have heartburn as there were other handicapped parking spots available. I didn’t dare park in the space beside them as they had already exhibited their poor parking skills. Just imagine their ability to safely exit those spaces…

 

[blume357]

I used to make the joke, "We'll park in the blue space and when I get out I'll just limp into the building." Now, at least for the last couple of days it is almost true... got some nerve in my back and running down my leg that is giving me hell but I still managed to walk the 75 Yards or so into the grocery store yesterday and also the dogs when I got back... was in pain but managed it. I also remember by first trip to our grocery store after my heart attack... I out of habit parked down at the bottom of the lot under a shade tree and when I got out is when I realized there was a slight incline up to the store. I was not sure I was going to make it but I did and then just pushing a cart around helped.
To go even further off the subject, I think half my pain right now is psychosomatic ... I'm reading the book, "Papa Hemingway" and it is to the part after the 2 crashes in Africa and how much damage it did to him and how much pain he was in the years afterwards. He must have been one hell of a man... they took over 200 pieces of shrapnel out of his leg when he got blown up in Spain.

 

[WAYNO]

 

[redhawker]

If only there were a cure for this.
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Well, I'm not so sure that isn't on purpose. They're not taking up any additional spaces, and when they go to leave, they don't have to back up, which is a safer way to exit a parking spot. It's always better to leave a parking space going forward, especially in a big pickup.

 

[Yaworski]

View attachment 85233

Is that saying that the spot belongs to someone named Karen or is it supposed to be for all "Karens"? If the latter, it is a sign of what is wrong with our education system.

 

[Paul B]

Jimbo said, "Also, the police around here say they can’t come onto private property unless called by the store owner and a complaint it made."

I think my Walmart hires off duty Sheriff's deputies on their days off and the county allows them to wear the uniform while doing so. Come the weekend starting on Friday and even Thursday at times, the influx from Nogales Sonora Mexico Is something to behold. Shoplifting is rampant and if a grigo gets into an argument from one of those from across the border, let's just say you'd best
hope on of those deputies is close by.
Paul B.

 

[dadstillsurfs]

Nice theory but this was not the case at all. I did not have heartburn as there were other handicapped parking spots available. I didn’t dare park in the space beside them as they had already exhibited their poor parking skills. Just imagine their ability to safely exit those spaces…

I was NOT there but... I know what needs to happen when you're dependent on mobility aids (crutches, walkers, and wheelchairs). I'm operating from a direct knowledge of these circumstances. By you're own admission, you were "just imagining".

 

[Watertender]

In the late 1980's I was working as a service technician for a dental equipment and supply company. I had some equipment to unload for installation in an office that was next to a jewelry store in a small strip mall. I was unloading the equipment and the jeweler came out of his store screaming at me about parking in his customers private spots.
I politely told him that I would move the van as soon as I got everything inside the door of the dentists office. He started screaming louder and pushed me. I ignored him and kept unloading the van. He was looking for a fight and I didn't give him the pleasure.
I moved the van and completed the job while the jeweler was screaming at the dental receptionist. He apparently was noted for being a total jerk to everyone who was in the strip mall.
Amazingly about 6 months later both the front and back doors to his store had the locks filled with super glue and broken toothpicks.... Imagine that!!

 

[Fox Mike]

..

or the driver gets out and obviously does not have any physical limitations.

Watch me get out and ask me. Please...ask me. Exactly what does someone that is handicapped look like? Is there something special to look for? After all, I get out, no wheelchair, or walker, or cane. I walk straight upright at relatively normal pace into the store. Once there I get or wait for a mobility cart because by that time I am out of breathe.

 

[RugerForMe]

I hate that people park in the spots and run and yes, I mean run into the store to get something.

Once when all the Handicap spots were all taken up I parked my "Green" Jeep in the parking lot section that said "Green Cars Only" and I wasn't the only one. Someone called the local PD. My argument was my jeep is green and the sign states "GREEN CARS ONLY".

Next time I went there the sign was change to "HYBRIDS AND ELECTRIC CARS ONLY". Not sure if I would have beat that in court, but it did say green and my jeep was green. Cop just told me not to park there again. I do find it odd that that section is always full of regular cars and cops are never there.

 

[Yaworski]

I was at a 7-11 when an off-duty cop pulled into the handicapped spot. I pointed out that he was in a handicapped spot. The cop said, "That's OK, I'm a cop. I'm allowed to park there."

Rules for thee and not for me.

 

[GasGuzzler]

My wife has permanent handicap plates on her vehicle

Both my parents too but only for my Mom so if my Dad is by himself, he doesn't use the close space even though he could qualify. In Texas, the plates follow the driver license and those are both "her" (and his) vehicles so they are tagged as such.

 

[eveled]

When my Grandmother had HP plates on her car for my blind Grandfather.

If he wasn’t with her, she would have people yell at her if she used a regular space.

I think the placards are a much better idea.

 

[Richbaker]

I was at a 7-11 when an off-duty cop pulled into the handicapped spot. I pointed out that he was in a handicapped spot. The cop said, "That's OK, I'm a cop. I'm allowed to park there."

Rules for thee and not for me.

I hope you called him and took pics...

 

[Richbaker]

A bar I used to frequent had a handicap spot by the front door. The owner used to park in it all the time. One night, we saw a cop pull in, behind the owners car. Spent 5 or 6 minutes and left. A little later, the owner went out to leave, and came back in irate, holding a ticket....
Karma's a Rosie O'Donnell..

 

[GasGuzzler]

I think the placards are a much better idea.

Except they must be renewed and in Texas that is done by request of a doctor. Once you qualify for permanent license plates, the rigamarole is over with.

 

[Fox Mike]

Except they must be renewed and in Texas that is done by request of a doctor. Once you qualify for permanent license plates, the rigamarole is over with.

Same here in Maryland. Both my wife (stroke) and I (COPD) have permanent placards. If anyone else is driving any one of us somewhere we carry the placard with us for use if needed.

 

[Lt Choate]

Far be it from me to curtail anyone's freedom of mobility...... but if someone is handicapped to the point of not being able to drive their vehicle without damaging signage..... then it's time to take the keys as they are a threat to others on the road.

 

[Johnnu2]

I've lived 81 yrs so far and never really gave a poop about any of this stuff; I just go about my day NOT EXPECTING anything from others and have NEVER been disappointed. I do respect whatever laws are posted, but don't worry about those that don't. I also understand the value of a good set of rants.
J.

 

[ArizonaTea123]

I see people park in handicap parking that are obviously not handicapped. They don't have a disabled placard or license plates.
Nine times out of ten they are African American, yet I have "white privilege".
There's never any law enforcement around to write a ticket

Cities could really rake in some revenue if they only spent some time writing handicap parking tickets.

 

[wproct]

A number of years ago, I was coaching my son's indoor soccer team. The place was always packed and parking was a nightmare. One night, I was getting ready to leave and saw a guy swing into the handicap spot, pull out his permanent placard, then run (literally run) inside.

I called the cops, then sat and waited. They showed up, went inside, and somehow found the guy. About 10 minutes later they exited the building with the guy and started writing tickets. The car wasn't towed (he did have to move it), but they did confiscate the placard. Found out from the cop that it was the "rear exit chute's" recently deceased grandmother's and he thought he could just keep using it.

I like to say "You can't out @#&!*!#@ this @#&!*!#@" :p :p

This reminds me of my experience. My older brother had willed his Honda CRV to our son upon his passing. My brother was handicapped and so his car had a handicapped placard to hang on the rear view mirror. We found out that my son's wife was using it and she was under 30 and healthy as could be. I told my son to take that placard and run it through the shredder. He did and that was the end of that. My son is no longer married to her. I always said anyone who would abuse using handicap placards has serious character issues.

 

[Watertender]

I see people park in handicap parking that are obviously not handicapped. They don't have a disabled placard or license plates.
Nine times out of ten they are African American, yet I have "white privilege".
There's never any law enforcement around to write a ricket

Cities could really rake in some revenue if they only spent some time writing handicap parking tickets.

It's part of reparations....