Illegal Parking by City Vehicles

Please explain this to me: When I go to work, I drive by the Civic Center. Lately, there have been a lot of days where emergency vehicles have been there (probably for a meeting) and they have been parked illegally: parked on the wrong side of the street, parked in no parking zones, parked in handicapped spaces, etc. They also have been parked in the Auto Zone parking lot.

Wasn't the reason the city bought that house and church because they felt bad about people at Memorial Hall using Auto Zone's parking lot, so they were going to tear down those places and build a new parking lot? I realize those emergency employees may have to get to their vehicles quickly if they got an emergency call while they were at the Civic Center, but but how safe would be for them to get into traffic quickly since they are on the wrong side of the street? I also wonder how easily people with disabilities could get into the building, especially during the week when the building is open, since City vehicles are parked in all the "Disability" parking spaces. The City may not have been aware of the ADA laws until the government reminded them of them, but since they've been reminded, they should be fully aware of the importance of many ADA laws. Besides that, illegal parking should be illegal parking, EVEN for City vehicles, so why don't the police ticket them? Does anyone know the laws on this or is this another one of those "Do as I say, not as I do" situations? Shouldn't the behavior of representatives of the City be an example for the people who live here? It's a little confusing.

Look where you are? Your expectations are way above your communities

I've seen this same thing for over a week, but since you can't fight city hall these days, I've decided I may as well save my time and breath and just accept it. That's not the way it should be but since Micky is calling the shots these days, that's the way it is.

Emergency vehicles may park, stand, or any other action, including parking in handicapped spots. I believe the Reporter said they have been training bringing the EMS staff up to Firefighter status. No one commited a crime in this instance.

Accessibility is the Law wrote:

Emergency vehicles may park, stand, or any other action, including parking in handicapped spots. I believe the Reporter said they have been training bringing the EMS staff up to Firefighter status. No one commited a crime in this instance.

Thanks for the info, but I do have one question. I can see the above being true if there were an emergency, but is it true if there is not an emergency? It doesn't seem right that folks with handicaps have to walk from half a block away because emergency vehicles are parked in the spaces intended for them all day, while they attend a meeting. I had an elderly relative who was severely handicapped and having those spaces available so I could unload him, get him in the building, and then move my car was a REAL Godsend. It made things much, much easier for both of us. Even though he is now deceased, I'm thankful other people in similar situations can rely on those handicapped parking spaces for a little help with the handicapped people they are helping. Even if its ok for emergency vehicles to park in those spaces, I think out of sheer consideration for handicapped individuals, it would be nice if they left at least one or two of them vacant.

Question wrote:

<quoted text>
Thanks for the info, but I do have one question. I can see the above being true if there were an emergency, but is it true if there is not an emergency? It doesn't seem right that folks with handicaps have to walk from half a block away because emergency vehicles are parked in the spaces intended for them all day, while they attend a meeting. I had an elderly relative who was severely handicapped and having those spaces available so I could unload him, get him in the building, and then move my car was a REAL Godsend. It made things much, much easier for both of us. Even though he is now deceased, I'm thankful other people in similar situations can rely on those handicapped parking spaces for a little help with the handicapped people they are helping. Even if its ok for emergency vehicles to park in those spaces, I think out of sheer consideration for handicapped individuals, it would be nice if they left at least one or two of them vacant.

I would agree if there were an event going on at the Civic Center or the Hall, then yes, places should be free. However if there were not, and no one, handicapped or not had business there, then no harm, no foul? Arrangements if I'm not mistaken, are made at city hall, so wondering if there was anything going on those days other than the city workers, conducting city business?

Accessibility is the Law wrote:

<quoted text>I would agree if there were an event going on at the Civic Center or the Hall, then yes, places should be free. However if there were not, and no one, handicapped or not had business there, then no harm, no foul? Arrangements if I'm not mistaken, are made at city hall, so wondering if there was anything going on those days other than the city workers, conducting city business?

Last week I needed to run into the civic center to take a quick look at a room I was thinking about renting for a meeting.My elderly mother was with me.She ordinarily would rather wait in the car but since it was hot,we both agreed she should go in with me.Because of the emergency vehicles, all the spaces near the door were taken up.Since the nearest space was too far from the door of the civic center I decided to check on the room another day.You never know who might need those handicapped spaces even on the days nothing is going on in the civic center.Out of respect for some people who may need one of those spaces and to have parking for people who may want to rent some rooms for money, it might be a good idea for at least one of those emergency vehicles to park around the corner.(Another day when I drove by there someone was trying to get through the drive up to unload some things going on for an event later that evening.City vehicles were blocking the drive that day,too.)

Someone can't imagine what a lifesaver those handicapped spaces are until they have to care for someone who needs to use them. They make things so much easier for everyone.

The only issue that I have...are these stupid adds and free downloads for games that have appeared between comments !!!!! geeze!!!!! That's it for now :D

If any of us had parked in a handicapped space, we would get a ticket. Wonder if they had a handicap sticker? Guess laws are only for taxpayers.

Let it be again remembered that Revolution Calling altered the mindset of the Independence, Kansas Topix population.

Isn't a law a law. Is it ok to rob a bank cause they have plenty of money?

I think it's funny that all of you can bitch about law enforcement and parking. I'll bet none of this would have been brought up if Police/Fire/EMS were not involved. You will next be complaining that they didn't park close enough when you need them. I know, I know..."that's different!" Does it really matter? When Emergency services are doing stuff in an emergency vehicle let them get it done. Is all they need is more flak about how they park. Get off our Emergency Services people over some parking B.S.!!!

Just Sayin wrote:

I think it's funny that all of you can bitch about law enforcement and parking. I'll bet none of this would have been brought up if Police/Fire/EMS were not involved. You will next be complaining that they didn't park close enough when you need them. I know, I know..."that's different!" Does it really matter? When Emergency services are doing stuff in an emergency vehicle let them get it done. Is all they need is more flak about how they park. Get off our Emergency Services people over some parking B.S.!!!

Although anyone can choose to illegally park in a handicapped space, on both the day I tried to check on a room to rent and the day the lady was trying to unload things for her event, it was city emergency vehicles prohibiting us from doing so. Out of respect for individuals who need those handicapped spaces (which evidently you are not one), and in an effort to help taxpayers keep down costs (since the rooms in that building are fairly pricey for people to rent), it would seem the emergency vehicles would park in such a way that people with handicaps would have at least ONE space near the building available to them and the unloading ramp is always clear. This would be both considerable and reasonable.

They were only up at the civic center trying to pass the tests and being cross trained so they wouldn't lose their jobs if they are too fat and can climb a ladder.

Just Sayin wrote:

!" Does it really matter? When Emergency services are doing stuff in an emergency vehicle let them get it done. Is all they need is more flak about how they park. Get off our Emergency Services people over some parking B.S.!!!

Doing stuff like buying chicken for supper at Marvin's?

Just Sayin wrote:

I think it's funny that all of you can bitch about law enforcement and parking. I'll bet none of this would have been brought up if Police/Fire/EMS were not involved. You will next be complaining that they didn't park close enough when you need them. I know, I know..."that's different!" Does it really matter? When Emergency services are doing stuff in an emergency vehicle let them get it done. Is all they need is more flak about how they park. Get off our Emergency Services people over some parking B.S.!!!

It's "parking B.S." to only those that do not depend on it. To those that depend on it, and most that just are not lacking in compassion for other human beings, it is EMS vehicles using handicap parking they clearly do not need preventing those that need them from doing so and it is being done by those employed in a field that requires them to understand a few things about those that are handicap. So it really just boils down to the EMS showing total disrespect to citizens of the community in which they are the ones called on to assist when they need help and even those that are not handicap can easily see how disrespectful it is, especially when they have a handicap relative they help take care of. SO call it what you will and excuse it all you need to in order to not focus on just how low and disrepectful it is.

Please take this multiple choice test:

It is 95 degrees with a heat index of 99 degrees in Independence, Kansas. Various individuals need to conduct business at the Civic Center during the week. Which individuals would benefit most from having a handicapped parking space only a few feet from the door of the building:

a) Some 20, 30, and 40 year old emergency workers in fairly decent physical shape, and used to working under extreme weather conditions.

b) An 85-year old woman with a walker, who wants to drop by a check, and who tries to avoid the heat as much as possible since it bothers her so much.

This should answer any questions about the handicapped parking situation at Memorial Hall.

Just Sayin wrote:

I think it's funny that all of you can bitch about law enforcement and parking. I'll bet none of this would have been brought up if Police/Fire/EMS were not involved. You will next be complaining that they didn't park close enough when you need them. I know, I know..."that's different!" Does it really matter? When Emergency services are doing stuff in an emergency vehicle let them get it done. Is all they need is more flak about how they park. Get off our Emergency Services people over some parking B.S.!!!

I believe KS law requires all vehicles comply with all traffic laws. Emergency vehicles are exempted only when responding to an emergency (or in pursuit) with their lights and sirens on.

It may not be a big deal to most ( unless you need one of the occupied spaces) but at the very least, our public employees should be setting a better example by complying with the laws they enforce on the rest of us.

No wonder this city is in trouble with ADA. They are not going to conform. They are above it.