In the area I work downtown, people with handicapped tags are allowed to park on the streets next to parking meters without paying. Every car parked on the streets in the area has a handicapped tag hanging from the rear view mirror and every person I see getting out of these cars walks just fine and has nothing wrong with them that I can tell. So, as I was walking to work I saw a woman getting out of her car, smoking a cigarette. She was about 40 maybe. I stopped and watched a minute and then she started walking from her car and I spoke to her and said "You don't look very handicapped." She went on to tell me to mind my own business and that I don't know anything about her. It probably wasn't nice of me but I cussed her out as she walked away without any impairment at all. After I got to work I got a piece of paper and made a sign that says "This person is NOT handicapped" and went back and put it under her windshield wiper for all to see.
I can't really just get mad at that women because it appears like everyone who parks in that area is "in on it". Interestingly, all of the people who park there work in the municipal buildings.
I don't feel very good about cussing out an unsuspecting woman just trying to go to work but it irritates me that there are people who actually need those parking spaces who will not get them due to a corrupted system. I don't know how these people are getting these handicapped tags but it is obvious that law enforcement doesn't care. In fact, the people who work with them are the ones abusing the privilege.
Anyway, just wanted to vent.
Maybe she thinks since she smokes she is handicapp. UGH. I can't stand those kind of people either. My mom was in a real bad car accident 20 plus years ago she was in the hospital for 9 months She has one leg shorter then the other her past surgery was a few years back. She is handicap and I just shake my head on some people they walk out car just fine. It really makes me mad where fat people rolls out of the car, and they have no handicap sticker or noting. They probably think they just they are fat they are handicap. I can't stand people that abuses them. I just wish they will know what being handicapp really is. Then maybe they won't abuse them.
Good for you for telling her off.
It's not always possible to tell a person's handicap by looking at them or even watching them. However, protecting 100% against false accusations invites 100% abuse rates. IMO people who don't "look" handicapped should be damned well prepared to justify their use of the handicapped spaces. If they are indeed handicapped they should appreciate citizens watching out for THEIR rights. Someone who tells you to "mind your own business" is IMO likely not handicapped. If they are handicapped, then they are not only handicapped but rather dim.
(03-18-2010 09:34 PM)Tenmile Wrote: [ -> ]It's not always possible to tell a person's handicap by looking at them or even watching them. However, protecting 100% against false accusations invites 100% abuse rates. IMO people who don't "look" handicapped should be damned well prepared to justify their use of the handicapped spaces. If they are indeed handicapped they should appreciate citizens watching out for THEIR rights. Someone who tells you to "mind your own business" is IMO likely not handicapped. If they are handicapped, then they are not only handicapped but rather dim.
Point taken. I agree
You should have handicapped her friggin gas tank with some sugar and sand.
(03-18-2010 09:34 PM)Tenmile Wrote: [ -> ]It's not always possible to tell a person's handicap by looking at them or even watching them. However, protecting 100% against false accusations invites 100% abuse rates. IMO people who don't "look" handicapped should be damned well prepared to justify their use of the handicapped spaces. If they are indeed handicapped they should appreciate citizens watching out for THEIR rights. Someone who tells you to "mind your own business" is IMO likely not handicapped. If they are handicapped, then they are not only handicapped but rather dim.
That's baloney. Handicap designations are issued by licensed physicians. If a physician feels that a person's handicap warrants the issue of special parking privileges, what gives you the right, or anyone else for that matter, to question it? If I were handicapped and some hothead who was pissed because I got a closer parking space than he did, demanded that i justify my handicap status to him, I'd tell him to eat feces and go to hell! This in no way would validate or nullify my handicap status and I'm astounded that you believe the manner in which a person reacts to an invasion of their privacy, is evidence of the validity of their claim.
That reminds me, one of my friends told me she was picking up her handicapped mom downtown and apparently, she was cursed by someone as she went in to bring mom back to the car. She was using her mom's handicapped sticker so that her poor mother (who has to use a walker) wouldn't have to walk all the way out to one of the regular parking spots.
^^ Some truth in that but way too many people with no apparent impediment (other than morbid fatasses) running around with free parking. Once that tag is in the fambly, anyone can use it with little chance of repercussions.
this reminds me of being with my old college roommate. we were at a grocery store and he and I were walking to his truck. an old guy made a similar statement to my old roommate who is 6 foot 4 and 42 years old. instead of telling the old fart it was none of his fricking business, my buddy dropped his britches in the parking lot to show his double hip replacement scars. if the lady had a handicapped sign you should be grateful it wasn't you. you had anger issues today.
Whenever I have driven anyone with a handicap sticker/hang tag I am keenly ware that I could be approached with skepticism. BUT I am always happily willing to say to anyone who questions that I am driving/picking up whomever. Usually I will drop my family member or friend at the door, go park in a regular spot and proceed.
Sure it is no one else's business but a quick polite answer makes everyone's day better.
I hate the fakers too. And if Gramma ain't in the car i am likely to cast an evil eye.
(03-18-2010 10:41 PM)fourcorners Wrote: [ -> ] (03-18-2010 09:34 PM)Tenmile Wrote: [ -> ]It's not always possible to tell a person's handicap by looking at them or even watching them. However, protecting 100% against false accusations invites 100% abuse rates. IMO people who don't "look" handicapped should be damned well prepared to justify their use of the handicapped spaces. If they are indeed handicapped they should appreciate citizens watching out for THEIR rights. Someone who tells you to "mind your own business" is IMO likely not handicapped. If they are handicapped, then they are not only handicapped but rather dim.
That's baloney. Handicap designations are issued by licensed physicians. If a physician feels that a person's handicap warrants the issue of special parking privileges, what gives you the right, or anyone else for that matter, to question it? If I were handicapped and some hothead who was pissed because I got a closer parking space than he did, demanded that i justify my handicap status to him, I'd tell him to eat feces and go to hell! This in no way would validate or nullify my handicap status and I'm astounded that you believe the manner in which a person reacts to an invasion of their privacy, is evidence of the validity of their claim.
You are confusing the validity of the sticker with the validity of the person's use of it. Handicap tags/stickers are not transferable.
There are a huge number of people who don't seem to understand this. If they are driving grandma's car with the handicapped plates or tags they think they have a "right" to park in a handicap spot even if grandma died last week.
Too many people equate right and wrong with what they can get away with. Your attitude only reinforces that misbehavior. Citizen vigilance is not a bad thing. People who abuse the entire purpose of reserving handicapped spaces deserve to be publicly embarrassed. People with the courage to speak out should be applauded.
If you have managed to get a handicap sticker on some "valid" medical technicality but don't really need the convenience then you have no right to go lording it over the rest of us like "I got mine jack and screw you." You deserve to be looked down upon like the little weasel you are.
If you have a valid handicap sticker and really do need the convenience of parking close to stores even though your handicap is not visible and obvious (and there are handicaps that fit that bill) then you should very much appreciate vigilant citizens making sure that YOUR handicapped space is not occupied by some teenager driving grandma's car or some cynical bastard who weaseled a handicapped sticker out of a physician with eqaully no ethics.
And if you are too dim to recognize this, then you can say "eat feces and go to hell" all you want because that sort of response is all we should expect from you.
26 years ago I had just gotten married and enrolled at Appalachian for the summer session and Fall semester. Boy surprised us by arriving in the womb a bit before we had planned. Appalachian officials insisted that I get a parking pass and ASU issued Handicap hang tag. That tag gave me permission to park ANYWHERE on campus - regular, handicapped, faculty only, you name it. We lived a very comfortable walking distance from campus. Best I can remember I only took advantage of it a handful of times - when it was pouring rain. And then I parked in a regular space.
It's all about honesty and ethics. Some folks don't know what those are.
The only time I have ever parked in a handicapped space was once at the mall. I had to go to the bathroom really bad, and knew that I couldn't make it if I had to walk from a regular spot. I parked, ran in fast as I could, did what I needed to do, and came out and moved my car. I was willing to risk the ticket or the abuse in order to avoid much more serious problems.
(03-18-2010 10:41 PM)fourcorners Wrote: [ -> ] (03-18-2010 09:34 PM)Tenmile Wrote: [ -> ]It's not always possible to tell a person's handicap by looking at them or even watching them. However, protecting 100% against false accusations invites 100% abuse rates. IMO people who don't "look" handicapped should be damned well prepared to justify their use of the handicapped spaces. If they are indeed handicapped they should appreciate citizens watching out for THEIR rights. Someone who tells you to "mind your own business" is IMO likely not handicapped. If they are handicapped, then they are not only handicapped but rather dim.
That's baloney. Handicap designations are issued by licensed physicians. If a physician feels that a person's handicap warrants the issue of special parking privileges, what gives you the right, or anyone else for that matter, to question it? If I were handicapped and some hothead who was pissed because I got a closer parking space than he did, demanded that i justify my handicap status to him, I'd tell him to eat feces and go to hell! This in no way would validate or nullify my handicap status and I'm astounded that you believe the manner in which a person reacts to an invasion of their privacy, is evidence of the validity of their claim.
Fred acknowledges that licensed physicians issue the handicap designations. However Fred notes that many states do not require an expiration date (or the designation of "unlimited") to be printed on the handicap car tag. Therefore Fred would have been able to use the handicap tag he was issued when he broke his leg years ago well after the cast & subsequent walking boot were no longer in use & he was totally healed.
FWIW Fred was a vigilante once upon a time when 2 perfectly healthy-looking people got out of a sports car parked in a handicapped space. Upon hearing Fred's derisive "yeah, looking real handicapped today" comment, one of them snarled, "He has a heart condition." Fred then snapped back, "It must not be too serious if your doc didn't give you a windshield tag or handicapped license tag" and proceeded to continue walking into the store.
At the local Food Lion, all the close spots are reserved for either the handicapped, or for "Parents with children".
The latter kind of reserved space grates on me a bit. Breeders (both genders) already get away with murder in the workplace and out in public. I'll park in those spaces and not feel bad. Petty of me, but then I am a small, small man.
-Will
In Germany they commonly reserve spaces for women (and transvestites).
"E=MC2 RAISIN' A LITTLE HELL ON A THURSDAY MO'NIN'!!!"
Go ahead on MAN!!!!
My favorite golf course has handicap parking. This makes me think.
I am so tempted by those "with children" parking spaces at Harris-Teeter! I have 2 children, 2 step children, a daughter in law, a 12 yr old Boston, 2 feral cats, 4 grand Doggies and a grand cat. Don't tell me I ain't got chil'rens!
(03-19-2010 06:41 PM)Terp7475 Wrote: [ -> ]My favorite golf course has handicap parking. This makes me think.
A friend of my wife was married to a real loser. He had a bad back and was disabled. Hadn't worked in 15 years. He had every "fix your back gadget" ever made. I met him when he was assigned to my team in a captain and crew golf tournament. Is there anything harder on your back than a golf swing?
I should start a webpage with photos and license plate numbers of these people standing beside their handicapped cars. I am sure I could get 3 or 4 pictures a day by just showing up around 7:00am every morning and waiting around 10 minutes.
That would dovetail nicely with the people of Wal-Mart website