Use of parking tag when (seemingly) not needed

@offkey (313)
United States
November 2, 2012 1:11am CST
I see a few people nearly every time I go to the store, that have a tag in their window for handicap parking when they seem to walk fine, and walk around the store. They get out of their car okay, and I know I don't know their story but I think it is wrong if you have it and you don't NEED it or you use it because your spouse or someone else in your house hold needs it. My husband is in a boot for an ankle injury and I am in a wheelchair and it's very inconvenient when someone parks there and they don't seem to be in need of the close parking space. I have an aunt that has a permit and looking at her you wouldn't be able to tell that she needs it, but she has a bad back and can hardly walk once she takes a few steps you know that she has trouble walking. For the sake of argument lets say that they DON'T NEED to park in the space but do so anyway, what is your take on this?
1 person likes this
3 responses
@MandaLee (3764)
• United States
3 Nov 12
Hi Offkey, I have a physical disability. I use a wheelchair. When people who don't have disabilities park in handicapped parking spaces, they are being thoughtless and inconsiderate by taking those few handicapped parking spaces away from people with disabilities who actually need a handicapped parking space.
@offkey (313)
• United States
4 Nov 12
I too use a wheel chair, as I said in my discussion, I think if you can walk through a store without having issues with breathing, pain, or having to stop a number of times because of said ailments. You don't need a parking permit. It is so inconsiderate and thoughtless, and most stores don't have enough of them, a craft store where I live has TWO, and it's a very popular store, and one day I saw people park there a young person got out of the car, walked just fine, picked up things, pushed a cart carried all his items all while someone sat in the car, we had to park probably 10 or so parking spots out from the store (my husband is awaiting ankle surgery and cannot walk too far, and isn't supposed to) we went so that he and I could pick up things to keep us occupied while he is laid up in bed (just to be clear) Sorry... Where was I? Oh yeah, I wish people would put a little more thought into it before parking in the spaces, just a little done really NEED to park here? if you don't have a permit answer NO! If its a temp. One and you no longer have the issue you needed it for, the answer is no! Like you and I we need the spaces, some might say "you don't even walk so why do you need to park there," to those that do think or have the gall to say something like that, I say: do you have any idea how hard it is to push your self in a chair across a parking lot and around the store? or get in and out of a chair while someone is parked so close to you that you can barely even open your door? Even if you have an powered chair, it's hard and those spots are for people that need them! I hope that you are able to get a spot that you need, people can be terrible and not think of others, and that is horrible. I hope you don't have to deal with people like that to often.
@ctryhnny (3460)
• United States
2 Nov 12
This is a big pet peeve of mine and I don't even drive. I live in a Sr. Citizen complex with clearly marked parking spaces yet there is always someone parking in a handicap space and that piss## me off.
@offkey (313)
• United States
4 Nov 12
It is a pet peeve of mine as well, I don't understand why they think that it's ok, last weekend my husband and I went to dinner, and we got back to our car there was a guy parked on the white lines that were in between the 2 handicap parking spaces, in front of the ramp, I had to bite my lip not to say something to him, (he was an older gentleman and I didn't want to be disrespectful) but I cussed him out in my head, he wasn't there long, just long enough to walk about 30 or so yards to get a to go order of food, but its the principle of it.
@cripfemme (7698)
• United States
12 Jan 13
Some people need it only sometimes. I have one, but don't always use it because I have a power chair and feel that most of time I try to save those spaces for someone who truly has mobility issues. However, I would caution people to avoid judging whether a person using a placard needs one, because you can't know their story.