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Post by leftturnonly on Jul 4, 2016 0:56:13 GMT
I also should use the handicapped bathroom stall for the taller toilet due to the hip replacement, but I feel judged there too. I don't have any special reason to need the handicap stall, but sometimes I use it and I refuse to feel guilty. I never go in when someone who does need it is waiting. I'm in there to attend to business and then I'm out. If someone who needs it comes in while I'm in there, which has never happened, it's a very short time to wait and that is not something unexpected in public. I say this for one reason. DO NOT FEEL GUILTY USING THE HANDICAP STALL WHEN YOU HAVE REAL NEED. There. I said it.
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Post by mlynn on Jul 4, 2016 1:05:49 GMT
On the flipside...
I have a friend who lives and drives in Seattle. They get so frustrated because so much of the time the only parking spots available are handicap spots and the regular spots are filled with handicap permitted cars. In WA, parking meters can be put on handicap spots. In WA, handicapped can park in regular metered spots for free. All the handicap are parking for free in the regular spots and leaving the handicap spots unused - and unusable by the abled parkers.
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Post by scrapmaven on Jul 4, 2016 1:58:08 GMT
There are days when I don't need it and don't use it. On the other hand, there are many times when I cannot shop w/o it. Monklady, you did the absolute right thing. Thank you.
In my state, a placard turns green spaces into blue spaces. Also, metered parking is free and unlimited w/a placard. I only use it when it's a legitimate need.
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Post by Lovebug2867 on Jul 4, 2016 2:10:17 GMT
On this topic, never question whether someone is "disabled enough" to have and use a handicapped parking permit. That's between the individual and their doctor. A doctor's signature is required on the application. I have a permit and use it about 10% of the time. My RA symptoms vary and most days I don't need it, but when I use it, I really need it. I may look fine from the outside, but the energy it takes to make it around a store/mall/etc., can wipe me out for the rest of the day. I've had DH literally drag me by pulling the shopping cart around the store while I held on, forcing me to move around the store. This. My mother developed RA in her early 30s and had her first hip replacement in her 40s. It was not uncommon for her to get flack for parking in the handicapped spots, with a placard, because she looked too young and healthy to be handicapped. OP, I think your action was absolutely appropriate. I think it's great you called on them! My dad has a handicapped parking permit because he has COPD and a serious issue with his legs that keep him from walking very far. So I'm very aware of the handicapped parking around here we avoid going to places when they are super busy with the older crowd. But I dislike the people who judge young people with handicapped tags. My niece is an asthmatic and it was very severe when she was very young so she had a tag. Now that she's 14 she doesn't need it anymore so doesn't have one but we most defiantly parked in handicapped when she was 4.
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tincin
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,368
Jul 25, 2014 4:55:32 GMT
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Post by tincin on Jul 4, 2016 2:20:04 GMT
I was just talking about this with my mom last night. I don't use a placard because I feel so judged. I don't appear handicapped and most days I move just fine. But at 42 I had two knee replacements and a hip replacement. This year I'll be getting both knees revised and my other hip replaced. Some days are painful. I also should use the handicapped bathroom stall for the taller toilet due to the hip replacement, but I feel judged there too. People have handicaps that you don't see, but we live in a judgy judge world. I couldn't care less if others judge me, if I needed a handicap placard and had one, I would use it. If I were you, I would use the placard and the toilet and not give two hoots what someone else thought of me. Hell, I use the handicap stall if it is the only available stall. Save
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Post by melanell on Jul 4, 2016 2:23:36 GMT
This past week I was driving my elderly handicapped neighbor around. At AAA I parked her car in handicapped spaces and noticed there was a car without tags parked in one of the spots. I was busy getting my Judgy McJudgypants in a knot when the owner came out. She had a walker and struggled greatly to get into her car. I hung my head in shame. That is one pro for the actual plates instead of the placards, but I understand that the placards allow a person to use handicapped spots no matter what vehicle they are in, which is obviously a huge "pro" for the placard. When so much of your energy and thought is devoted to just moving around, it's certainly easy to forget to put the placard up. However, while I feel badly for someone in that situation, I cannot fault someone else for calling attention to a car or cars with no visible plates/placards parked in a reserved spot. The only way to deter people who are not entitled to use those spots from using them is to increase the number of times tickets are given. When people start hearing that there have been a marked increase in tickets for handicapped parking violations, some of them will think twice before using a spot they are not entitled to use. You don't have to be judgy to make a call to the police to report a fact---that a car with no visible plate/placard is in a handicapped spot. Save
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Rainbow
Pearl Clutcher
Where salt is in the air and sand is at my feet...
Posts: 4,103
Jun 26, 2014 5:57:41 GMT
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Post by Rainbow on Jul 4, 2016 2:25:26 GMT
Years ago a lady had parked in a handicapped spot and the car on her left parked way too close (and over the line by a few feet). She was using a walker and could not get into her car. She was just standing in the parking lot frustrated. She asked me to crawl through the passenger side and start her car and back it out for her. I really hadn't ever thought of how much people need all of that space around their vehicles. I should have called the cops on the other car. There really isn't enough room sometimes. I've parked to one side to leave room for a wheelchair access on the other side. Now I'm wondering if I parked too close on the other side. And if the one next to you parks crooked or on the line then as a result you have to move over more too.
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Post by melanell on Jul 4, 2016 2:26:29 GMT
I was just talking about this with my mom last night. I don't use a placard because I feel so judged. I don't appear handicapped and most days I move just fine. But at 42 I had two knee replacements and a hip replacement. This year I'll be getting both knees revised and my other hip replaced. Some days are painful. I also should use the handicapped bathroom stall for the taller toilet due to the hip replacement, but I feel judged there too. People have handicaps that you don't see, but we live in a judgy judge world. Hugs! It's so sad that people feel the weight of judgement from others even when they are doing nothing at all wrong. Try to remind yourself that it is those who judge who are in the wrong---not you. Save
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Post by 950nancy on Jul 4, 2016 2:35:08 GMT
. Go ahead and use the handicapped bathroom stall. There arent any legal requirements to use it. I do, I find the higher toilet easier to use. It's not like I camp out in there. Those stalls aren't reserved for handicapped people, they are available for those who are handicapped. We were at a theater production one evening and you know how short the intermissions are sometimes and the ladies bathrooms are always crowded. No one was going into the handicapped stall so I told the people in front of me in line to use it and they said no they weren't allowed. I tried to explain that they ARE allowed but they wouldn't budge. So I did. Hope there were no Peas in line judging me. As I was washing my hands I noticed other people finally using it. I use them all of the time. Now if I am going to so some serious damage, I use another stall, but the tiny bathrooms are no good in many places. I could probably count on two fingers the times I have ever seen anyone in a wheelchair/walker use one. I am sure that is pretty difficult regardless. I also used them quite a bit when I had two little boys with me. The walls corralled them in.
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Post by melanell on Jul 4, 2016 2:35:48 GMT
Regarding seeing someone who appears able bodied pull up, park in a designated spot and run into a building. Umm, could be me at times. What you wouldn't know is that I will sometimes leave and run errands while dgd (the one the tag is for) is in a classroom setting. Then I will return before it is time for the class to let out. When I return, I park where she will be able to load back in the van. I totally agree! Both my father and my MIL already have handicapped placards and both will be having surgery this year which will eventually lead both of them needing outpatient physical therapy. They'll both be getting many rides from people over the following weeks to months. For instance, the last time my dad has his therapy, he did so at a local gym. Now if I went to pick him up, I'd bring his placard and park in a handicapped spot for his benefit as he left physical therapy limping, sore, & tired. But to someone opting to assume the worst about a complete stranger, it could very well look like some perfectly able-bodied woman misusing a handicapped spot while at the gym. But that's on them, not me. Save
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Rainbow
Pearl Clutcher
Where salt is in the air and sand is at my feet...
Posts: 4,103
Jun 26, 2014 5:57:41 GMT
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Post by Rainbow on Jul 4, 2016 2:35:54 GMT
I also should use the handicapped bathroom stall for the taller toilet due to the hip replacement, but I feel judged there too. I don't have any special reason to need the handicap stall, but sometimes I use it and I refuse to feel guilty. I never go in when someone who does need it is waiting. I'm in there to attend to business and then I'm out. If someone who needs it comes in while I'm in there, which has never happened, it's a very short time to wait and that is not something unexpected in public. I say this for one reason. DO NOT FEEL GUILTY USING THE HANDICAP STALL WHEN YOU HAVE REAL NEED. There. I said it. I've used the handicap stall a lot when the kids were in a stroller. The whole stroller fits in there and I didn't have to leave them alone. There was never anyone waiting though.
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hannahruth
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,642
Location: Adelaide, Australia
Aug 29, 2014 18:57:20 GMT
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Post by hannahruth on Jul 4, 2016 3:17:14 GMT
If there is one thing that gets my hackles up it is abled bodied peopleusing handicapped parking spaces. For the love of G*d, people with a permit need the spaceI'm sure they would park elsewhere if they could!
I would have called authorities if I had noticed this as well.
Hope your dd has a speedy recovery.
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Country Ham
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,313
Jun 25, 2014 19:32:08 GMT
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Post by Country Ham on Jul 4, 2016 3:42:29 GMT
I have to admit I am surprised the police will do anything on private property. In our county private property owners are responsible to enforce their parking ordinances. For example on Tuesday night the baseball parents all take over a certain parking lots for their kids' games. This is a private parking not, NOT part of the baseball fields. There are apartments there plus a karate studio. We have issued parking permits for that lot. The police say they can't enforce the "no parking without permit" signs. The property owner is responsible to call the towing company. I don't believe that they should of parked there, and believe they deserved to be towed or a ticket but surprised the police got involved since a church is private.
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Post by katlady on Jul 4, 2016 4:20:42 GMT
Years ago a lady had parked in a handicapped spot and the car on her left parked way too close (and over the line by a few feet). She was using a walker and could not get into her car. She was just standing in the parking lot frustrated. She asked me to crawl through the passenger side and start her car and back it out for her. I really hadn't ever thought of how much people need all of that space around their vehicles. I should have called the cops on the other car. My grandfather had to use a walker/wheelchair, so we always made sure we had room on the right side of the car so we could roll the wheelchair up to the door. We parked in a van accessible spot (we had a 4-door sedan) because the blue stripes are on the right side of the car. Well, a van pulled in next to us and parked his van closerthanthis to the right side of our car! I guess he was mad because we took the van spot. "Accessible" does not mean "only", just like restroom stalls! Not everyone who drives around handicapped people uses a van. I had to pull the car out into the aisle and we quickly got my grandfather into the car. And one time I did see a cop giving tickets to cars parked on the blue stripes separating the spaces, even though the cars had a handicap placard.
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Post by crazy4scraps on Jul 4, 2016 5:31:12 GMT
I was just talking about this with my mom last night. I don't use a placard because I feel so judged. I don't appear handicapped and most days I move just fine. But at 42 I had two knee replacements and a hip replacement. This year I'll be getting both knees revised and my other hip replaced. Some days are painful. I also should use the handicapped bathroom stall for the taller toilet due to the hip replacement, but I feel judged there too. People have handicaps that you don't see, but we live in a judgy judge world. . Go ahead and use the handicapped bathroom stall. There arent any legal requirements to use it. I do, I find the higher toilet easier to use. It's not like I camp out in there. Many times the handicapped stall is the one with the baby changing station in it so I've gotten used to taking DD in there. It's so much easier to help a young child when you have a little more space to maneuver. The regular stalls are way too tiny for one person much less a grownup and a little kid.
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Post by anneinwa on Jul 4, 2016 6:51:10 GMT
I complained to my daughter's school this year a couple times regarding parents parking in the cross hatched space next to the handicap space. Her school shares a campus with another elementary school and a preschool, and we are thinking it is probably the preschool parents pulling in for drop off or pick up. To top it off there are signs that it is a teacher's lot (aside from the handicap spots) and no drop off/pick up is allowed.
What's frustrating is that it does block the space for a handicap user who exits on the drivers side and I will probably carry notes next year to leave on the windshield. It would not affect me (I have my MIL with my 90% of the time, when I t is the only handicap spot left, I have been known to park slightly over to the left on the cross hatch to give me enough room to pull the wheelchair up on the passenger side - the space to the left is a regular spot).
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pridemom
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,843
Jul 12, 2014 21:58:10 GMT
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Post by pridemom on Jul 4, 2016 12:57:06 GMT
I have to admit I am surprised the police will do anything on private property. In our county private property owners are responsible to enforce their parking ordinances. For example on Tuesday night the baseball parents all take over a certain parking lots for their kids' games. This is a private parking not, NOT part of the baseball fields. There are apartments there plus a karate studio. We have issued parking permits for that lot. The police say they can't enforce the "no parking without permit" signs. The property owner is responsible to call the towing company. I don't believe that they should of parked there, and believe they deserved to be towed or a ticket but surprised the police got involved since a church is private. Public access as per the Americans with Disabilities Act is the duty of law enforcement to enforce. I will add that churches are exempt from ADA, but businesses are not.
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Post by cyndijane on Jul 4, 2016 13:42:13 GMT
Those stalls aren't reserved for handicapped people, they are available for those who are handicapped. We were at a theater production one evening and you know how short the intermissions are sometimes and the ladies bathrooms are always crowded. No one was going into the handicapped stall so I told the people in front of me in line to use it and they said no they weren't allowed. I tried to explain that they ARE allowed but they wouldn't budge. So I did. Hope there were no Peas in line judging me. As I was washing my hands I noticed other people finally using it. I use them all of the time. Now if I am going to so some serious damage, I use another stall, but the tiny bathrooms are no good in many places. I could probably count on two fingers the times I have ever seen anyone in a wheelchair/walker use one. I am sure that is pretty difficult regardless. I also used them quite a bit when I had two little boys with me. The walls corralled them in. While I would never use a handicapped parking space, I don't hesitate to use a handicap stall if the others are occupied- or if I have my kids with me. There isn't a restriction of any kind on them. And some of those toilet stalls are tiny, I can barely turn around- when I have a toddler in tow? Not happening.
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purplebee
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,753
Jun 27, 2014 20:37:34 GMT
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Post by purplebee on Jul 4, 2016 14:10:06 GMT
Good for you Monklady, I'm glad you called the police. People are so thoughtless and entitled nowadays, it makes me so angry. If they did have a placard, they need to display it.
My Dear friend who has MS and her caretaker hubby encounter non-handicap vehicles in handicap spaces quite often. My Dad had a placard due to poor circulation in his legs which made it very painful for him to walk any distance. He was reluctant to use it because his handicap was not obvious.
And in a perfect world there would be no judgement - if you have a handicap placard, you can park in a handicap spot, no questions asked and no eyes rolled.
Hugs to those dealing with these issues. My friend makes me so thankful for my own abilities.
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