Handicapped Parking

[smiteedawgwv]

My son Brandon has Cerebal Palsy and is confined to a wheelchair. Pretty much everywhere we've been handicapped parking has been a problem. As much as I love this state and it's people, I have to say that I've never seen more inconsiderate people when it comes to handicapped parking than I have in West Virginia. First off, and this is my personal opinion but I feel it's pretty accurate, at least 50% of the people in WV that have handicapped parking permits DO NOT need them. Of course this falls on the doctors and I feel that something should be done to regulate issuing permits. Although it's nice that permits are free in WV, but maybe if we had to pay for them it would weed out some of the deadbeats. Anyhow, we made a trip to Wal Mart yesterday to get Brandon a back to school haircut. While driving around looking for a spot, two of them were taken with someone sitting in the vehicle and all of the van spots were taken by small cars. There was one spot open and in the area to the side of it where the painted slash marks are, which obviously means NO PARKING, sat a car. And this was the second car we seen parked this way while looking for a spot. Luckily there was enough room to get Brandon out but that still doesn't make it right. So while we were unloading Brandon the lady who owned the car came came out (refer back to my remark above about people who don't need permits) so I voiced my opinion to her. I asked her if she was aware that that was not a parking spot and can you believe she said YES!!!! At that point I pretty much lost my cool and really let her know my feelings. Crap like this happens all the time. We came out of Wal Mart once and a car was parked in the slash marks so close to the van that I had to move it to get Brandon in. I can't count the times that I've seen cars parked in van accessable spots with regular spots open only a few feet away. Just because you have a permit doesn't mean you have to use it. If you can't walk an extra 10 feet then you really don't need to be there in the first place. Obviously people don't think that someone may come along that needs the spot just a little worse than them. A lot of times I have to end up taking 2 regular spots. One time we were at Ruby and I parked in a spot beside one of the light poles because there were no van spots open. So we come out and tucked in right behind the light pole and beside the van was a motorcycle!! Well, I've rambled enough but I've been so pissed off since yesterday I just had to vent. Thanks for listening.......

[mountaineerinpa]

That is truly sad that people abuse these spots and I can understand your frustration and anger over this. People(alot) are only in and look out for themselves. I cant believe that lbitch that answer like that when you asked if if she knew she wasnt parked in an actual parking spot. I wouldve been on the phone calling the police with me parked right behind them so they couldnt get out until the police came. Let the officer handle it.

[WVUfanPHILLY]

Utterly ridiculous! There was a thing last year on the news. Members of the Eagles, including Donovan Mcnabb, were caught on camera using handicapped spots. It was sickening.

[WVUMntneerJim]

People are too fuckin lazy these days... I actually like to park pretty far because I can use the exercise and it builds character

[smurph]

Believe me, Smittee, people are ignorant and inconsiderant everywhere you go. Out here, most of the parking lots have a large number of handicapped spots, and the police or parking monitors continuously cruise looking for scofflaws.
My issue pales compared to yours, but my wife and I park our cars out near the end of the parking lots so as not to get dents in the door from careless idiots who slam their doors open. I refuse to take my Jaguar to the train station for that exact reason.

[WVUMntneerJim]

I don't blame you one f*cking bit, Smurph...

[rainman]

i hate to drive at all any more because of all the fuckin idiots on the road and i agree with you smittee about people in handicap spots and no spots at all, the dumb fuckin assholes. something else that really pisses me off are the dumb fucks that are to lazy to push their shopping carts back to the area for them but just leaves them where ever, some push them between the cars and up on the curb when there's a place for them a few feet farther but they are too fuckin lazy or stupid to do the right thing.

[WVUMntneerJim]

Man, pushing the carts back to the cart rack is half the fun... especially getting a good running start then shoving them! ;D

[wvumaryjane]

Smittee,

I can TOTALLY Sympathize with this.. My mom was in a bad ass car accident when I was 16 years old that left her pretty much wheelchair bound. Most of the time someone was with her and we could push her yo the rows past all the full handicapped spots but sometimes she went by herself.. She could walk enough to get out of the car and get her wheelchair outta the hatch.. but them would have to wheel herself to the stores..

I also get pissed off when people part blocking the handi capped ramps.. How ignorant and selfish! I report EVERY vehicle that I see that is in a spot without the licence plate or mirror plaque..

[smiteedawgwv]

Went to Wal Mart again today and seen 2 cars parked just like the other day. The thing that pisses me off is I've NEVER seen a ticket on a car!!! I'm thinking about talking to the police dept and see if I can create myself a job writing tickets. The "supposed" fine is $250, I'm sure I could create at least $10,000 a week in revenue for them without even trying, maybe more. Hell, I could get that at Wal Mart alone!!! I'll use my own vehicle and take 20% of the total ticket fines. Damn, I could get rich!!!! I say this somewhat jokingly, but something seriously needs to be done about this issue here and other places as well. And I say it needs to start with the doctors that issue them.

[elp525]

Smittee, the docs are the root of the problem. They issue these handicap placards to just about anybody anymore. I have health issues and was offered a handicap placard from my doc. I told her she was crazy and keep it for someone who really needs one.

Second on the list of people misusing the handicapped parking situation is people who know or are related to someone who is handicapped and borrowing their placard. It pisses me off to see someone park in a handicapped spot and then bound out of the vehicle just as healthy as the common Joe. I've asked some people about why they are parking there and they reply, "It's my mom's placard" or "It's my friend's placard". That pisses me off when someone is so self righteous that they don't consider how it affects those who really need the parking spots.

Third on this list is the poor effort by the police to stop the misuse. Make the tickets $1000.00 for using a placard inappropriately or blocking a handicapped spot. To top that make the person do some community hours with people who actually do need handicapped parking spots. Maybe this would open their eyes.

My two cents.

[dehayes35]

I agree that most of the time these are misused, but I have a cousin with an artificial leg...and with long pants on, you can't tell it's artificial. She once had someone approach her and basically yell at her for using a handicap spot whe nshe wasn't handicapped. Well, as it turns out, she IS handicapped and did need it. She was so embarrassed by the ordeal, she now refuses to use the handicapped spots. She walks on her fake leg and suffers the pain just to avoid someone from incorrectly harrassing her.

Just remember, there are two sides to every story!

[smiteedawgwv]

Elp, I totally agree with your two cents.

Doug, I'm fully aware that not everyones ailment is visible and I would never say anything to anyone parked legally even if I thought they didn't need it. I'm sorry your cousin had to go through that ordeal.