Handicap paking.

[IAMICHABOD]

Not wanting to Hijack another thread.

I have a question, about Handicap camp sites.

On a past camping trip I made reservation at a private camp ground,Thursday thru Sunday.

Upon arriving I was assigned a spot,when I found it, it was a Handicap space complete with signage and the large painted graphic on the paved site. I am not disabled and I thought it strange but checking back with the office they said that it was OK.

I am not asking about the morality of this but the legal part under ADA guidelines if I would be asked or forced to leave this site if it happens again. I could not find anything on this going thru the regs.

Just the facts please if you know them........:B

[Dog_Folks]

W4RLKR: These patrol citizens have been highly trained and NOT running wild. Mostly they are looking for vehicles that are not properly displaying tags at all. If you are displaying tags I doubt they would even stop or approach you. Too many others with NO tags at all to check out.

These are not "concerned" citizens and are in the uniform shirts of the sheriffs office and are in a marked sheriff's office vehicle. They are there to keep the handicapped slots open for people just like you and I.

Any law including handicapped parking is mostly useless unless there is some enforcement. I have seen it work.

No, we should not have to prove our disability to anyone, but there are so many cheaters today, I will do so for law enforcement only.

The rest can show me their medical degree, in the specialty that is germane to my disability, first. Proctologists need not apply. :B

[W4RLR]

Dog Folks wrote:

🙂 Just going by what I've been told by store personnel and small businessmen!!!! I'd LOVE it if they'd start fining those people that abuse it!!!

You will be happy to know at least in some areas of Florida, volunteers are given ticket writing powers and are patrolling parking lots specifically looking for handicapped parking space abusers. Fine? $300.00.

As a disabled person, I say: "good job," even though I often leave those spaces vacant for someone that may need them worse than I. A power scooter does require me to park near the store.

BAD IDEA.
I'm a disabled person, have a permanent and total service connected disability. It is NOT apparent by merely looking at me. I wish I had a dollar for every time I was accosted by a "concerned citizen" who demanded to know why I was parking in a disabled parking spot. "You don't look handicapped!" is the usual statement I get from these mental giants. I do have a placard, a plate on one of my vehicles that states I am a disabled veteran, and a wallet card that states the same. I've had to show that card to a policeman or two based upon complaints by do-gooders who think every disability should be readily visible. If the federal and state government say I'm disabled (and they do) I don't think I should be forced to "prove" it to anyone who confronts me with a bug up their arse.

[Dog_Folks]

In many jurisdictions, police may enforce laws, signage, etc. if invited to do so by the property owner.

Very common with convenience stores inviting police to enforce "no loitering" signs.

[Oldme]

Private property with limited access.

They are complying with the "Spirit of the Law".
Now they can also advertise ADA compliance too.

How they apply it on Private Property with
Limited Access is up to them.

Being Private Property with Limited Access it
is out of the jurisdiction of Law Enforcement.
If it was OPEN to the general public then
Law Enforcement could enforce the signage,
just like at a shopping center.

[Dog_Folks]

🙂 Just going by what I've been told by store personnel and small businessmen!!!! I'd LOVE it if they'd start fining those people that abuse it!!!

You will be happy to know at least in some areas of Florida, volunteers are given ticket writing powers and are patrolling parking lots specifically looking for handicapped parking space abusers. Fine? $300.00.

As a disabled person, I say: "good job," even though I often leave those spaces vacant for someone that may need them worse than I. A power scooter does require me to park near the store.

[PenMan]

Dog Folks wrote:

amandasgramma wrote:
x2 what soos said. Also, handicap parking (camping or at the mall) is only enforced BY THE BUSINESS. The police or parking meter person don't enforce the regs generally. There might be city ordinances that say otherwise. If it was late in the afternoon, or too late for more reservations to be made, it's perfectly legal to use that campsite. thank you for being concerned!!!!

Maybe where you are, but in my part of the world, in public parking areas like the mall, (Florida) it is enforced BY THE POLICE.

State park camping areas have rangers to enforce with police backup.

Same for New Mexico.

[amandasgramma]

Dog Folks wrote:

amandasgramma wrote:
x2 what soos said. Also, handicap parking (camping or at the mall) is only enforced BY THE BUSINESS. The police or parking meter person don't enforce the regs generally. There might be city ordinances that say otherwise. If it was late in the afternoon, or too late for more reservations to be made, it's perfectly legal to use that campsite. thank you for being concerned!!!!

Maybe where you are, but in my part of the world, in public parking areas like the mall, (Florida) it is enforced BY THE POLICE.

State park camping areas have rangers to enforce with police backup.

🙂 Just going by what I've been told by store personnel and small businessmen!!!! I'd LOVE it if they'd start fining those people that abuse it!!!

[Dog_Folks]

amandasgramma wrote:
x2 what soos said. Also, handicap parking (camping or at the mall) is only enforced BY THE BUSINESS. The police or parking meter person don't enforce the regs generally. There might be city ordinances that say otherwise. If it was late in the afternoon, or too late for more reservations to be made, it's perfectly legal to use that campsite. thank you for being concerned!!!!

Maybe where you are, but in my part of the world, in public parking areas like the mall, (Florida) it is enforced BY THE POLICE.

State park camping areas have rangers to enforce with police backup.

[ScottG]

amandasgramma wrote:
x2 what soos said. Also, handicap parking (camping or at the mall) is only enforced BY THE BUSINESS. The police or parking meter person don't enforce the regs generally. There might be city ordinances that say otherwise. If it was late in the afternoon, or too late for more reservations to be made, it's perfectly legal to use that campsite. thank you for being concerned!!!!

In Wa. state parking spots are enforced by police - to the tune of a $500 ticket if you park in one without a pass.

[klutchdust]

TucsonJim wrote:
It's just like the accessible stalls in a restroom. They should only be used when the others are occupied.

And at most events that have portable toilets I use these first, less use and much cleaner. I use the handicap toilet because my knee causes me pain sometimes and the bars on the walls

are useful. i don't look at them as for wheelchair bound folks exclusively. Most folks wouldn't mind waiting to use the facilities if someone was in there.

I had a temporary placard and found it useful but now that it has expired I am back to parking and walking. At the NHRA event this past weekend people show up with placards and PPD stops them

and verify's the placard against those in the vehicle which they should. The misuse of placards ,using them when pops isn't in the car etc, is terrible. Walk you lazy butts.

[skipnchar]

Dog Folks has provided some very good information. In addition to that following is the law as it was when I was an ADA compliance officer for the state of Kansas.

Anyone can use disabled flagged sites but IF all disabled sites are full AND a qualifying person arrives at campground you can be required to move within a reasonable time period. Usually later the same day but I've also seen times that moving the next morning would be considered reasonable. It is pretty rare that you'd be asked to move but would be more likely on a big holiday weekend at a popular place. You can NOT be asked to move just because a disabled individual would rather have your site instead of another available disabled site. I have not heard of any major changes in the ADA regulations since I retired but there HAS been a huge change in how well it is enforced in many areas.

[TucsonJim]

It's just like the accessible stalls in a restroom. They should only be used when the others are occupied.

[amandasgramma]

x2 what soos said. Also, handicap parking (camping or at the mall) is only enforced BY THE BUSINESS. The police or parking meter person don't enforce the regs generally. There might be city ordinances that say otherwise. If it was late in the afternoon, or too late for more reservations to be made, it's perfectly legal to use that campsite. thank you for being concerned!!!!

[Dog_Folks]

In most COE parks, the handicapped site may be used if all the other sites are occupied.

Here is some wordage on the reservation site:

"You are about to make a reservation for an ACCESSIBLE SITE.

This site is accessible for persons with a disability or otherwise limited physical mobility. If no one in your party has needs for an accessible site, you should not reserve this site unless this is the only site available at the time of your request. This accessibility alert does not apply to group campgrounds, group day-use shelters, cabin and lookout facilities."