Handicap parking - quick question

[kaytieeldr]

Meeting with some executives at work today, and I just need to know - the same laws apply on private property, right? State-issued HP authorization is required to be able to park in the designated spaces?

I almost turned around and went home yesterday. We have about eight HP spaces, and usually I'm the only one (legitimately) using one. With winter and snow, people 'forget' and park in one or two occasionally - but yesterday one of our buildings had visitors and I was LUCKY to get a space. They were all taken except, coincidentally, the one I usually use emptied just as I arrived.

Thanks!

 

[bidnow5]

Yes the Flea Market we are set up in has 12 handicap spaces and for some reason people don't care I had to park way out in the lot the other day. As I approached the entrance there were some police arresting a girl for shop lifting and they noticed the problem when I got in the building they were announcing that if you are parked in a handicap space without a placard you have 15 minutes to move or you will be ticketed after that they kept checking and making people move

 

[Mary976]

My understanding is that as long as they are actual spaces (and not just marked "reserved for so and so company" or something), then the law applies.

Mary

 

[SueM in MN]

Yes - most handicapped parking spots are actually on private property when you think of all the spots at parking malls and businesses.

 

[arminnie]

I imagine it varies by state or local ordinance on how rigorously they enforce the hc parking regs.

When I lived in Northern California they were very, very hard on violators. They would ticket someone at a shopping center in the middle of the night with everything around closed.

At my apartment complex there were two HC spots by the rental office. One of my friends parked there one night (very, very late so office was closed). It was a long walk to any apartment. She got a $350 ticket, and this was years ago.

She honestly did not know it was HC spot as there was no signage except for the blue marking on the pavement which she did not see in the dark. There should have been something on a pole. She was horrified that she had parked in a HC spot (and by the amount of the fine). She did manage to get it reduced, and the apartment put up appropriate signs.

My later father had a HC tag. I tried not to use it when I was driving unless he was in such bad shape that I could not leave him alone while I parked. But I often found that all of the places were full with people who were there legally. As the boomers age there are more people with needs than spaces available.

But I would probably so be calling somebody to report blatant abuse. It's just wrong.