Disabled Parking Permits

[loulou57]

In Ontario we get 50% off provincial park campgrounds if you have a valid Ontario disabled parking permit. You also do not require a fishing license. Odd, I know.

I have one. I have been asked on so many occasions, why do you have that, you look fine, what's your problem?

My hubby and I have been yelled at, cursed at and given the unofficial universal sign language on many occasions.

I do not use a disabled spot if there are only a couple of them. I always think someone may come in with a wheelchair and need the space.
Also in the campground, if I am assigned the disabled Site, I always say if someone comes in with a wheelchair we will move to another Site. Just because we get the discount does not mean we have to use a disabled Site, we can use any we choose.

I am not a senior, I do not use a wheelchair and my disability is not always noticeable.

Why do people think it is their right to harass myself and others. They think I owe them an explanation.

It is illegal for anyone, a security person, parking attendant or even a police officer to ask me why I have a permit and demand an answer.

Has anyone else had this issue? What do you do?

We have found that when someone says...do you realize that this parking spot is for a disabled person, I answer, yes I do.

We have been followed into the store with someone yelling at us the whole way into a store, only to have the manager come and say...you really need to move your truck, you obviously have no disability. Another time someone added to his non verbal words that if I could drive a truck I had no disability....Really???

[down_home]

Some time ago, wife let me out at store entrance and proceed to park car, in handicap spot. Woman drive up yelling at her as she got out that she wasn't disabled blah blah. I don't know if the woman need the spot or not.
Being judgemental, is a failing, of many. It is partially generated by media accounts of fraud. We've all seen what appear perfectly able bodied with tags or without park in handicap spots and almost jog to the store. Forget it.
Maybe like me, sometimes I get around pretty well. Other times it is difficult to walk more than a few feet or stand for long.
I've been on the critical side and the defensive side. I just disregard it now.
Park away, from store etc when I feel like it is alright and drive in circles, or more correctly, wife drives around, in circles until a handicap spot opens, or she drops me, at the door.
Best solution, go fishing and let someone else go to the stores.

[DiskDoctr]

Ironically, people jump on those they think are abusers of HC permits and spots believe they are standing up to PROTECT the disabled and the extra accommodations intended to assist them.

Perhaps a 'Thank you' can be more effective when mistakenly confronted?

People who resent the disabled for the close parking are like!ly quite rare, even though the public's ability to assess a disablilty visually is obviously quite challengec.

Not saying their actions are okay, but their intentions may not always be malicious.

[JaxDad]

RayGToo wrote:
By the sound of some of the comments here I am led to believe that many disabled folks are being regularly approached and verbally abused by snarling, blood thirsty vigilantes who think that these disabled folks are faking it when they use a handicap spot. Is that really a common occurrence or are some of you exaggerating a bit?.

I don't know about others, but when I need, and use, a HC spot, I routinely get at a minimum, questioning stares. Often it's some form of sarcastic remark. Most often that sarcastic remark comes from someone sitting in a vehicle while their spouse 'just runs into the store for a second to grab something' and deeply resents needing to move even though they usually have no HC permit. They're just waiting, not parking, and will 'move if someone needs the space'.

I really believe it's some twisted form of jealousy, if they aren't allowed to use the spaces you shouldn't either, even if you need them.

[fatmanobx]

loulou57 wrote:

Bumpyroad wrote:

loulou57 wrote:

It is illegal for anyone, a security person, parking attendant or even a police officer to ask me why I have a permit and demand an answer. ?

In the states, or state, you also have a billfold card that you might have to show showing person and disability involved if requested by a LEO. But to anybody asking me why, my first question to them is "are you an orthopedic surgeon? " unless their answer is yes, I am a tad bit rude to them. and MYOB is not it, more like GFY.
bumpy

Sorry what exactly does the billfold card say? Does it identify your condition? We do not have to disclose the identity to anyone if asked. Our privacy act covers that. My friend had a 15 minute discussion with a police officer demanding to know her condition. Finally he called his superior and got quite the mouthful on the radio for all to hear, informing him it was none of his business. He then apologised.

In the great state of Arkansas it is on your driver's lic. If you are using a hanging permit the officer will check your lic. and make sure that you are legal. Same with tags. If you are driving a veh with hc tags and park in a hc spot they can check your driver's lic..

[Gale_Hawkins]

KY seems to be lax on this subject. The tags should help other drivers by warning that the driver may run over them because of limitations but that is not always the case. Some drivers can be dense.

[RayGToo]

By the sound of some of the comments here I am led to believe that many disabled folks are being regularly approached and verbally abused by snarling, blood thirsty vigilantes who think that these disabled folks are faking it when they use a handicap spot. Is that really a common occurrence or are some of you exaggerating a bit? As someone mentioned, what is wrong with being asked? If it keeps one faker from using a spot, doesn't that leave a spot available for a person who really needs it? In Florida where I live, handicap spots are harder to find than an honest politician, and fakers are everywhere. I knew a woman on my block who used her mothers handicap permit all the time, and she had no guilt about it what so ever.

[puttd]

Ah the irony. the disabled are telling folks to chill about who uses the disabled tag, while the non-disabled have the "panties in a wad" to use the sarge's language about the rampant fraud, even though. frankly it doesn't affect them one whit.

Point about Kennedy is a good one. Even the tan was deceptive. The reason for the tan was that he had Addison's disease, which was usually fatal then, and was heavily dependent on steroids in order to stay alive. Even the smallest of traumas could have killed him and its a miracle he did not have a life threatening crisis while in office.

[AprilWhine]

traveylin wrote:
This topic of HC permit miss use Does seem to come up frequent enough with passionate folks jumping in. We all see folks at the check out using food stamps to purchase the equivalent of lobster and fili mignon(spelling?) ...

I can give an example of why a prosperous looking person might be using food stamps. 😉

When I visited my grandmother, I would always run errands for her. Occasionally, she would ask if I would pick up something for a friend of hers too. Many of the older ladies at her extended care facility were income challenged and used food stamps. I felt a little funny about using their food stamps to buy their groceries, but no one ever challenged me.

I've also seen blatant HC abuse. A young family in a wheel chair lift van parks and they all get out and run into the store. Obviously the one needing the wheelchair wasn't with them that day. An electrician doing a service call parks his van, with HC hang tag, in the HC spot at the entrance. While I was waiting, I saw him make several trips to the van carrying tools and equipment. I can understand why he would want a spot near the entrance but that was not what the HC was for. A former husband's friend picked us up at the airport. She bragged that she borrowed her mother's HC tag to get a closer parking spot and to avoid the parking fee. Where I used to work, a secretary used her husband's tag to park in the HC spot and was mad when someone with a legitimate tag would beat her to the only HC spot. etc...

I would never confront someone about their use of a HC spot but I will vote for laws making it harder to get a tag and support tighter enforcement of HC parking rules.

[jdog]

puttd wrote:
I have a disability not necessarily obvious on some days, use a placard, and anyone who yells at me is engaging in disorderly conduct and possibly assault, and is not protecting handicapped rights, which includes my right to live in peace. If you yell at me like a crazy person, I will call the police and I will press charges.

And as for the "obvious" violations. People would think that of my mother, driving the international that was my parents tow vehicle. She would often have people come huffing in her direction, until she'd drop the walker out the driver's side, lower herself down, and head into Kmart. Someone bench pressing 250 might have problems with their legs. And news flash, disabled people go the the gym. On doctor's orders, in many instances. So, unless you are being a creepy stalker guy following someone around you don't really know.

And, I look perfectly fine. My legs last only so long. I have literally put my hip out because I couldn't handle the wait in line at wally world and ended up in bed for a week. Hopped out of the store on one leg gripping the cart because I could put no weight on the bad hip. Was glad the car wasn't parked in the hinterlands

Well put! It is none of their business. Who made these people handicap inspectors? I don't respond to those ignorant people. FYI, the fraud is over blown by people thinking that all handicap people with permits are frauds. Yes there is fraud, but not as much as you smart people think there is!

[Bluhorn]

RetSgt7114 wrote:

Bluhorn wrote:

Another poster says dont be offended if someone questions you. HORSE HOCKEY! If someone tries to harass or intimidate someone by hollering and accusing, Im going to get offended. People need to chill.

Opinions are like elbows, almost everyone has a couple. Just offering mine. Don't need to get your panties in a bunch. Never suggested that one should take any abuse. Just merely pointing out that many able-body people have no idea. But if getting mad works for you, go for it.

BTW, good advice at the end.

I dont know where you got the idea that I have my panties in a bunch Sarge. And I agree with you that many able bodied people have no idea about disabilities unless it fits there idea of what a disability should look like. If someone approached me just to ask in a concerned manor, I would probably handle it as you would. But the majority jump to conclusions,utter snide remarks, and start hollering, . Nobody needs that. What happened to respect? Ive earned mine as I am sure you have earned yours. And Im not talking about panties! :B

[wa8yxm]

I am going to give you an example of a person many will recall who, believe it or not, was physically disabled.. John Fitzgerald Kennedy Yes, the President of the United States in the early 1960s.

IN many news clips we see him doing things like getting on and off Air Force One, or waving to a crowd, He was the very picture of health and vitality.

One of the books written about him after his murder, The reporter, who was a friend, told of visiting him in his office.. There was a long, package in the corner.. He moved it to his desk (Sitting in his chair) and slid the contents out, a brand new hunting rifle.. Explained he'd bought it for a friend.

Had to ask the reporter to put it back in the box though.. You see. The back injury he had suffered in College, Compounded by additional injuries he got during the war.. His back was so bad he could not lift the gun.. And I'm sure walking was no pleasure either on a bad day.

But he never showed that face in public and those who saw it were ask to not tell anyone till after his term as President was over

I myself (As noted earlier) have "hidden" Disablities from time to time, in fact one or two of them are enough I DO qualify for parking permits.. So far I've not applied, but trust me, on a bad day I kind of whish I had.

What I'm trying to do is cut down on bad days.

[traveylin]

This topic of HC permit miss use Does seem to come up frequent enough with passionate folks jumping in. We all see folks at the check out using food stamps to purchase the equivalent of lobster and fili mignon(spelling?) but folks do not speak up about appropriate use. We see absolutely disruptive children in a restaurant but do not ask for quiet. It is very inappropriate to speak up about hedonistic lifestyles for fear of being a racist.
I would tend to encourage a bit of peer pressure. Johnny Law can't handle the load by itself. But why do folks tend to feedback on HC permits to the exclusion of other topics.

pops

[RetSgt7114]

Bluhorn wrote:

Another poster says dont be offended if someone questions you. HORSE HOCKEY! If someone tries to harass or intimidate someone by hollering and accusing, Im going to get offended. People need to chill.

Opinions are like elbows, almost everyone has a couple. Just offering mine. Don't need to get your panties in a bunch. Never suggested that one should take any abuse. Just merely pointing out that many able-body people have no idea. But if getting mad works for you, go for it.

BTW, good advice at the end.

[bob213]

Disability does not have to be physical. It can be mental as well. Regardless....Whose business is it anyway? People should worry about their own Fraudulent lives and mind their own business!

[Bluhorn]

In this day and age so many people are frustrated because there are so many wrongs in this world and they cant do anything about them. The news fills people with anger and when they see someone that in their mind is "breaking the law" they feel that they are justified in saying something. Nevermind that they are jumping to conclusions, they go off questioning and hollering.
Of course there is fraud, there is fraud in a lot of things. If you are so sure, call the Police. Let them handle it. Another poster says dont be offended if someone questions you. HORSE HOCKEY! If someone tries to harass or intimidate someone by hollering and accusing, Im going to get offended. People need to chill.