Handicapped Parking Abuse

[Honeibee]

I had ACL replacement surgery on August 27, and since then I have been walking around in this big knee immobilizer cast. It's hard to walk in because it makes you limp since you can't bend your knee. And it's very very tiresome.

My surgeon suggested I get a temporary handicapped parking permit. Like a dope, I said no, I can manage. I work at a large IBM site (3500+ people) so we have HUGE parking lots. Well, after about a week of walking back and forth and back and forth to my car, I went and got a temporary permit.

In front of my building we have about 12 handicapped parking spots. Three of those are designated for vans with lifts only (because we do have a couple of those here). There are about eight other HC spots right in front of the building. The rest are in the first row, which is a little bit of a walk but not too far.

The HC spots in front of the building, including the van spots, are always filled.

Now, I'm not complaining for myself because I am not crippled or ill or in any real pain. I always park in the first row spots anyway. But I know there are people who really need to park close to the building.

Here's the thing that is really annoying me....I know for a fact that several of the women who park there are doing so with HC permits that are not theirs. I know this because they work for my peer manager and she has told me that they BRAG about using their husbands permits (One is a widower, one's husband has retired, I don't know the others stories.)

I'm thinking about calling the police dept. (They are supposed to periodically check our parking lot.) I wonder if they would do anything. How would I prove it? Would it do any good?

 

[jel0511]

I have to agree with you. I had a second stroke last month and now have a temp handicapped tag and can almost NEVER find parking. I'm also young (35) and can walk if I have to, but I'm still a little unsteady so being closer is easier for me.

 

[Rollwithit]

Always look for the good in a situation...be thankful your temporary tags are just that.

 

[barkley]

on private property the police will only site if the bldg. manager or owner contacts them. then it's pretty hard to do if the perpatrator is not at the car at that time.

a company i worked for settled this matter by issuing a memo that instructed all employees who had a valid handicapped placard that they used in the company parking lot had to register with administration (they used the excuse that they needed to be advised in the event the employees would need special assistance during evacuations, and in the event emergecy vehicals needed access to the area they could contact the drivers to move thier cars)-we suddenly saw a dramatic drop in the cases of inappropriate usage

 

[Cindy's Mom]

my SIL uses her deceased mothers tag (the one that hangs of the visor) it drives me CRAZY as she is not handicapped at all, Just extremely overweight....

 

[barkley]

even if the original "owner" of the placard was deemed perm, disabled by the dmv, the tags do have to be reissued every 2 or 3 years. a call to the dmv to advise that the "owner" has passed will result in the non reissuance of the tags on the next go round.

jel0511-hang in there, i had 2 strokes over the course of 5 months at age 41 (2 1/2 years ago), with several t.i.a.'s preceding. i hope you are doing well-it's def. a life altering event. my thoughts are with you.

 

[phorsenuf]

my SIL uses her deceased mothers tag (the one that hangs of the visor) it drives me CRAZY as she is not handicapped at all, Just extremely overweight....

If you know this to be true, then contact DMV and let them know. Every tag has an identifying number on it. Call, give them the number and let them know the person it was issued to is deceased and the tag is still being used by a family member. I would imagine they would then contact the family.

Also, in our state, NH, DMV codes your license with a handicapped symbol so I would imagine its in their computer system as well. I found this out when I got my new license and I saw the little symbol in the corner. (yes, I have a tag).

Calling the police dept. probably won't do any good since they just look for a valid tag. They aren't going to call people out of the building to verify.

I do like the idea of having people people register it with the company. Perhaps you could mention that.

It bothers me when tags are abused because its so hard to find spaces as it is!

 

[Pat]

"a company i worked for settled this matter by issuing a memo that instructed all employees who had a valid handicapped placard that they used in the company parking lot had to register with administration (they used the excuse that they needed to be advised in the event the employees would need special assistance during evacuations, and in the event emergecy vehicals needed access to the area they could contact the drivers to move thier cars)-we suddenly saw a dramatic drop in the cases of inappropriate usage."

I think this is an excellent idea.

My state does have handicap license plates if you wish to have them. I have a placard because I am not always in my own vehicle. Sometimes the driver will let me off near the door and then park in a nonhandicap spot.

 

[Ava83]

I work for IBM also, go to the site manager and have them get a note out.

 

[Lachesis00]

I love this idea!!

Good luck! Alaska doesn't keep very good records. They use to keep them hand written in a notebook! Last time I got a 5 year pass (so I could travel-- I have plates on my car) the gal asked if I wanted 2 or 3!! I said 2 (I have both of them. I do not share).

My Uncle uses my deceased Aunt's permit. He is 40% disabled as deemed by the military... not enough for his own. My mom has plates but for a long time she some how got "temp" (5 year) hangy dealie. My sister had a paper pass... (the hangy dealies). WHY I don't know. She was just plain lazy.

My old work was THE worst!! This guy had a truck that sat at least 10' off the ground (one of those monster trucks, you HAD no choice but to jump out of it...). And jump he and his g/f did.... every day. Watching them climb in was amusing tho. Tell me, if you can JUMP out of a truck that high... no wonder you need a pass. My legs/knees would hurt so bad!!



LOVE this idea!!

Also, in our state, NH, DMV codes your license with a handicapped symbol so I would imagine its in their computer system as well. I found this out when I got my new license and I saw the little symbol in the corner. (yes, I have a tag).

 

[winniedapooh]

We have one of those in my office. She uses her husband's placard because she does not want to walk through our 50 space parking lot with high heels on. Little does she know here in MA it is my understanding that if she gets caught he will lose his placard. There are also huge fines for that as well. People that abuse like this make me sick!

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

I have my Mom's placard in my car because I often drive her to her appointments and such but I would never use it without her with me. I am thankful that I am healthy enough to not need it and besides, I can always use the exercise from walking from a regular parking space into the store.

 

[Honeibee]

Well, on the way out to my physical therapy appointment I spoke to the Front Desk Security Guard. His reaction was "Yea, I know. It's terrible, isn't it?". I asked him if there wasn't something that could be done. He said "Not really".

Well, I know someone high up on the food chain in Operations. HE will care. I think I'll give him a call.

Hey Ava83......

Rollwithit...Don't you worry. I am DAMN glad to be healthy. I count my blessings every day. And I know this is only temporary.

Barkley...Since we have been recently certified for the ADA Act the police monitor the HC parking here.


Thanks everyone!

 

[Annam26]

This issue drives me crazy!

I need to use a handicapped parking spot permanently, and finding a place is always a hassle.

From my experience, I'd say that the 98% of the abuse is commited by whealthy women (nice car$ and clothe$) I always say to myself when I see them, "They must be Drs wives"

The worst is when I have an appointment at the hospital. I often drive around over an hour trying to find a spot wide enough for my wheelchair. The shocking part is that once when I was trying to find a place when a shift ended, I saw an entire row of cars in the handicapped spots being taken by nurses! (yes, they wew all abled-bodied, patient-care nurses.).

I think about this problem often and I can't find a way out. There's a fine for parking there without a permit, but it seems that getting the permit is a very easy thing to do.

Meanwhile, I have to ad at least an hour to anything I want to do to factor the time I'll need to find a place.

It's so frustrating to find empty places in parking lots and not being able to park there!

 

[minkydog]

Handicapped parking abuse always gets my blood boiling. We have two hang tags, one for DS10 and one for DH. I wouldn't think of using their tags to score some handicapped parking. I often use a handicapped spot because it makes getting DS10 out of the car soooo much easier--he's a big boy, >100lbs, and he isn't able to help much due to severe autism/mental retardation. Having that larger space keeps him safe and gives me room to work with him.

But I do have to say, remember that some disabilities are not readily apparent. DH48 looks perfect & fit--you'd never know he has stage 3 CHF & a stage 4 lung condition which makes it hard for him to walk long distances. I try to not assume too much when i see someone hop out of their car parked in a handicapped space. Karma is all around us.

 

[Honeibee]

MinkyDog - I wouldn't assume either. But these women are PROUD of what they are doing. They brag about it.

Disgusting.