Handicap Parking

• BigDog

  I've always been a watcher of people - call it a hobby. Not in a creapy way but from an intrest in human nature.
  
  I've always taken note of people who park in handicap parking spaces, and do they appear to be handicapped. I've noticed that many times (seems more often than not) a person will park in the handicap spot, get out and run into a store or wherever, and do not appear to be handicapped in any way. This has always bothered me because there are many that really need that spot closer to the store/restaurant etc.
  
  I've recently sustained an injury to my leg that I'm waiting on surgery, doc gave me a script for a temperary handicap placard. Have used it on a few occations but it's really got me looking at who uses them and who shouldn't be.
  
  Here's 2 questions:
  
  1. Is it too easy to get a handicap placard for a vehicle??
  
  2. Should you be physically hurt (Old qualifies also) to get one?? (I've heard stories of people getting them for some mental of emotional disorder.)
• bucks36

  

  BigDog wrote: I've always been a watcher of people - call it a hobby. Not in a creapy way but from an intrest in human nature.
  
  I've always taken note of people who park in handicap parking spaces, and do they appear to be handicapped. I've noticed that many times (seems more often than not) a person will park in the handicap spot, get out and run into a store or wherever, and do not appear to be handicapped in any way. This has always bothered me because there are many that really need that spot closer to the store/restaurant etc.
  
  I've recently sustained an injury to my leg that I'm waiting on surgery, doc gave me a script for a temperary handicap placard. Have used it on a few occations but it's really got me looking at who uses them and who shouldn't be.
  
  Here's 2 questions:
  
  1. Is it too easy to get a handicap placard for a vehicle??
  
  2. Should you be physically hurt (Old qualifies also) to get one?? (I've heard stories of people getting them for some mental of emotional disorder.)

  One of my biggest pet peeves is people parking in handicap spots. Most of the time they will have a handicap placard but they are obviously not handicapped. (most of the time it looks like they are just fat and lazy, so they don't want to walk)
  
  So from my observations it must be way too easy to get a handicap placard.
  I would love to follow them into the store and ask what their handicap actually is.
  
  Funny how most of the time this happens at Wal Mart. Coincidence?
• heel023

  

  I have one because I am really Handicap. Depending who parks in those spots (old people, people with wheelchairs or walkers) it doesn't bother me. Now if a fat person gets out and does not appear to be handicap then yes I am pissed.
• hang_loose

  There are people with bad heart conditions where after they're done shopping, they have a hard time getting back to their car in a handicaped parking spot. Don't judge handicaped people by how they look.
  
  bucks36, If they have the placard, then why is it any business of yours.
  
  BigDog, Why is your injured leg any more important than a person who has a handicap that you can't see?
• gerb131

  

  If they hand them out for mental conditions than I'm in. I get so pissed when its snowing or raining hard and I have to walk 4 miles.
• Glory Days

  

  it depends, i know a someone who is quite young who if you look at them as soon as they get up and start walking look fine. but after walking any kind of distance they start to have trouble.
  
  on the other hand i know of people who have bragged about using someone elses handicap placard.
• LJ

  

  My dad has micro tears in his Achilles tendons and has a handicap placard. He looks like he can walk fine, but he isn't allowed to walk more than a certain distance every day, so he uses it. Of course I have seen him pass up handicap spots in a packed parking lot for wheelchair vans and stuff.
• berry

  Dad appears to be healthy too, but he has one of the mentally handicapped placards. We find him parked in the spots farthest from the stores, or even at the wrong store sometimes. He probably should not be driving, but he is impossible to reason with.
• Cat Food Flambe'

  

  Berry, Berry, Berry.... smh
  
  On the evil side of the equation, a 30-something woman I worked with a few years ago sprained an ankle (she slipped getting out a tanning bed - honest) and got a temporary handicapped parking tag, She talked her friend at the local BMV outlet into making it good for year.
  
  Her general attitude toward life and work was just about what you would expect from someone who would pull a stunt like this. She came to a bad end - she got fired for using company information for private gain AND got dumped by her sugar daddy in the same month about a year later.
• BigDog

  Glory Days wrote: on the other hand i know of people who have bragged about using someone elses handicap placard.

  Now that you mentioned it, I did borrow one, one time. My brother wanted to go to the state playoff games in Canton/Massilon about 10 years ago with me and he just had ACL surgery, could bare no weight on it and walked strickly with crutches - I borrowed one from a handicapped friend so he didn't have to walk very far to get to the games. Only really helped at one game due to how fast the handicapped spots fill up. The rest of the games I'd drop him off at the gates and go park in BFE.
• Salmom

  I use my mom's. She lives with us, doesn't drive and because of health reasons can't walk far. However, I don't use it if it's just me.
• FairwoodKing

  bucks36 wrote:

  BigDog wrote: I've always been a watcher of people - call it a hobby. Not in a creapy way but from an intrest in human nature.
  
  I've always taken note of people who park in handicap parking spaces, and do they appear to be handicapped. I've noticed that many times (seems more often than not) a person will park in the handicap spot, get out and run into a store or wherever, and do not appear to be handicapped in any way. This has always bothered me because there are many that really need that spot closer to the store/restaurant etc.
  
  I've recently sustained an injury to my leg that I'm waiting on surgery, doc gave me a script for a temperary handicap placard. Have used it on a few occations but it's really got me looking at who uses them and who shouldn't be.
  
  Here's 2 questions:
  
  1. Is it too easy to get a handicap placard for a vehicle??
  
  2. Should you be physically hurt (Old qualifies also) to get one?? (I've heard stories of people getting them for some mental of emotional disorder.)

  One of my biggest pet peeves is people parking in handicap spots. Most of the time they will have a handicap placard but they are obviously not handicapped. (most of the time it looks like they are just fat and lazy, so they don't want to walk)
  
  So from my observations it must be way too easy to get a handicap placard.
  I would love to follow them into the store and ask what their handicap actually is.
  
  Funny how most of the time this happens at Wal Mart. Coincidence?

  Handicaps come in many shapes and sizes. Don't assume someone is just "fat and lazy." That's the way you would probably describe me if you saw me get out of my car. Yet I have a very bad back that hurts constantly and I recently had surgery on my hip. I also have asthma and can't walk very far without getting extremely short of breath. Two doctors insisted I get and use the handicap license plate.
  
  Have a little compassion. The person you see may be worse off than you think.
• Chesapeake

  

  BigDog wrote: 1. Is it too easy to get a handicap placard for a vehicle??

  It's as simple as getting a fake id or buying a bag of dope.
• bucks36

  

  I have NO compassion for some of the people I see abusing the placards. I like to think I am a pretty good judge of people . I like to think I know the abusers vs. the users. Gimme a break.
• FairwoodKing

  bucks36 wrote: I have NO compassion for some of the people I see abusing the placards. I like to think I am a pretty good judge of people . I like to think I know the abusers vs. the users. Gimme a break.

  You're mistaken. There aren't that many abusers.
  
  The real problem is people who don't even have the placard who park in these spaces. That's what really pisses me off. They are the true abusers.
• Swamp Fox

  I would totally agree with FairWoodKing. Using a handicapped parking spot without having a handicapped sticker is the lowest of the low. If you have lost your sticker, or it has worn out, or if it has been stolen from your car, you need to immediately get it replaced.
• se-alum

  

  My dad had one when he had cancer and was going through his chemo. Looking at him you wouldn't think anything was wrong w/ him, but the chemo tears down your immune system so much, you aren't supposed to be exposed to the elements. Definitely can't judge someone by how they look.
• SnotBubbles

  I broke my ankle in college. The doctor gave me a script for a handicap placard. I was in college and you know how parking is anyway (at least at the University of Toledo). I could have used it to park right in front of my dorm, in lieu of a 1/2 mile away. However, I decided not to use it or even turn it in and get the placard.
  
  I honestly don't care who parks in those spaces. If there is a sticker in their window, they have it for a reason. Now, if it's a lazy relative of someone...then I can understand. However, we don't have any way of knowing. So I guess I'm impartial to this debate.
• bucks36

  

  FairwoodKing wrote:

  bucks36 wrote: I have NO compassion for some of the people I see abusing the placards. I like to think I am a pretty good judge of people . I like to think I know the abusers vs. the users. Gimme a break.

  You're mistaken. There aren't that many abusers.
  
  The real problem is people who don't even have the placard who park in these spaces. That's what really pisses me off. They are the true abusers.

  You are correct, it is hard to judge who is abusing and who isn't but people who use the spots without the placards really deserve a slashed tire.
• hang_loose

  bucks36 wrote:

  FairwoodKing wrote:

  bucks36 wrote: I have NO compassion for some of the people I see abusing the placards. I like to think I am a pretty good judge of people . I like to think I know the abusers vs. the users. Gimme a break.

  You're mistaken. There aren't that many abusers.
  
  The real problem is people who don't even have the placard who park in these spaces. That's what really pisses me off. They are the true abusers.

  You are correct, it is hard to judge who is abusing and who isn't but people who use the spots without the placards really deserve a slashed tire.

  bucks36, Who made you God (are you in law enforcement?) to be able to judge if a person is handicaped and their situation to be parked there?
  
  Your life must be damn good if all that bothers you is where some alleged handicaped parked!!! (and you want to slash a handicaped persons tires)!!! Get a life or go check parking meters!!!
  
  Unbeliveable..........................
• FairwoodKing

  I had an incident today that caught my attention. I went to a store that had two handicap parking spots in front. One was already taken with a car lacking the placard or license plate. I parked (legally) in the other spot. I was really pissed and was going to tell off the person. But when he came out of the store, I couldn't believe it. He was one of the fattest men I have ever seen. The poor guy could hardly walk, and I still don't know how he fit in that car. He was bigger than it was!
  
  My anger changed to compassion and I kept my mouth shut.
• UA5straightin2008

  

  it pisses me off when you see morbidly obese people getting to park in a handicap spot...hell they should have to park as far away as possible so they can get some exercise in walking to the store, restaurant, etc
• sonofsam

  

  If I see someone questionable... I usually ask them in a nice way what kind of handicap they have and if I may be of assistance. Usually one of two things happens... They are very friendly and open with their handicap or they just look at you funny because you called them out and they are faking. At least it gives the fakers something to contemplate.
  
  There are three pet peeves I have with handicap placard users:
  
  1.) Like mentioned above... Mental problems do not affect your legs, park in a normal spot, there may be someone who needs it.
  2.) People that take them and keep them from their elderly relatives. Just because you take grandma to the doctor on thursdays, doesn't mean that you get to use it at Wal-Mart when your grocery shopping.
  3.) People with Fibromyalgia... Seriously, get a REAL handicap. If I complain about all my aches and pains to a doctor I could get that diagnoses too.