pet peeve

[lisajl]

hello all

We here in Ohio have expectant mom parking spaces.
I do not begrudge these women a spot up close. You know ladies, those last couple months are pretty hard, and anything to help a pregnant woman is okay with me.

The handicapped spaces are for just that. People with handicaps.

There are plenty of people who could really use those placards but for some reason don't get them.
Then I see teenagers, people my age and some older folks with no placard or special sticker use those spots.

My kids always say something about it.
But, you are right, we don't always "see" a handicap.
I am trying to make sure my kids know that.

What really irritates me is people who can hardly walk or look over the dashboard driving down a 35 mile/hour road going 5 mph. But, that is another debate.

Lisajl

 

[Planogirl]

I see nothing wrong with the Expectant Mothers/Mothers with Infants spaces. I never used one because I didn't need it but I know of some ladies who had a very rough time and I don't begrudge them a little shorter walk to a store. It's usually only a few spaces so it hardly amounts to much of a difference IMO.

I have an aunt who has a handicap tag and who walks just fine at first when she gets out of her car. Her problem is that she can't make it very far or walk for very long distances because her knees are so bad. Maybe because of my experience with her difficulties, I always assume that people who don't have obvious physical limitations have something that is harder to see.

 

[Saffron]

Steve -- nothing I said was directed towards you. They were all statements made, in general, in response to posts on the thread. Sometimes people don't realize why people have the placards, just as you didn't realize that it was illegal to drive with the placard hanging from your mirror.

Here's another thing you might not know about the placards. Temporary placards are issed as well as permanent ones. People who have their cars registered in two names can not have a permanent plate issued to the car, they must have a hang tag or placard. The placard is not issued to a vehicle, it is issued to a person. Anyone caught using someone else's hang tag may be in big trouble and the person who owns the hang tag is in risk of loosing the privlege.

 

[A kid at heart]

Unless you know these people personally and know for a fact that they do not have a medical reason to use the handicap parking spot.

The point I was trying to make was that if you saw me park in it and then get out of my car, but saw no physical handicap that required a walker, cane, crutches or wheelchair, then how do you know I really need it? You don't, but you can't always assume that the person using it doesn't need it for some reason.

I will agree that there are those out there that abuse the system,and for those that take grannie with them and leave her in the car while parked in a handicapped spot isn't right either.

And when you posted this post, you have to expect those of us that actually have a reason for using will post on it regarding our use of it.

 

[Pooh Girl 71]

my pet peeve? the word handicapped. The correct usage would be person with a disability. I work with people with all types of disabilities and many people do not "look like they have a disability".

My mom has severe arthritis and needs a temp placard every now and again. She looks fine to the average person.

 

[DocRafiki]

I do have a problem with someone who can afford to spend 3-4 months out of the year in Florida trying to beat the system, claiming they are "elderly and on a fixed income". My response is that their income must be fixed pretty high to be able to winter in Florida,

OOh I'll have to remember that one the next time these snowbirds try to get something for free because they "can't afford it" due to their "fixed income."

 

[emmagata]

Originally posted by CRB#33
I agree.

A friend of mine is still using the tags from her now deceased husband. She is absolutely fine. Drives me nuts. Sometimes I notice that the ederly are just thinking that they are "owed" something.

I think it might be time for that tag to become "lost".

 

[CarlaKay]

In Houston they are tightening up, but it's still a joke. No one minds if your really handicapped, and yes many handicaps are not obvious. Most adults can figure it out. I'm just grateful that I can walk far enough not to need a hang tag.

Of course, there was the guy who parked his pick up in the expectant mother spot--I said loudly to my kids--"hey, look, there's a medical miracle" and pointed at the sign. I hope it embarassed him just a little. It drives me crazy when healthy people just can't be bothered to walk a little farther.

 

[disneyispi]

I'll play nice too.

Please be careful about those people who you deem as "not" handicapped even though they have HP tags. A dear friend of mine has HP license plates and she is a young woman 35. I have been with her and she has been yelled at, accosted, and people have demanded she explain her handicap to them. She wishes she was not handicapped. She has a respiratory illness that inhibits her ability to get full breaths - on top of this she has heat and exercise induced asthma. An older man went up to her face and started yelli ng that she should be ashamed of herself (I was with her) - he made her cry. I told him what her HP was and he didn't apologize, he just walked off. She says she is tired of having to explain. She and her doctor had to validate to the DMV, that should be enough. I know she is still defensive, so maybe, before anyone thinks about "calling someone out", think twice. Please...for my friends sake. Thanks.

 

[shortbun]

No time to worry about policing the
handicap spots here. I assume that
many disabilities are not instantly visable
or kept in check by shorter walks and
less time on one's feet. I don't park in
accessible spaces nor pregnant mom/infant
spaces. I know lots of people who could
and should get stickers that don't have them.

 

[mhopset]

I know there are people out there who abuse the system. Heck those type of people will abuse anything.

It is just that I get so frustrated about my disease, and then to hear about disability parking. ( I know it wasn't directed toward me), but you have to understand... People with disabilities are under the watchful eye of the public at all times. You don't think I hear those stupid comments people make about me when I am on the scooter. "Man, I wish I had one of those", "bet that guy is making out staying at home and letting his old lady keep him", "You need one of those Marge, look how fast you can go", "oh, great they are loading a wheelchair we will be here all night"

Now, think about it. What if I would make a racial comment people would be on my back in a heartbeat.

Ok maybe I was on my soapbox, (and I will contiune to be), but I just think there are more important things to comment about and worry about.

I know the post was not directed towards the people who need the parking space. (I know I am rambling too)

Like so many posters have said, all diseases are not visible. Sometimes I wish mine wasn't.

Ok I am going to stop becasue now I'm not even making sense to myself
T.

 

[becka]

I have to agree with everyone else that parking in a handicapped space if you are not handicapped (obvious or not) is just plain wrong. It really ticks me off to know that people do this and have no problems with it.

My FIL uses my MIL's tag when he is out without her. He is perfectly capable of walking but I guess he figures it will save him some time so he doesn't care. I really wish I could just chew him out but since I have never been out with him at the time he has done it I have never said anything. However, if we go out with DS and my FIL pulls that stunt you had better believe that I will be pointing out to my DS how wrong it is to do such a thing.

We also have expectant mother spaces although I have never seen infant spaces. I have used them a few times when I was in the last few months of my pregnancy but until I was visibly pregnant and feeling quite uncomfortable I never used them because I felt that I didn't need to. There are about 4 of those spots at our local Wal-Mart and they are always being used most of the time by women with flat stomachs wearing halter tops....if those women are pregnant they can't be more than 2 days pregnant.