Stupid idea or great idea about handicapped parking?

[bcvdreamer]

I take my handicapped dad (in a wheelchair) to speech therapy, which is located in a business park with all offices. They don't have one handicapped parking space in the whole lot. It doesn't make sense, I know.

I park in the middle of two spaces and put up the placard. I've been doing this for at least 5 years, and no one has complained. I figure I'm only there for 45 min. twice a month, so it's not a big deal. If someone would complain, I know what I'm doing is out of necessity, not laziness or rudeness.

 

[monkey68]

I just don't think you would save much time by going home and coming back, so that plan honestly seems a bit illogical. You may also want to check the law in your state, for some reason, your plan seems like it might be illegal in some places, leaving your car in a HC spot without the person in the car.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

It's 25 minutes to insure that your child gets what they need. Seriously? Bring a book. I can't believe anyone would consider driving up an hour early to park their car and then walk home. It seems like that would waste as much time. You said your dd has to get out of the halls 15 minutes early so in reality you are only waiting 10 minutes. If you didn't have other kids you would be leaving after 10 minutes when your dd gets out. I understand you need a bigger spot but it is only a few minutes.

 

[Skywalker]

I don't think your idea is stupid OR great. I think it is just selfish.

I have seen complaints on cruise boards about "chair hogs"...people that get up at 6:00 am and throw a towel or book on a prime lounge chair near the pool, then go back to bed/breakfast, whatever and show up later to claim their "reserved" spot. To heck with anyone else who'd like to have a nice spot. (Most people seem to agree it is okay to take these people's stuff and remove it and go ahead and use the chairs. Guess you wouldn't have to worry about that with your car, lol). Anyway, that is the attitude that you seem to have.

I don't envy you having to deal with this, but you are trying to "hog" a spot away from other with disabilities issues too so it does not sound very noble to me.

 

[cocodog]

That's an interesting idea ) I think I would contact the school (and then maybe the district if school does not help) and ask about designating more spaces as handicapped. That is very unfortunate that non are available when you need them.

So I am trying to decide if this is really stupid or smart- what I just did.

At my kids' elementary school, there are only 5 handicapped parking spots. My daughter is in a wheelchair, and I really NEED one of those spots because they are wider and otherwise, if I get someone parked close to me in a normal parking spot it may be physically impossible to get her in the car. In the afternoons before school lets out, those parking spots are all gone at least 15 minutes before dismissal. There appears to be quite a few people who have a placard, and not saying their issues are not as important as mine..ok, maybe I am. Don't hate me, I just need that wide spot.

Anyway..it was getting old getting there at least 25 minutes early before the other people get there to make sure I have a spot. That's 2.5 hours a week I am just chilling in the parking lot. I COULD go back to that if I need to, but I just had a brilliant idea- I live within walking distance of the school (as an able bodied person), how about going over and parking my car about an hour early, then go home till dismissal?

But I did feel kind of like an idiot putting up my daughter's handicapped placard in my car and then walking out of the school parking lot. But I really feel that as a wheelchair family, we really need a spot. Again, I could go back to getting there 25 minutes early if it's going to cause a huge backlash, it's just an extreme waste of my time.

Soooo..what do you think? Great idea or stupid idea? I suppose I could get a ticket for misuse of a placard? But I would love to go to court to explain my story, and the car technically does not leave the parking lot without my handicapped daughter, and I am only there an extra 40 minutes or so.

Midday, the spots are usually empty, it's not like I am taking a spot from someone else, it's just a battle to get a spot for end-of-day pickup.

Thoughts?

 

[snarlingcoyote]

I wish that they would do away with handicapped parking spots for all except those in wheelchairs and/or who have specialized vans and need the extra space.

How did oversized handicapped spots morph into spots for anyone who can scam a doctor?

Can you explain to me why they exist at a mall?

My mother, prior to replacing both her knees, was quite unable to walk very far or very fast and what walking she did was painful and unsteady. She had a handicapped plate. And yes, she did go to the store on occasion. She parked in front of the store she wanted to visit, got out her crutches and hobbled into the store, then found ways and places to sit.

But she did not have a wheelchair.

Without those plates, she would've never gone anywhere - the distance in a parking lot was just about double what she walked in the little clothing stores she likes to visit, or the restaurants she frequents, or the church she attends.

I think she had every bit as much right to use the handicapped spots as someone in a wheelchair.

 

[dispor]

I did not read through all the responses, so sorry if this had already been mentioned...

At our school, the parking lot is empty within 5 minutes of school letting out. If I were you, I would ask them to dismiss my daughter 5-10 minutes LATE.

I really think there should be a special parking permit for people who NEED the "van accessible" spaces.

 

[kaytieeldr]

The point I am trying to make is handicapped spots should be for people who need the extra width and have wheelchairs. They are the ones who truly need the spots because of the extra width.

Sorry, I don't understand the mentality of "I can walk around a mall/grocery store, or wherever, but it's too much for me to walk from my car to the entrance because it's too far..."

Respectfully, 'being in a wheelchair and needing the extra width [of a handicap parking space] are, fortunately, not the only criteria for being eligible for a placard/plate - despite what individuals think the restrictions should be.

It's not a matter of (or really, anyone's right to judge) being able to walk around the mall but from one's car to the entrance is too far.

People not personally affected erroneously think HP spaces are the "best" ones, or the ones closest to the door, or whatever. Wrong. The entire purpose - the determining factor - of HP space placement is to get the eligible person out of the flow of [vehicular] traffic as quickly and safely as possible. Often, but not always, these spaces are most efficiently placed in close proximity to the building entrance.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I just don't think you would save much time by going home and coming back, so that plan honestly seems a bit illogical. You may also want to check the law in your state, for some reason, your plan seems like it might be illegal in some places, leaving your car in a HC spot without the person in the car.

Yeah, this. In fact, I checked - according to the Virginia DMV site, under Violations and Penalties: "it's unlawful to: park in a space designated for the disabled unless you are transporting the person to whom the disabled placard or plates have been issued. A conviction of this offense could result in fines of up to $500 and/or the revocation of your disabled parking privileges, requiring you to surrender your placard or plates. " http://www.dmv.state.va.us/webdoc/citizen/disability/rights.asp
Now, the complete laws might be even more restrictive. I know in Massachusetts, transporting the person isn't sufficient. The placard/plate holder must be entering or exiting (or both) the vehicle in order for its use to be valid.
So the OP can arrive twenty-five minutes early and wait for her daughter, but she can't arrive earlier and leave the car and walk home. Too, there might be an issue with her remaining parked in the handicap space once her daughter is in the vehicle, while she waits the extra twenty minutes for her other children.

eta: the person being transported can be the driver IF the driver is the person to whom the plate/placard is issued AND they will be getting out of the vehicle while parked in that location.

 

[ajk912]

Yeah, this. In fact, I checked - according to the Virginia DMV site, under Violations and Penalties: "it's unlawful to: park in a space designated for the disabled unless you are transporting the person to whom the disabled placard or plates have been issued. A conviction of this offense could result in fines of up to $500 and/or the revocation of your disabled parking privileges, requiring you to surrender your placard or plates. " http://www.dmv.state.va.us/webdoc/citizen/disability/rights.asp
Now, the complete laws might be even more restrictive. I know in Massachusetts, transporting the person isn't sufficient. The placard/plate holder must be entering or exiting (or both) the vehicle in order for its use to be valid.
So the OP can arrive twenty-five minutes early and wait for her daughter, but she can't arrive earlier and leave the car and walk home. Too, there might be an issue with her remaining parked in the handicap space once her daughter is in the vehicle, while she waits the extra twenty minutes for her other children.

eta: the person being transported can be the driver IF the driver is the person to whom the plate/placard is issued AND they will be getting out of the vehicle while parked in that location.

Actually, I am still interpreting the law the same way. The placard is in the car, and I am parking the car and putting the placard up, and when the car leaves the parking lot the disabled person will be in it. The placard is in my daughter's name, the vehicle transports her. Whether I am twiddling my thumbs inside the car, inside the school, or 1/4 mile away at home DISing doesn't make a bit of difference for those 25 minutes.

The car is in the parking spot for about an hour at most. That's not an unreasonable time length, I doubt I am breaking any laws, considering the 100% purpose and the only reason I am doing this is to transport HER to school.

I am sure when they are talking about abuse they would be talking about if the handicapped wasn't there period, and I was using the placard to get a close spot at the mall, or like a few pages ago..people were doing it to get out of paying fees. It's only up when it's to get my daughter where she needs to go.

 

[Katy Belle]

My father is uses a wheelchair and can barely stand high enough to pivot and get in a car. We NEED a wide hadicapped space and if you park far away in the parking lot it usually is next to impossible to push the chair due to gravel, or bad pavement or something. I really had no idea how diffiicult it was until I walked in those shoes. Add in my mother who needs a cane and getting them both in the car can be a challenge.

I wish there were spaces specified for wheelchairs. They are a special case. I understand that others who can walk do still have a serious need for a close parking space, but the issue of space isn't as big a deal.

I personally don't have a problem with your plan. If the school doesn't like it you will hear about it.

Another idea would be to get there 30 minutes early every day and volunteer those 30 minutes! You could do cut and paste stuff, or perhaps read with kids, or put books back on the shelves in the library, etc. etc. etc. Do that 3 days a week and sit in your car and read the other 2.

Definitely tell the school more spaces are needed!
Katy

 

[daughtersrus]

I'm jumping in very late and have not read all of the responses so please excuse me if this has already been asked.

Does the handicapped person in the others cars leave or enter their vehicle?

The reason that I ask is because we had this situation at our local school. The "car pick-up" line is HORRIBLE. There were many cars parked in handicapped spots that are close to the doors and the person picking up the child was the one that is handicapped. Although they had the proper tag/license plate, since that person never left the vehicle, they were parking illegally.

There were days when I had to go into the school to get a big project or something else so I would need to bring my DD (she goes to a different school) with. DD uses a wheelchair and we have HC license plates but I couldn't get a spot.

I talked to the principal at the school and she agreed with me that since they disabled person was never leaving the vehicle, there was no reason for them to park there and that they should be waiting in the "pick-up" line like everyone else.

She went out and explained it to the adults (mostly grandparents picking up their grand-kids) and said that from now on, they had to get in the pick-up line unless they (the disabled person) were coming into the school building. Standing outside of the car wouldn't count as "leaving the vehicle.".

You could always add transportation to and from school to your DD's IEP/504. The school district would then have to send a bus to pick her up at bring her home from school. We do this from my DD as we do not have a ramp in our van and on bad weather days, her wheelchair seat would be soaked by the time I got her out of the van and into the car.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

My solution is to go later. I refuse to waste my time worrying about getting there early.

In fact I can get there as it is letting out and the people have vacated the spots in which I can easily park/pick up and go.

I do not have to use handicap, but even if I did I would still do this rather than wait around for ungodly amounts of time in a parking lot.

I am just wondering if that is an option?

I would certainly talk with the principal first to explain your issue and perhaps you can come up with a suitable arrangement.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

You could always add transportation to and from school to your DD's IEP/504. The school district would then have to send a bus to pick her up at bring her home from school. We do this from my DD as we do not have a ramp in our van and on bad weather days, her wheelchair seat would be soaked by the time I got her out of the van and into the car.

I'm not familiar with the laws--but OP had posted that her wheelchair is not compliant for use on a school bus. I don't know what that means though.

 

[Mickey Fliers]

Here is another suggestion....

We had a boy at our school that is having his leg lengthened. Over the years, he has had a wheelchair, walker, immobilizer, etc. We have a designated parking that frequently gets used by able bodied parents during the pick up process. No matter how many times the school asked these parents not to park there, they did anyway claiming "I don't understand. I don't speak English" (which is actually quite possible, but not the point).

Anyway, the school admin finally placed orange cones in that spot each afternoon so this child's mom could pick him up without hassle. Do you think you could approach your school admin and ask for the spot to be "reserved" in the afternoon's while your daughter is in the wheelchair? It can't hurt to ask.

Good luck!

 

[mefordis]

You are complaining about waiting for 25 mins to pick up your daughter? In my daughter's school that is commonplace for everyone to wait about 25 mins because of lack of parking for everyone.

Not right, in my opinion, to take a parking spot and walk away for an hour. I would say suck it up and wait the 25 mins and be happy you can get a spot and ONLY wait that long.

Use the time to your advantage -- bring an audio book to listen to, or read a book, or pay some bills. I like the time I wait for my daughter because I like listening to audiobooks and podcasts in the car.

So I am trying to decide if this is really stupid or smart- what I just did.

At my kids' elementary school, there are only 5 handicapped parking spots. My daughter is in a wheelchair, and I really NEED one of those spots because they are wider and otherwise, if I get someone parked close to me in a normal parking spot it may be physically impossible to get her in the car. In the afternoons before school lets out, those parking spots are all gone at least 15 minutes before dismissal. There appears to be quite a few people who have a placard, and not saying their issues are not as important as mine..ok, maybe I am. Don't hate me, I just need that wide spot.

Anyway..it was getting old getting there at least 25 minutes early before the other people get there to make sure I have a spot. That's 2.5 hours a week I am just chilling in the parking lot. I COULD go back to that if I need to, but I just had a brilliant idea- I live within walking distance of the school (as an able bodied person), how about going over and parking my car about an hour early, then go home till dismissal?

But I did feel kind of like an idiot putting up my daughter's handicapped placard in my car and then walking out of the school parking lot. But I really feel that as a wheelchair family, we really need a spot. Again, I could go back to getting there 25 minutes early if it's going to cause a huge backlash, it's just an extreme waste of my time.

Soooo..what do you think? Great idea or stupid idea? I suppose I could get a ticket for misuse of a placard? But I would love to go to court to explain my story, and the car technically does not leave the parking lot without my handicapped daughter, and I am only there an extra 40 minutes or so.

Midday, the spots are usually empty, it's not like I am taking a spot from someone else, it's just a battle to get a spot for end-of-day pickup.

Thoughts?

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Or also, if you have police that are working in unison with your district you can call and ask them to help you with the situation.

We have police on premises so anyone not complying with the law gets a warning and then a ticket.

 

[ajk912]

I'm jumping in very late and have not read all of the responses so please excuse me if this has already been asked.

Does the handicapped person in the others cars leave or enter their vehicle?

The reason that I ask is because we had this situation at our local school. The "car pick-up" line is HORRIBLE. There were many cars parked in handicapped spots that are close to the doors and the person picking up the child was the one that is handicapped. Although they had the proper tag/license plate, since that person never left the vehicle, they were parking illegally.

There were days when I had to go into the school to get a big project or something else so I would need to bring my DD (she goes to a different school) with. DD uses a wheelchair and we have HC license plates but I couldn't get a spot.

I talked to the principal at the school and she agreed with me that since they disabled person was never leaving the vehicle, there was no reason for them to park there and that they should be waiting in the "pick-up" line like everyone else.

She went out and explained it to the adults (mostly grandparents picking up their grand-kids) and said that from now on, they had to get in the pick-up line unless they (the disabled person) were coming into the school building. Standing outside of the car wouldn't count as "leaving the vehicle.".

You could always add transportation to and from school to your DD's IEP/504. The school district would then have to send a bus to pick her up at bring her home from school. We do this from my DD as we do not have a ramp in our van and on bad weather days, her wheelchair seat would be soaked by the time I got her out of the van and into the car.

My daughter is ineligible for school tranportation right now, so I do have to pick her up. The wheelchair the insurance company will pay for is not bus compliant, so she can't ride the HC busses. Considering all the medical bills we will have, I don't want to pay OOP for a better wheelchair. The school provides bus service to 99% of students, so it's not like anyone HAS to pick up their kid- the bus is free to use and goes everywhere within the school district. There are a lot of people who choose to pick up their kids, though!

At the school, even the parent pickup kids have to be signed out at the office. So if the HC person is the driver they do have to get out of the car to sign out the kids. And then in our case, even when I get my other kids I do have to get my HC daughter out of the car to sign out her siblings (we just stay in the school, no point to leave for a few minutes, but hypothetically) because it's against the law I believe to leave an 8 year old alone in the car. Or at least I don't feel comfortable doing it! The carpool line is only in the mornings, in the afternoon there is no carpool line.

 

[ajk912]

Here is another suggestion....

We had a boy at our school that is having his leg lengthened. Over the years, he has had a wheelchair, walker, immobilizer, etc. We have a designated parking that frequently gets used by able bodied parents during the pick up process. No matter how many times the school asked these parents not to park there, they did anyway claiming "I don't understand. I don't speak English" (which is actually quite possible, but not the point).

Anyway, the school admin finally placed orange cones in that spot each afternoon so this child's mom could pick him up without hassle. Do you think you could approach your school admin and ask for the spot to be "reserved" in the afternoon's while your daughter is in the wheelchair? It can't hurt to ask.

Good luck!

I have thought about this and I am willing to bet the school would do this if I went to them and told them the problem. They have been SO accomodating and wonderful through all this, I love them. But, considering how people here are saying I am being selfish and entitled and comments like.."oh, you want your daughter to be made fun of because of your actions" because I am taking my car over to school early to secure a parking spot, I don't even want to think about the tongue wagging that would happen if I had a designated parking spot!

I'm not familiar with the laws--but OP had posted that her wheelchair is not compliant for use on a school bus. I don't know what that means though.

Something about the metal and the straps? When the PT called me and told me I asked if it was an easy, cheap fix. She said no, she would need a whole new wheelchair. Yeah, I am sure the insurance company would be jumping to pay that bill.

The last post I multiquoted disappeared, but I have only parked the car over early once. Yesterday was the first day I did it. Yes, I could just sit in the car and read for 25 minutes but it would be nice to not have to leave my house till 3:20 instead of 2:55 or 3pm (if I would park the car over early). And I am not really sure what I will do in the future, I am just defending my actions from yesterday and planning ahead.

And yes, I may think about bumping up my volunteering at the school. Currently I am in limboland and feeling pretty overwhelmed with everything, but I know that will calm down in time. For example tomorrow..it will be our first day back in church, I am a Sunday school teacher and I have needed a sub for my class for the last 3 weeks because I haven't been able to make it (DH works on Sundays). But, if we can make it to school, we can make it to church I think!!! I am just taking it day by day! It's definitely a huge reality check when your 8 year old goes from running and jumping and playing to breaking her femur in dance class and will need emergency surgery, a 4 day hospital stay, and a wheelchair for 6-8 months. I know people deal with horrible disabilities, and I am thankful we don't have it worse.

Oh, and for those who said they would just get there late: The school has only asked two things of me, so of course I will do them! They asked that I get there at 3:25 (before the official dismissal) and to physically walk her to and from her class each day. Neither is a problem, if that's what they want me to do, ok.

 

[Jennasis]

Ummm..yeah, I don't trust the locks on the wheelchair that much with my child. All I need is for her to bump the locks off, (or goofing around, as kids do) or some other person speeding around the elementary school parking lot (we have ALL seen that!) and I would be in the car and she would be alone on the street. She's 8, I can't think of many parents who would be comfortable leaving their 8 year old alone next to the car while they are moving it. That is a HUGE HUGE HUGE safety risk on SO many levels.

Your grandfather in law is an adult, I am talking about a child.

My grandfather is completely senile and paralyzed on one complete side of his body. You could have your daughter wait on the sidewalk...At 8 years old she should be able to comprehend "do not move from this spot".

Geez, all this fuss over a frickin' parking spot. So, what you are saying...with all the ideas offered, your 25 minutes of wasted time is more important than your daughter? I imagine you think even the very thought is offensive.

Suck it up, wait the 25 minutes extra and get on with it!