Handicap Placard Abuse?

31 August 2009 7 Comments

I wouldn’t normally call someone out for parking in a handicapped space who doesn’t look handicapped, because you can’t always tell what is going on with someone just from looking.

However, in this particular case, I am almost certain it’s an instance of someone abusing the system by hanging up a placard anytime they want their own personal parking spot.

About a week ago, this sports car showed up in the handicapped space of my apartment building:

I’ve seen the driver a few times. He neither lives nor works in the building this lot is next to. I believe he is a resident of the “affordable housing” building across the street, which has its own lot. (It irritates me that cars like this always seem to belong to people who need government assistance for housing — get your priorities straight! Though that’s a matter of discussion for another time.)

The driver seems to be an able bodied young man, and this weekend I saw him and his friend get in the car and drive away after walking at a normal pace and with no apparent difficulties from a couple of blocks away.

Meanwhile a person who lives in my building who legitimately needs this spot has been forced to park elsewhere the past week.

If I’m wrong about this person, then I’m sorry. But in this case, I really do not think I am.

7 Comments »

meesha.v said:

there was an episode of Penn and Teller BS where they read the legislation and it said that you qualify if you have hard time counting money.So this guy is qualified. I am not making this up either.

# 31 August 2009 at 11:05 am

Tyson said:

Report them.

# 31 August 2009 at 11:24 am

Ken said:

Perhaps he’s psychotic, like Joe Piscopo’s character in “Johnny Dangerously”.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9c_awug8EeA#t=1m29s

Love that scene.

—Ken

# 31 August 2009 at 11:28 am

P said:

Meesha v.’s comment is inaccurate. If this car had no hangtag andno handicap plates, and was parked in an accessible place, the driver is violating the law and should be reported. Call the police AND the City’s ADA Coordinator. All cities have them–as do large businesses, universities, etc.

# 31 August 2009 at 7:57 pm

jack said:

turn them into the police. im have a disability and so does my wife and we need more people to start turning these people in. maybe once the police starts to write tickets they might think twice about taking a handicapped parking spot.

# 1 September 2009 at 6:50 am

GB, RN said:

After my reconstructive knee surgery, the doc gave me a temp card to use (good for only 90 days) because I was completely non-weight bearing on that leg for 3 months, gimping around on crutches. It was then that I noticed how few handicap spaces there were, and how many people abuse them. I lost track at how many times I was tempted to brain someone with my crutches because they parked illegally.

Assholes.

# 1 September 2009 at 11:33 am

TAW said:

This is a complicated issue. Many people obtain a sticker from their doctors for even a trivial disability. Others may have a disability that is not discernible, ie; shortness of breath, bi-pass surgery, arthritis, etc. There may be another member of the family who is handicapped. However, they should know that the sticker is for the individual, not the vehicle. Then, there are those, of whom I have often remarked to my wife, as having a hangnail on the little finger of their left hand which prevents them from using their brain and parking in a legitimate parking space.
Nevertheless, if they do not have the proper identification on the vehicle, by all means, report them.

# 5 October 2009 at 2:50 pm