New to having a Handicap tag for car, have a question

[RweTHEREyet]

I was issued a temporary handicap tag for my car by my Dr. to use mainly for our trip to WDW. Herniated disk causes some walking issues.

Last night I was at my local Costco and I noticed that there are handicap spaces marked "van accessible". I am curious to know if those spots are limited to van use only and if a regular car would get a ticket if they used one of the spots. I certainly recognize that common courtesy would dictate to leave those spots for vans, but wondered if they were only for vans.

Not looking to start any debate, just curious about what the deal is. Maybe it varies state to state. I just don't know enough about the restrictions.

 

[Michigan]

No, but it would be nice if they just made all the spaces van accessible.

 

[minkydog]

I was issued a temporary handicap tag for my car by my Dr. to use mainly for our trip to WDW. Herniated disk causes some walking issues.

Last night I was at my local Costco and I noticed that there are handicap spaces marked "van accessible". I am curious to know if those spots are limited to van use only and if a regular car would get a ticket if they used one of the spots. I certainly recognize that common courtesy would dictate to leave those spots for vans, but wondered if they were only for vans.

Not looking to start any debate, just curious about what the deal is. Maybe it varies state to state. I just don't know enough about the restrictions.

I don't think they are restricted to vans only. We have a handicapped tag too. We try to leave the van spaces for others but sometimes we have no other choice

 

[tobikaye]

There are some locations near me that only have handicap spaces with "Van Accessible" on them. I think that it must be to show that that particular space has a specific clearance to allow lifts and ramps to be able to use those spaces.

I agree, I really would like more of the larger HC spots with clearance on both sides. If you have more than one person with disabilities that need to get extra space to get out of a vehicle, it makes it hard. Plus because there may not be a spot open with the extra room on the correct side, people pull over farther taking way the extra space.

 

[BillSears]

You can park there but you should park there last. As long as regular HC spaces are available you should park in those first out of courtesy to those who need the larger spaces.

 

[SueM in MN]

You can park there but you should park there last. As long as regular HC spaces are available you should park in those first out of courtesy to those who need the larger spaces.

A lot of times, we find all the van accessible spots are filled with cars. If there are any left to use, they are the car accessible spots. Those are pretty much useless for us because, by the time we put the ramp down, we have used almost the whole access space and don't have room for DD to get her wheelchair off the ramp. Those access areas look large, but really are not that large.

Personally, I would be happy if either all the spaces were van accessible or if they moved the van accessible ones to be the farthest away from the entrance of the handicapped parking spots.
I'm sure many people park in them just because they may be the closest - not thinking why they are larger.

 

[Michigan]

A lot of times, we find all the van accessible spots are filled with cars. If there are any left to use, they are the car accessible spots. Those are pretty much useless for us because, by the time we put the ramp down, we have used almost the whole access space and don't have room for DD to get her wheelchair off the ramp. Those access areas look large, but really are not that large.

Personally, I would be happy if either all the spaces were van accessible or if they moved the van accessible ones to be the farthest away from the entrance of the handicapped parking spots.
I'm sure many people park in them just because they may be the closest - not thinking why they are larger.

That's why we have a rear lift. I had a side lift once and that was enough for me.

 

[SueM in MN]

That's why we have a rear lift. I had a side lift once and that was enough for me.

We did look at and test drive one before we got our last van. The back ramp was nice, but the storage would not work well for our family for traveling to go see family in another state, which we do fairly often.

 

[cmesq61]

In my state they are not restricted to vans. I try to avoid them unless there is no other handicapped space available.

 

[SueM in MN]

In my state they are not restricted to vans. I try to avoid them unless there is no other handicapped space available.

The are not restricted anywhere that I have ever heard.
It's a courtesy notification - so people using vans with lifts know which spots will accommodate them and so other people will know those are the only spots someone with a van may be able to use.

 

[I Love Pluto]

You can park there but you should park there last. As long as regular HC spaces are available you should park in those first out of courtesy to those who need the larger spaces.

What he said...! Agree!