parking "abuse"?

[HappyCamperToo]

I came across this website on a freebie discussion board (because of the free post-its) and wanted to get some feedback. I'm conflicted about it, as a person who doesn't always "look" like I need to use accessible parking on my way into a store, but sure does "look" like it on the way out. Is it right for us to judge whether or not someone should use an accessible spot? Also, what if the person in need is being picked up and not there when being spotted? Yet, what if this does help reduce fraud?

Your thoughts?
Web link removed by Moderator
I do wish I had a post-it that I could put on cars w/o plates or hangtags reminding the driver that they forgot to display their tags.

 

[OneLittleSpark]

Why does the tone of that site worry me a little? They do seem to be setting themselves up as some sort of 'peaceful vigilantes'. Not that I'm saying the message behind it is wrong, there are people who park in disabled parking bays without a permit, and something should be done. I myself sometimes leave a polite little note informing the driver that their permit appears to have fallen off the dashboard. I'm just worried that some of the users of these might get 'assumptive', and start putting them on the cars of anyone with an invisible disability.

Ho-hum, well, I suppose at least some of the users of these will be responsible with them, and it is a good idea in principle.

EDIT: I just saw that they have a little reminder at the bottom of the page to be respectful, and that not all conditions are visible. At least they're doing their bit to keep their members in check.

Also, is it legal to display the number-plate of a car without the owner's permission? I know that on TV they always blur out the plates of passing traffic. Just a pondering of mine.

 

[SueM in MN]

I removed the links in the first post because Cheshire Figment and I are not comfortable with it being posted.
There are appropriate ways to deal with situations that seem like abuse.
One would be to call the police with the information.
Another would be to take down the same information as this website is collecting and contact the Department of Motor Vehicles or Transportation (whichever issues Handicapped Parking permits in that state).

I can think of a number of times when someone could have reported what appeared to be abuse when I was using DD's handicapped parking permit. Most of them were times when I dropped her off or picked her up. We need to park in the van accessible handicapped parking spots or we can't get her wheelchair out of the van. Since she can't be alone and would have needed me to bring her in or pick her up from the building, someone could easily see able-bodied me getting into or out of the van alone.

Also, we used to have handicapped plates on our van. I got used to not having to put out anything when I parked for her. After we no longer had them and only had a hangtag, I forgot a few times and could have been reported in that website.

I just think there are better ways than posting the times, dates, descriptions and numbers of alleged wrongdoers up on the internet.

 

[daipp]

This is a problem here in the UK and more than once I have left a note underneath the windscreen wiper of such a car stating -
"You have my space - would you like my disability?".

My wife has ME / CFS which means that like the OP, she may appear fine going into a shop but have difficuties by the time she comes out.

David

 

[Schmeck]

Here in Massachusetts it is illegal to put anything on anyone else's car in a public parking lot, and most private parking lots also have policies against it. Most towns have laws prohibiting this as well. So, while the person parking in a accessible spot without proper tags is breaking the law, so is the person tagging that vehicle.

You could also be in for a nasty confrontation - and if you are physically handicapped, you might not be able to defend yourself.

Just some things to think about before you tag a car, especially in Massachusetts.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I have three Sheriff's Department's (Orange, Osceola and Polk) and two Police Department's (Kissimmee and Orlando) non-emergency numbers in my cell phone. I do not go looking for it, but if I find any vehicle in a handcap parking space that does not have either HP plates or a hang tag I will call it in to report; in Florida it is a $250 fine.

I was once ticketed in Downtown Disney for parking in a handicap space without the tag showing. I talked to the Orange County Court office and they told me to send in the ticket with a photocopy of my hang tag and I would only have to pay $20 for failure to display instead of the $250 for illegal parking.

And once when I lived in Virginia I saw a car parked in the crosshatched area beteween two handicap spaces. I called the Fairfax County Police and by the time we came out of the store about 15 minutes later that car was being towed by a Police tow truck.

 

[MinnieVanMom]

I had parked at a very small airport but had to keep DS with me because of his ability. I was ticketed but followed up with a call and they dismissed the ticket because I had to have DS with me but still had to have the van parked to get him into it.

It is hard to be alone and find the perfect way to transport a challenged child.

 

[MisMikiNikiLynne]

I have three Sheriff's Department's (Orange, Osceola and Polk) and two Police Department's (Kissimmee and Orlando) non-emergency numbers in my cell phone. I do not go looking for it, but if I find any vehicle in a handcap parking space that does not have either HP plates or a hang tag I will call it in to report; in Florida it is a $250 fine.

I was once ticketed in Downtown Disney for parking in a handicap space without the tag showing. I talked to the Orange County Court office and they told me to send in the ticket with a photocopy of my hang tag and I would only have to pay $20 for failure to display instead of the $250 for illegal parking.

And once when I lived in Virginia I saw a car parked in the crosshatched area beteween two handicap spaces. I called the Fairfax County Police and by the time we came out of the store about 15 minutes later that car was being towed by a Police tow truck.

And once when I lived in Virginia I saw a car parked in the crosshatched area beteween two handicap spaces. I called the Fairfax County Police and by the time we came out of the store about 15 minutes later that car was being towed by a Police tow truck.
Oh! How I wish this were true where we live! This is always happening to me especially when we are parked at ___mart. Why can't these people think?

 

[MousekeMommy]

Hi folks!
A little off topic here, but this thread reminds me of my son's school. My "normal" child goes to the elementary school where my child with a heart problem will go next year. The district only transports to school in the AM and from school in the PM--so 1/2 day Kindergarten parents have to transport 1 way. Anyway, I have noticed that people continuously park in the fire lane (I understand this to be the "emergency lane") to drop off or pick up their child. I'm not talking about opening up the door and letting a kid out, although that's bad enough--I'm saying they park and walk their child in. Anyway, what is going through my mind is "hey, this is lunch recess time for all day students, where will the ambulance park if a kid (mine next year) falls on the playground and goes into heart failure? Or someone else's child has a food allergy at lunch?" There is plenty of other parking, people just don't want to walk the way I do!!! Anyway, should I wait to complain until next year when my "problem child" is enrolled to complain, or become a squeaky wheel now? I know the principal probably has duty inside and would be pressed to deal with this issue, but I think it's better to bring it to his attention than to contact the police??? And believe me, I will contact the police if nothing is done when it is my special needs kid inside the school building while the emergency lane is blocked 15 minutes -1 hour (all of the drop-off and pick-up times combined) every day! I know that not all people think the way that parents of children with special needs do (I'm not sure if they are thinking "it's only for a minute" or if they think "I'm special, so I can break the rules"), but perhaps they should think more like us?!?

 

[livndisney]

Hi folks!
A little off topic here, but this thread reminds me of my son's school. My "normal" child goes to the elementary school where my child with a heart problem will go next year. The district only transports to school in the AM and from school in the PM--so 1/2 day Kindergarten parents have to transport 1 way. Anyway, I have noticed that people continuously park in the fire lane (I understand this to be the "emergency lane") to drop off or pick up their child. I'm not talking about opening up the door and letting a kid out, although that's bad enough--I'm saying they park and walk their child in. Anyway, what is going through my mind is "hey, this is lunch recess time for all day students, where will the ambulance park if a kid (mine next year) falls on the playground and goes into heart failure? Or someone else's child has a food allergy at lunch?" There is plenty of other parking, people just don't want to walk the way I do!!! Anyway, should I wait to complain until next year when my "problem child" is enrolled to complain, or become a squeaky wheel now? I know the principal probably has duty inside and would be pressed to deal with this issue, but I think it's better to bring it to his attention than to contact the police??? And believe me, I will contact the police if nothing is done when it is my special needs kid inside the school building while the emergency lane is blocked 15 minutes -1 hour (all of the drop-off and pick-up times combined) every day! I know that not all people think the way that parents of children with special needs do (I'm not sure if they are thinking "it's only for a minute" or if they think "I'm special, so I can break the rules"), but perhaps they should think more like us?!?

I worked at a school where this was an issue. Every morning, noon and dismissal either I or the custodian would walk out and "rope" off the entrance/exit. We had 4 of the yellow "Children at Play" signs. Two at each exit/extrance with yellow police tape in between. It only tooks us a few seconds to set up, but did not impeed an emergency vehicle. But it did stop parents from parking in front of the school. The first day it was set up, I think some parents thought I was kidding.... until they saw me out writing down plate numbers

 

[merryweather20]

They had a hidden camera video at ABCnews website. I wasn't surprised to see that most people did nothing. Though what I found funny is the ABCnews people thought nothing of taking up (what appeared to be) the only accessible spot for hours on end with their filming.

Around me alot of the accessible spots are regular sized but are placed on an end. Often couriers or UPS trucks (but never Fedex ), or people just running in for 5 minutes will park on the end and block whomever in the accessible spot from getting into their car. The one time I called the cops on someone, it was because I recognized the car, as belonging to a woman who was flooringly rude to me the day before. The officer took 1/2 hour to show up but when I showed him the problem (she was blocking me in and parked in part of the spot without a hang tag, among other things) the officer wrote her $400 worth of tickets, and he pulled my car out for me.

After what Mouskemommy wrote I was thinking of my local elementary school, they have the same problem, but literally no parking. I'm not sure what the solution would be there But in those situations every second counts.

As a side note my brother drives an ambulance. Him and his partner were returning to the "bus" which was parked in a fire lane, with their patient, when a senior citizen approached them and said "you're not a fire truck you know". He was so surprised he just said "um I think it'll be okay".

 

[OneLittleSpark]

Hi folks!
A little off topic here, but this thread reminds me of my son's school. My "normal" child goes to the elementary school where my child with a heart problem will go next year. The district only transports to school in the AM and from school in the PM--so 1/2 day Kindergarten parents have to transport 1 way. Anyway, I have noticed that people continuously park in the fire lane (I understand this to be the "emergency lane") to drop off or pick up their child. I'm not talking about opening up the door and letting a kid out, although that's bad enough--I'm saying they park and walk their child in. Anyway, what is going through my mind is "hey, this is lunch recess time for all day students, where will the ambulance park if a kid (mine next year) falls on the playground and goes into heart failure? Or someone else's child has a food allergy at lunch?" There is plenty of other parking, people just don't want to walk the way I do!!! Anyway, should I wait to complain until next year when my "problem child" is enrolled to complain, or become a squeaky wheel now? I know the principal probably has duty inside and would be pressed to deal with this issue, but I think it's better to bring it to his attention than to contact the police??? And believe me, I will contact the police if nothing is done when it is my special needs kid inside the school building while the emergency lane is blocked 15 minutes -1 hour (all of the drop-off and pick-up times combined) every day! I know that not all people think the way that parents of children with special needs do (I'm not sure if they are thinking "it's only for a minute" or if they think "I'm special, so I can break the rules"), but perhaps they should think more like us?!?

Bearing in mind that I have no personal experience in this area, I will offer my advice and you and take it or not as you see fit. I would suggest you bring this up now, partly so that the problem is hopefully sorted by the time your 4 year old is there, but also to make it safer for the kids who are already there. It would be awful if a child had an accident or was taken ill and the emergency vehicles couldn't get straight to them.

It's likely that the school don't even know this happens, so bringing it to their attention now might be all that is needed. I think most parents would stop parking there if a simple note was sent home by the school, explaining exactly why they shouldn't park there, and what action the school will take against cars illegally parked in future. Then after that they can catch the persistent offenders and, if necessary, phone the police.

Good luck and I hope the school works with you to get this sorted out nice and quickly!

 

[ecki]

I got a hang tag for my daughter. She has Down syndrome and autism, can't walk more than 200 feet and when she does manage to walk without doing the ol' stop-flop-drop she has no concept of danger and runs into the street. She's almost 4, but looks like she's 2 and I'm sure people wonder WHY we are in the disabled parking space. I guess they figure I should just CARRY her from the back of the parking lot. I did end up putting Down syndrome and Autism awareness magnets on the back of the car so people know that YES we do have a disability! I have to say that it's been a great help. I felt weird using it at first, but now that she's getting heavy and squirmy I'm glad it's available.

Oddly enough, she goes to preschool at an Easter Seals and there are only two handicapped parking spaces there and they are almost always taken! The school actually told us to park in the fire lane or even double park during pick up/drop off!

 

[RACHELSMOM1]

I use Rachel's hangtag all the time. I learned a long time ago that she should have anything that will make her life easier. This is definitely in that category. I am not self conscious a bit about it, but this confidence was a long
time coming. Now I know that advocating for my beautiful daughter is my job.