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Post by **GypsyGirl** on Sept 4, 2023 16:36:06 GMT
If the person who has the handicap is in the car and will be getting out to go to the store, then the handicapped spot. If they are not in the car, then the regular spot. I agree that the handicapped placard is for a specific person, and not for everyone who travels in that car. That is how I handled it when my mom was still alive.
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Post by cmpeter on Sept 4, 2023 16:59:59 GMT
I would park in the regular spot. I go out occasionally with a friend who has a placard. She doesn't need a walker or a wheelchair, just can't walk longer distances. So, I would save the handicapped spot who needs the extra space.
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Post by ScrapbookMyLife on Sept 4, 2023 18:54:16 GMT
I would park in the regular spot. There are only a few handicap spots available, so I would leave that open for someone else that needs it.
Those not requiring a handicap tag, can usually walk and get around without any difficulties, so it's not a hardship for them to have walk more distance to the entrance.
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Post by longtimenopea on Sept 4, 2023 20:57:55 GMT
I regularly drive a person who has their own handicap placard.
I will choose the non-handicap spot anytime it’s available and accessible enough. If I don’t need the spot for access for my passenger, I don’t park in it because the next person may need it more. I am more interested in who needs the spot more for their access, not how many people are likely to need the spot.
This is especially true if the available handicap spot is van accessible because that makes a massive difference in accessibility for a person who needs that.
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Post by katlady on Sept 4, 2023 21:37:57 GMT
I wish they wouldn't put that wording on the signs. Some times people think it means vans "only". I mentioned earlier that my FIL used a wheelchair later in his life. My SO drove him around in a regular sedan car. He needed a spot with the blue striping on the passenger side so that he could fully open the door and get the wheelchair up to the door. The spots with striping on the passenger side usually say "van accessible". One time, SO had a "discussion" with someone about the spot being for vans only. SO had to point out that "accessible" does not mean "only". That is a pet peeve of mine. Especially after having experienced people also parking in the blue striping and not being able to get FIL in the car. Which, parking in the blue striping is illegal, even if you have a handicapped placard. I saw a cop once in Vegas, going down a parking lot row and ticketing every car that was in a blue striped area. And they all had handicapped placards.
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Post by AussieMeg on Sept 4, 2023 22:55:22 GMT
I already voted in the poll, but I wanted to add a comment: It comes down to who you are prepared to possibly inconvenience. If you take the regular parking spot, then you are causing an able-bodied person to have to look for another parking spot. If you take the disabled parking spot, then you are potentially causing a disabled or differently abled person to have to look for another parking spot. Which of those scenarios sits best with you (general you)?
I also wanted to ask whether "Handicapped" is the actual term used in the US. It sounds a bit out of date to me, not quite PC.
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Post by librarylady on Sept 4, 2023 23:44:05 GMT
Handicap is the U.S. term.
What term would you prefer to be used?
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Post by katlady on Sept 4, 2023 23:47:59 GMT
I also wanted to ask whether "Handicapped" is the actual term used in the US. It sounds a bit out of date to me, not quite PC. Handicap is the U.S. term. What term would you prefer to be used? Maybe "disabled"? I see that term being used more and more. But, yes, handicap is acceptable in the U.S. ETA - I went to the California DMV website, and they now call it a "Disabled Person Placard".
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Post by scrapmaven on Sept 4, 2023 23:54:54 GMT
BTW-the placard is attached to the individual and not to the vehicle. If someone uses my placard in my vehicle or anywhere else and I'm not there I will lose my placard and we will both be fined. Plus, it's just a crappy thing to do. An actual license plate also is for use only by the named person who must be in the vehicle, although it remains physically attached to the car. True, but if you are driving the car w/the placard owner then you would just park in a regular space and that is legal.
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Post by natscraps on Sept 5, 2023 0:58:49 GMT
It depends on the parking lot…. At our one target there are 20 (yes I counted them one day because I was frustrated and not a single one was used) and 12 curbside pick up spots close to the store. Regular parking is a ways away. I am nowhere near disabled enough for a placard but on a bad day with my chronic illness, getting into the store where I can get to a cart to aid my walking is next to impossible especially if it’s humid. In this case I’d rather you park in the handicap.
If there are only a few handicap spots and it’s somewhere like a doctors office, where lots of people may need those spaces then take a regular spot.
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Post by revirdsuba99 on Sept 5, 2023 1:29:00 GMT
An actual license plate also is for use only by the named person who must be in the vehicle, although it remains physically attached to the car. True, but if you are driving the car w/the placard owner then you would just park in a regular space and that is legal. Yes. In NJ you can have a placard and/or handicapped license plate showing a wheelchair. If someone other then the person assigned to the plate is driving without the assigned person it is illegal to park in a handicapped parking spot, but then yes they can park in a regular parking. If another person is driving and the assigned person is IN the vehicle that car may be parked in the handicapped spot or any other one.
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Post by AussieMeg on Sept 5, 2023 1:44:16 GMT
Handicap is the U.S. term. What term would you prefer to be used? Hey, it doesn't worry me what term you use. I was just curious, and surprised that the term was still being used in the US. I haven't heard it for decades. ETA: This is from a US site:
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Post by FuzzyMutt on Sept 5, 2023 12:30:43 GMT
I am not handicapped, and my car doesn’t have a placard. I park in huge parking garages for work. If I go from one site to another during a day, and arrive anywhere after 9:30-10, I regularly have to drive up 6-7 or more levels to find a regular parking spot. Meanwhile there are 8-10 handicap spots on each level, at a minimum, that I drive past. Based on that, if you have a handicap tag, please please use it. On the other hand, I once attended a concert for a country music legend in Nashville at the Bridgestone Arena, with my parents. It was a once in a life time event and sold out months in advance. Then, a massive rush for tickets because the artist sadly passed, and many other artists did a tribute. Anyway…. We had my dads truck (handicap tag) and they always operate on “parking is eaaaaaaaasy.” In fact, they often get free parking that is wayyyyy better than premium paid parking. Anyway, for this show, there was no reasonable parking, handicap or otherwise. Eventually I convinced him to let me drop them off, then find parking somewhere. There was no way they could walk from “somewhere.” So, in a situation like that————- I think anyone without a physical condition should NOT park in a handicap space. If I hadn’t been with them, they wouldn’t have been able to go to the show that they traveled to. So I should use my handicap placard even though my dad isn’t with me just so you don’t have to drive up a few extra levels. You then turn around and say anyone without a physical condition should not park in a handicap spot, make up your mind. I didn’t say that at all. I would assume someone with a handicap tag would have it for a reason. And if the reason is transporting your dad, well, if he’s not with you, of course it’s inappropriate to use it. Sorry, I guess some things just should be understood. My mind is made up. Geeze? Are you just looking to be confrontational? In 99% of situations common sense rules over hard and fast foolish decisions. How about that?
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Post by Patter on Sept 7, 2023 22:04:55 GMT
I have a placard for myself but rarely use it. I only use it on a really bad day. There are people far worse than I am. I would park in the regular spot to leave the handicap spot for someone that needs it more than myself (unless I am having a bad day).
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Post by revirdsuba99 on Sept 7, 2023 23:43:41 GMT
Just got my placard out. The is a large occupied wheelchair image. Near the bottom it states: The Persons With a Disability Identification Card must be in the possession of the person to whom it was issued when using this placard.
No where is handicapped written. Although the signs have not been changed. I guess it will be done as they need replacement.
Just another comment.
Caution: (All in Caps) Remove before driving. It's the law. Person with disability parking permit.
I see people driving with hanging from mirrors all the time. It is illegal in NJ!
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Post by lesserknownpea on Sept 8, 2023 7:38:14 GMT
I just came from 3 weeks of hospitalization and doctors visits with my near 90 YO father in California, he is in late stage COPD, his wife is closer to 90 and is very limited due to arthritis. He uses oxygen and a wheelchair, she has her own placard, also.
when Dad was in the hospital, my Stepmom and I took turns staying with him while the other went to their home for a break. I would park in the disabled spots, ( when one was available, if not the best I could get ), as my stepmother would be the one hobbling on her poor crippled joints to that spot to drive home for some much needed rest.
When dad got discharged , but had to go to many appointments, I’d drop them both off at the entrance, and then hope like crazy that a disabled or at least close parking spot was available, as I needed to get back to help them as soon as humanly possible. I would’ve run if I could. Also, when the appointment was over, then we could push the chair to the car.
I felt totally comfortable using the spots if I could find one in those circumstances.
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