Stop Parking Tag Abuse

There is a measure of sweet justice in all this. The ADA zealots who insist that the disabled have access to everything and pay for nothing - not even a $5 renewal fee for a parking tag - have now created a problem for the very population they're supposed to advocate for: their stubborn and chintzy refusal to pay the $5 has created a glut of handicapped passes, thus opening the gates for widespread abuse. The result? Handicapped drivers and their passengers can't use the handicapped parking spaces that are included for them. Talk about penny-wise and pound-foolish. Hopefully, now, the ADA advocates will learn from this. Sorry, folks, we all have to pay our fair share.

I don't know that I can count the number of times I've seen someone morbidly obese using a handicapped tag to park close to a store. Maybe we can reduce the abuse by not issuing these passes to the people who most need the walk!

I like the idea of having to get the pass renewed like a driver's license. This might force doctors to take a closer look at whether or not a person should actually have a license at all! As difficult as it must be, there are many older drivers who probably should no longer be driving. Periodically checking in on these drivers to ensure that 1)they are still capable of driving, and 2)are still handicapped is not a violation of their rights. If 17 year old drivers have to get poked and prodded to ensure they are safe, why should the same not hold true for someone with cataracts, bionic knees/hips, or mental deficiencies due to illness?

One can not assume a person "hopping" out of a vehicle does not infact need a handicap sticker. People have good days and bad days.

I agree with the previous poster that it should be required to renew the stickers. I have been trying to talk my father into getting one, as he has back problems and can not walk long distances. He flat out refuses saying there are others who need it more. I wish all people can have that attitude.

I think the best way to keep cheaters from using the handicapped spaces would be to allow ONLY vehicles with handicapped license plates to use them.

When issued, these plates could include a third plate which could be used as a dashboard plate in another vehicle if the handicapped person gets a ride from someone else.

This would make it harder to obtain than the cards that are put on mirrors which you can buy on the internet.

I have experience with the situation by getting a sticker as primary caretaker for my disabled mother.First, several times I was verbally abused by zealots who apparently appointed themselves the handicapped sticker police. And, after my mother died, the DMV contacted me to rescind the sticker.

I feel it is no one's right to assume that people who do not "look" handicapped are not entitled to a legally issued sticker and should be harrassed based on the ignorance of strangers.And, the point that stickers are "inherited" is another false assumption.

My memory may be faulty, but I think I did pay something for the sticker.

So, people,find another cause for your agitation or better yet, volunteer to work for a cause under the supervision of informed leadership.

Not everyone who is disabled looks disabled when they get out of a car. People with MS can have severe pain and spasticty so the farther they walk the harder it becomes. They need handicap parking to they don't have to walk far because they can't.
If someone was severely disabled, they most likely wouldn't be able to drive to begin with.
In order to get a handicap sticker one must get written application from a doctor. Let the doctor decide who is not capable of walking a long distance , not the other people in a parking lot.
People who aren't handicap should not be using a family members car who is handicap but handicap is a big word with a lot of symptoms that the public doesn't have the right to judge.

Those who get temporary handicap stickers have to renew them. They aren't permanent. Those who get permanent ones usually get them because they have a permanent disability.
I don't think people would mind to pay a small fee to renew the stickers if they had to.

John in NoGro wrote:

I don't know that I can count the number of times I've seen someone morbidly obese using a handicapped tag to park close to a store. Maybe we can reduce the abuse by not issuing these passes to the people who most need the walk!
I like the idea of having to get the pass renewed like a driver's license. This might force doctors to take a closer look at whether or not a person should actually have a license at all! As difficult as it must be, there are many older drivers who probably should no longer be driving. Periodically checking in on these drivers to ensure that 1)they are still capable of driving, and 2)are still handicapped is not a violation of their rights. If 17 year old drivers have to get poked and prodded to ensure they are safe, why should the same not hold true for someone with cataracts, bionic knees/hips, or mental deficiencies due to illness?

Hello Doctor Disability--I have a calculator that I could give you for counting the MANY morbidly obese people that you see parking in handicap spaces. I realize that you may not have the education to count that far , so of course there will be no charge for the calculator. Do you work at any kind of a job with pay or is most of your time spent in parking lots, checking where the obese park their vehicles. Oh, I also have several dozen pads of LINED notebook paper (so you can keep your facts (STRAIGHT) It is certainly for a worthy cause that you conduct this valuable survey. You did not state whether you owned a vehicle or were you walking around doing your observations. And another thing Doc, if a 17 year old is poked and prodded, it's probably because whoever did it was wondering if they had a weapon of sorts. Why would anyone poke and prod a 17 year old for a drivers licence? ARE YOU the 17 year old? Please leave the hanicap people alone, I am sure you have problems of your own, they never asked for the handicap. Mind your own business--Doctor Longnose.

Born in Hartford wrote:

I have experience with the situation by getting a sticker as primary caretaker for my disabled mother.First, several times I was verbally abused by zealots who apparently appointed themselves the handicapped sticker police. And, after my mother died, the DMV contacted me to rescind the sticker.
I feel it is no one's right to assume that people who do not "look" handicapped are not entitled to a legally issued sticker and should be harrassed based on the ignorance of strangers.And, the point that stickers are "inherited" is another false assumption.
My memory may be faulty, but I think I did pay something for the sticker.
So, people,find another cause for your agitation or better yet, volunteer to work for a cause under the supervision of informed leadership.

Many people are referring only to people who are obese ( if one is obese perhaps they should not have a sticker) I have a friend who is obese plus other problems ( an artificial foot and diabetes. Does that mean that he needs to walk from the further end of the parking lot. Usually thinner people think this way though--that obese people are fat and smell. Well, what about Lean and Mean !!! We need to leave the decision of who gets a Handicap Sticker up to the State Officials, not up to "Mr and Mrs. Evil and Mean"

I agree. I don't how the handicap got mixed up with obese. There are many people who are handicap and not obese and there are handicap people who have gained weight because they can't get around the way they use to. Obese has nothing to do with the fact someone is disabled and needs a parking space close. Where is all this meaness coming from?
I'm sure most people who are handicap would be more than happy to give their parking space and disability to someone else so they could walk a distance.
A doctor should decide who is handicap and people shouldn't be allowed to use someone's car if they themselves are not handicap or driving someone who is. I wouldn't think temporary stickers should be a problem to be renewed for a small fee.I don't know how to reinforce the law.
People judging people's handicaps and making fun of them is just downright mean. The issue is how to prevent people who clearly aren't disabled and are using spaces for those who need them.

I have a lifetime card. I can walk, but only short distances. I have permanent damage to my neck, knees and upper back from injuries received in a rear-end car accident. I was hit by a van going in excess of 50MPH. I can't sit in one position for more than 30 minutes without severe pain and my standing is also very limited. But I can walk with some ease from a handicap spot to a store. I am not obese. Does this make me a bad person for having the card? 5 Doctors all agree with my diagnosis. Maybe they're all wrong!

There are also numerous drivers who are neither obese or handicapped who are parking illegally in handicapped spaces using hanging mirror placards which do not belong to them, or are not designated for their use.

The system is definitely flawed and there are numerous shameless people willing to exploit it. The best thing anybody can do if you suspect someone who is unauthorized is parking in a handicapped spot is write down the license plate number and call the police. If you have a camera phone, snap a shot of the car and it's surroundings to show to the police as evidence. With a picture they can and most likely will issue a ticket if the car is or was illegally parked.

Born in Hartford wrote:

I have experience with the situation by getting a sticker as primary caretaker for my disabled mother.First, several times I was verbally abused by zealots who apparently appointed themselves the handicapped sticker police. And, after my mother died, the DMV contacted me to rescind the sticker.
I feel it is no one's right to assume that people who do not "look" handicapped are not entitled to a legally issued sticker and should be harrassed based on the ignorance of strangers.And, the point that stickers are "inherited" is another false assumption.
My memory may be faulty, but I think I did pay something for the sticker.
So, people,find another cause for your agitation or better yet, volunteer to work for a cause under the supervision of informed leadership.

If you are parking the car and your disabled mother is with you. You should park in a handicap spot. If you are using your disabled mother's car and she is not with you, you should NOT park in a handicap spot. Even if you have the sticker.

I never say anything to the "suspicious" handicap parkers because I don't know if they have an underlying condition that is not apparent. So I know not all health issues are apparent, but there are a lot of people using handicap spots that it is difficult to see what their problem is.

We know the system is flawed. How does one check to see though? Even if the car is registered with a handicap permit someone else in the family could be driving the car who doesn't need to be using the space. Unfortunately not everyone acts morally. Obviously if the car does not have a handicap sticker someone should report it. It's not fair to those who need the space.

I know someone wholly able to walk who uses the lifetime handicapped pass from their deceased parent.

Disgusted, nobody is doubting you. But when you die, your kids will still be able to use your pass. Lifetime passes sometimes last longer than their users.

I had an interesting situation when I was in college. I had to have my feet operated on. I was going to be on crutches for 6 months. So I got a temporary pass. I was up at the state police barracks on some personal business and a trooper was parked in the only handicapped spot available. So i blocked him in.

I saw him before he saw me when I was coming out. He was leaning on his car STEAMING. Then he saw me on crutches and sheepishly admonished me that he had parked there on "official business". Ha. I dont see this kind of abuse any more, so there must have been some kind of memo in the DPS. Still a good story though.

You are all aware that a Doctors Signature is required to obtain a tag. If DMV is not checking on the authenticity of the signature, they should be!

I totally agree that there are folks out there abusing the handicap tags. I am a middled aged woman who has a tag. I am legally disabled with an autoammune disease that has attacked my joints. When I see an elderly person circling a parking lot looking for a designated spot, I allow them to take it first out of respect. I have had many young people scorn me for parking in a handicap spot; one woman keyed my vehicle. My Dad gets a all types of remarks, he has emphysema and is on oxygen. The next time I get hassled, I am calling the police. I didn't not ask for this health issue. I would rather be working daily and walking further distances. Don't assume because someone is not hobbling along that they are not handicapped. I think that the renewal system is a good idea. It will help weed out the fakers.

Don Mei wrote:

I know someone wholly able to walk who uses the lifetime handicapped pass from their deceased parent.
Disgusted, nobody is doubting you. But when you die, your kids will still be able to use your pass. Lifetime passes sometimes last longer than their users.
I had an interesting situation when I was in college. I had to have my feet operated on. I was going to be on crutches for 6 months. So I got a temporary pass. I was up at the state police barracks on some personal business and a trooper was parked in the only handicapped spot available. So i blocked him in.
I saw him before he saw me when I was coming out. He was leaning on his car STEAMING. Then he saw me on crutches and sheepishly admonished me that he had parked there on "official business". Ha. I dont see this kind of abuse any more, so there must have been some kind of memo in the DPS. Still a good story though.

Leaving it to you Don to tweak a Trooper and get away with it!!! LOL!!!

My father is 90 years old. He has had a "lifetime" handicapped permit for about 5 years, at my urging. He lives in an assisted living facility, but refuses to use their transportation services for his medical appointments.(He likes me better..Gee, I wonder why?!!) He sees poorly and uses a walker. I am the "lucky" in-state daughter who takes him to all of his appointments. I see no reason for him to "re-up" his handicapped status. I would be happy to pay a fee if that would be required, but he"ain't" gettin' any younger, and he still cannot walk 200 feet without resting, which is the requirement for the handicapped permit. Maybe we need to look at those who may improve versus those who will not????

PS - I have never used his permit unless he is in my car with me. Doing so is breaking the law!!

West Hartford Mom wrote:

My father is 90 years old. He has had a "lifetime" handicapped permit for about 5 years, at my urging. He lives in an assisted living facility, but refuses to use their transportation services for his medical appointments.(He likes me better..Gee, I wonder why?!!) He sees poorly and uses a walker. I am the "lucky" in-state daughter who takes him to all of his appointments. I see no reason for him to "re-up" his handicapped status. I would be happy to pay a fee if that would be required, but he"ain't" gettin' any younger, and he still cannot walk 200 feet without resting, which is the requirement for the handicapped permit. Maybe we need to look at those who may improve versus those who will not????
PS - I have never used his permit unless he is in my car with me. Doing so is breaking the law!!

Good for you for taking care of your Father. I hope your family appreciates everything you do.