someone reported me for my disabled parking permit

[GardeniaGirl]

Today I was grocery shopping and when I came out, the parking enforcement car was parked directly behind my car. I was in the handicapped spot.

I put my groceries in and got into the car and the guy came up to my car.

He asked for my permit card and license.

He looked shocked when it all matched up. He said, "well, i saw you just waltzing out of the store with your groceries,"

and I said, "You can't tell by looking at someone!"

he said something about catching tons of people using their "grandma's placard".

I don't fault him for doing his job and I am glad they enforce it, but I am certain that someone called them about me based on the fact that I do not appear disabled.

I also did not care for his comment about me "waltzing out of the store"

It was such a great feeling to hand him my card.

In the 3+ years I have had my permit, this is the first time this has happened to me.

[Tbackpain1]

I really hope that while he was inquiring about your HP status, you were inquiring for his badge number and his superior officers contact information. If not, call the PD you were in at the time and ask who the parking enforcement officer was for the area you were in and then go from there if you want to make a complaint about his commentary on your disability status.

I've had a couple of run-ins with the local parking enforecement people and while I understand they are doing their job, I resent being questioned about my disability status. My doctor feels I need an HP plaquard, I have the papers in order when you ask for them, what business is it of yours, "what's wrong with you? I saw you walking." I've had some sharp words for the superior officers.

Arrgh! Some people's complete ignorance makes me sooo angry.

Theresa

[Bobbi]

I also keep the "paperwork" with my placard as DMV requests; I've never been asked for it, but I will shove it... uhmm, I mean show it if asked.

[Mark N]

I like the fact they are checking the handicapped parking places. but his comment was out of line.

[Sara1979]

Wow, that was incredibly rude of him. I wish people could understand just because you may not physically be showing a disability doesn't mean you are not disabled.

[JAVISI]

GardaniaGirl,
I am nnot sure where you are from but in Nebraska, You get a card to place around the mirror. I have heard people comments and it is hurtful! I have good days and bad days. My lungs and diaphram work at only half of their normal capasity. You can't see that. I look good initially but by the time I return to my car I am shoet of breath and my ataxia is much worde. People should not judge! especially law enforcement!

I am so sorry that this happened to you!

Dreaming Big and Reaching for the Stars, Javisi

[Pharmacist.steve]

More often than I would like .. I see people that "appear" to be using "grandma's handicap tags" to park in handicap parking spaces... when they get out of their car and RUN across the parking lot or walk at a fast pace ... the only conclusion is that they must have a MENTAL handicap.... Congenitally Narcissistic

[Mark N]

Steve, I have seen this apparent behavior too but I hope it is just something I can't see and they do truly have a disability. I see the same thing with motorized cart users in stores but I understand they may have an easy time walking into the store and have a problem with longer walking time other than just being out of shape. It is hard to see disabilities and we just have to trust that people won't abuse the advantages although we all know some will abuse them.

[Gimpy]

actually, as long as you had the proper paperwork, it's illegal to even inquire about your disability. It all alls under HEPA, and as an "officer of the law" :cool: he should already know that. It won't do any good at all to report him, it will only be your word against his. Who ya gonna' think they'll believe?

I had a friend (key word there is HAD), who was furious when she bought a mercedes from a friend whose father had passed away. When he had the car he was "truelly" handicap and had permanent plates on the vehicle. Normally plates transfer with the vehicle in Texas, so she thought she was getting that handicap plate. I could not have been more please to hear her complain about the fact that everyone else gets to keep the original plates but they wouldn't let her. Now if you're wondering if she was handicap, only in her arrogance and superioraliaty complex that made her brain so big it must of hindered her perception of reality. What a witch she was, I mean still is although I haven't spoken to her in well over a year.

g

[Bobbi]

Here's a woman I could really get along with quite nicely:

As people get nastier, she gets kinder (http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/youandme/story/121047.html)
Dedicated volunteer helps enforce disabled parking law
ROB TUCKER; The News Tribune
Published: July 29th, 2007 01:00 AM


I betcha if she had approached GG that she would not have made such a statement about "waltzing."

[GardeniaGirl]

I can only assume that the sarcastic comment the parking enforcer made to me stems from his frustration with finding so many people who abuse the system.

I do look exceptionally healthy- so I do look like I could be using someone else's placard.

The enforcer should not have made the rude comment to me, though.

I am thankful I had my ID card in my wallet.

I recently changed wallets and its possible I could have forgotten that particular card. I am glad that on the one day I did need it- I had it.

I also did not care for the shocked look on his face that I was actually registered.

Maybe there are more people who abuse these spots than I realized.

[houghchrst]

I see a lot of young people driving big beautiful expensive cars and parking in the handicap and you know they are using the parent's car. Near me I have stopped going to a couple of stores in particular because they don't monitor the handicap parking spots and it is kind of a free for all. Sometimes as I am going in my pain may be minor but you can bet that by the time I am coming out I am usually in agony and would dread the thought of having to walk a long distance to my car.

[Kira]

Even those people who appear to be able to walk just fine may still have a very legitimate reason to need a disabled permit.

Some of us do not have the same level of disability every day... it fluctuates a LOT... and some of it depends on how much else we have done that day.

For instance, if I were going shopping and walked all of the way from the far corner of the lot into the store, walked around the store with the cart, and then walked all of the way back to my car at the far corner of the lot, that would use up my energy allotment for the day. But if I was able to park closer, use a scooter in the store, and then walk to the close parking spot again when I was done, I would use far less of my precious energy and be able to do other stuff still when I am done. My muscle tone/strength, pain, and total body's energy level is very much affected by how much exertion I have to do, so these little things to cut down on expended energy are very important to me.

There are many people with other disabilities and perhaps more common illnesses... like MS, for example... who are in a similar situation. If we are doing things to take care of our health, conserving our energy, etc... then we don't look that sick and may be able to walk fairly normally. But as soon as we find ourselves having to expend extra energy, our functional status goes in the toilet.

[Kira]

I wanted to add that I do NOT have a disability permit currently, but have been very strongly considering applying for one.

This is another topic, but I have had several conversations with different doctors over the past couple of weeks about how they all think I should stop working/going to school and be on disability. They keep bringing it up. I know that they are probably right but I can't bring myself to do it quite yet because of all of the identity issues tied up in working & going to school, etc.

[Bobbi]

Christina, when I was in my early 20s, I had a fully-loaded Buick Park Avenue. People treated me differently, and I felt different, too, whenever I drove that tank; I felt as if I was driving grandma's car. I got rid of it.

I'd like to know where parking enforcement is, too, when needed. I was at the doctors a few weeks ago, and Blue S** (I omitted the name) taxi was parked in the lone disabled space available. (The other disabled spaces were in-use.)

It took me forever to find a different space and I was p'd by the time I got into the doctor's office. My doc knew something wasn't right and said: "You look like you need a few mins. to catch your breath." I told her about the cab. So, she grabbed and pen and paper and... she went outside with me. She looked for a disabled plate or placard and, not seeing either, took down the taxi's number, along with the plate number, etc. She called the cab company and complained :D. I know that I could have reported it but... by the time an officer would have arrived, the cab likely would have been gone and there could have been an emergency elsewhere.


GG, I could understand the enforcer making the remark if it had turned out that someone was abusing the placard/space. But you weren't. It's just rude. For that, there is no excuse. The person could have taken a wait-n-see stance.

As others have noted: There are also people with "hidden" disabilities that need the spaces.

A few weeks ago, while in Sausalito (major tourist "spot"), most parking available was in pay-lots. I know that having the placard made the total difference in whether I was able to visit the city and enjoy aspects of it - thanks to no-pay parking at meters and unlimited parking in green zones.

For some strange reason, though, my friend didn't feel comfortable and refused to park my car in a green zone. When I asked why, the response: "How will you feel if you find a boot on your car when we come back?" Uhhh, I would think that an enforcement officer is aware of the law and ... would be able to see the placard. Duh. But no matter what I said, and I even offered my friend the DMV paper (that states where parking is okay with the disabled plate/placard), my friend refused to park in green zones.

[Pike]

Wal-Mart go-carts …

I just love them in the large stores, I can read labels and go down every isle … caution is needed or we could hurt someone … anyway I do not hurt so bad that I must leave the store with a cart full of groceries.

I have had handicapped plates for about 10 years, when I need a spot I use one but if I am having a good day and few are available I try to leave the spots for those who need them more … if there is a large excess of handicapped spaces I use one need it or not as it frees up the regular spaces that are closer to the store.

I have never been officially questioned, not sure how I would react … I have heard people say things but they shut up when I get out and walk then few have any questions.

My big issue is at the YMCA after school when parents use all of the spaces to pickup their children from their program, you would think they would know better.

My plates have the handicapped sign on them so I do not need to worry about a tag or other plaque being stolen.

No complaints just a few comments.

Pike

[Digikitty]

when we use my newly turned 38 yr old husbands handicapped card. he looks healthy, robust guy, but his cardiac condition is horrid.when I am with him, say like @ walmart, people give us the nastiest looks. yes, Im sure alot of people use their grandma's card, but there are people everyday, who appear healthy but aren't..Looks can be decieving!
to make a point how "bad" he is, he was approved for SS in 47 days, first try...

[BrokenBladder]

GG I'm glad to see that it's being enforced, however that comment was way out of line.
I also have a handicap parking permit and I know what it's like to have people look at me like I stole it. It's a terrible feeling to have people think like that when they know nothing about our physical conditions.

[ErinENj]

I have the same issue. I get those looks, and I'm sure you all know the ones I'm talking about. The "why does she think she can park there? Why does she deserve a handicap spot?" looks, the looks of disgust like I'm committing some horrific crime.

I only use my handi-pass when absolutely neccessary. Like at the grocery store. I never can tell by the parking lot outside if it's going to be nuts inside or not, so I need to be prepared to be stuck in line for awhile and in case I have a hard time getting back out to my car. People for some reason don't associate my sweating with my pain, probably because I'm not exactly skinny, so there's no outside signs of me being in pain, except the look on my face but only people who know me know what that face means. But if I know I'm going to be right in and out of somewhere, I'll park in a regular spot. Or if I do have to park in a handicap spot, I always make sure that I take one that is as far away as possible. I refuse to take the last one, or park in a closer spot because I know there are people out there who are more disabled than I am, and I don't want to put anyone out if they absolutely need a handicap spot in order to be able to go into the store, etc. I parked in the last handicap spot at a restaurant on Tuesday because I was having a really rotten day and my back was reflecting every speck of it, and becaue my mom refused to let me park elsewhere. But I hated it. I kept asking her to let me out of the booth we were sitting in so that I could go move my car whenever I saw a spot open up.

As per usual with CP, a few people who take advantage, fake things for a temp pass, or take someone else's, ruin it for the rest of us. I applaud that parking enforcement person for actually checking, but it would have been more appropriate if he was checking everyone, and if he didn't make blatantly irresponsible statements about the state of your disability. I can't believe anyone would be that stupid. They've had hours of sensitivity training as all cops have and should know a lot better than that. That's the kind of stuff that happens and ends up costing the town or deparment millions in discrimination lawsuits. And I think I'd feel fantastic too when I showed him the little card New Jersey gives you that proves you're allowed to have the permanent handi-pass and are the rightful owner of it. There's just such a sense of satisfaction of showing someone like that up, and I'd really hope that whoever reported you was watching as you shoved his ignorance right back up his nose. I'd love to see that person's face. And I'd hope that they felt a little bit bad or like an idiot for assuming something. After all, when you assume, you make an as$ out of u and me. :p

PS: Oh, and I forgot about those people who are waiting for someone who is inside the store and park in the handicap spot because they are too lazy to park in a spot barely 5 feet further away from the door than the handicap spot, even though they don't even have to walk those 5 feet to the spot. All they have to do it put it in reverse and try not to kill a pedestrian when backing up. I've seen times when they've taken the last handicap spot, the one right next to the door, when an older man pulls up and is forced to park 6 spots away from the door. Keep in mind, this older gentleman, when he got out of the car, was one of those people you see get out of the car and are barely able to walk, gather the strength to close his car door, or push the door open to get into the store. So you know that he really needed that handicap spot. It was slightly scary that a gentleman in such poor physical health and such a deteriorated physical state was still on the road (my fears were strengthened when I realized that his car was still running, in an area where if you left a penny on your front seat, someone would be more than happy to break your window for it so I was betting his car was going to be stolen. So I turned his car off and brought him the keys, and he actually asked me where I had found them, and when I told him that his car had been left running, he practically accused me of trying to steal it because he could never have left his car running and didn't remember that he did. I have no problem with older people driving, but when they can't remember that they left their car running, and can barely walk, I get greatly concerned about his ablity to drive), and I did most definately try to get back to my car as quick as possible so I wouldn't have to worry about being on the road with him. But this little old man had to go through the pain and anquish of parking far away from the door, all because this lazy idiot had to take the last spot just to wait for whoever was in the store.

Also, I saw this moron one day park across the three handicap spots in front of my pharmacy. There are three sizeable spots out front, and this person pulled in perpendicular to them (like a +with the spots vertically and his car going horizontally) parked, went into the store, and started having a fit because he had to wait a minute at the pharmacy counter because I was in front of him and was purchasing 3 items. Not even big items, a box of bandaids, neosporin, and benadryl gel (I got eaten alive last weekend at my friend's house. My feet were torn apart by the mosquitos, so I've been bandaging them with the bandaid tough strips, the best bandaids they make, with tons of benadryl and some neosporin to prevent infection. They've turned purple, which is slightly concerning, but I don't have to wear any open-toed shoes anytime soon, so I should be able to hide it pretty well.). He didn't have a handicap pass. I asked. The response I got can't be posted on here. The language would get me in some serious trouble. Unbelievable! I just can't get over how some people think they are so much better than anyone else that they can do whatever they want, and that if someone has a problem with them, they can take a flying leap. There's more I'd like to say here, but I have a big thing going on tomorrow and must get to bed. But these people drive me nuts!!

[illusion129]

It's never easy OR nice dealing with someone who believes you do not "deserve" a handicap placard or parking spot. I can't tell you how many times people have either given me nasty looks or actually have said something to the extent of "Aren't you a little young to be disabled?" or "What do YOU need that for?" :mad:

21 years old and I already have a disabled person's parking placard. In Kentucky, the county clerk's office gives you a paper that states your name, address, etc. on it along with showing it's "paperwork" for owning your handicapp placard.

It comes on a paper that they issue titles on, so it's not a decent size, but something that must be folded up and kept in your glovebox for whenver you must present proof of ownership (of the placard). It would be nice if it were on an ID type card, since then you could carry it in your wallet and not worry about having the paperwork every time you switch vehicles (I either drive my car, which the placard is registered for, or my mom's SUV - for when we go grocery shopping).

Never been questioned by any authorities over whether or not my placard is legitimate although I'm sure it will happen down the road sooner or later...

I'm like most of you, if I'm having a good day I don't use a handicap spot...just a regular one that's close to the store. However, if there are no regular spots close to the store entrance yet there is a handicapp spot, I always take it because I have a lot of trouble walking distances; usually about 200 yards (with a cane) before I need to sit.

I know there are definitely people out there in worse shape than I'm in so whenever possible I try to reserve the special spots for those particular people. Nothing bothers me more than seeing someone abuse/misuse a parking placard.

What annoys me even more - people who take up a handicap spot yet have NO handicap tags nor their handicap placard hanging from their rearview or sitting on their dash. For all anyone knows, they don't even have a placard if they're not displaying it! OR when the store employees that are older and/or handicapped take up over 1/2 the reserved spots in the parking lot for themselves. Not that employees can't be handicapped, but I do believe that the stores public parking handicap spots should be reserved for patrons/customers and let the handicapped workers have their own little "lot" of disabled person's parking spots.

I know there are several people who don't outwardly seem disabeld yet their mental capacity is affected or they just -look- "healthy". Doesn't mean one isn't disabled though and anyone that questions whether or not we deserve handicap status is none of their business! Exactly what I would have told the law enforecment @$$ who thought he could downgrade your disability status. Shame on him!

Just my two cents worth...

[Gimpy]

There are many reasons for needing a handicap placard. When I get out of the car sometimes I am fine. But I get tired easily and in pain by the time I'm done and still need to get to the car. What about people with MS? They appear fine in the early stages, but they can take a turn for the worse at any time. And if it's raining or dark, I am very afraid for my safety. I would not be able to run or do anything else for my defense. I feel the reserved parking spots are better lit and actually safer. So, while I may not be carrying an oxygen take or in a wheel chair, I couldn't help myself if I had to. And that, is a handicap too, in my opinion.

I think this like so many other things in life, is something that unless you have been in the situation of needing a placard, you can't possibly understand why someone who is 24 and looks physically fit would need such a thing. You never truelly understand until the shoe is on the other foot. Sadly though, if you only had one foot it would be something that everyone would understand.

Gimpy

[houghchrst]

I hope I haven't offended anyone by saying about the young people in the big old cars taking up the handicap spots. I am well aware that there are many people who you can't tell are disabled by looking at them no matter their age. I was speaking of the teenagers in my area who hook up with their friends and have their stereos blasting in daddy's caddy and park in the handicap because they take advantage of the placard and all jump out and run into the store for whatever. I didn't want to offend anyone and felt the need to explain myself. If I have offended anyone I am sorry.

[Bobbi]

Christina, I hope that you don't think I was offended. I was agreeing with you. :)

[celtic]

I couldn't believe the one day at RiteAid when I saw a women get out of a handicap accessible van in a handicap space, leaving a teen aged boy who was wheal chair bound in the back who appeared to have fairly significant developmental disabilities. I gave her the benefit of the doubt, thinking maybe she as running in to pick up some sort of medicine for him...but then again, they have a drive through pharmacy and there were numerous empty spots right next to the handicap spot. Nope- she wasn't getting medicine, not even anything over the counter- she just spent 15 minutes or so picking out hair dye all well he was stuck in his wheel chair in a closed van on a fairly warm evening. I saw her a few minutes later parked in the handicap spot at the pizza place running in to get her pizza & pick up some videos. If I hadn't had such a migraine that night, I would have confronted her in the RiteAid or at least reported her to the police for both misuse of handicap parking permit & child endangerment.