Fed up

I think that was rude and annoying. You should only have to display your badge when you are parked, that's all dad does. Did he want or need your space or was he just being a bully? I know how you feel because I have heard people comment because my dad has a big merc and is disabled apparently you are meant to be penniless in a small tatty car too. I have to admit that people parking in the mum and baby spaces (for under 5's) really annoy me, even tho' Bond doesn't have a disabled badge Roo is still young enough to warrent the space and to be honest we do need it. I have had disabled people tell me that the mum and baby is their overspill and that I should move to let them in. I flash Bong's autism card and walk off but it really annoys and upsets me. You wouldn't have a card if you didn't need the space - I can-t get one. Why can't people keep their opinions to themselves. I saw a discussion llike this a little while ago and it's unfair to juge disability on how old you are or if you can walk out of the car. Unless they need the space desperately, then they should respect your need. If the person was desperate I'm sure you would struggle in an attepmt to help, I know I would but just for the sake of it, tell them knickers!

I dont blame you one bit. In the states we have the same problem but we have disabled on our license plates do you? Im sure your were upset about that nasty old person. Sometimes I just want to scream at some these old ones. It wouldnt do any good they wouldnt hear me anyway.heheheheh

I can understand your frustration. But, as someone who is bothered by people who exploit the handicapped population by parking in handicapped spots just because they are closer, I understand why people might mention it to you if they don't immediately see your badge. Alot of people have handicapped right on their license plates here in PA, which I would think helps take care of that problem.

Gabs, I'm sorry that you're so hurt over this. Unfortunately a lot of people are very fussy about keeping those spaces for people who need them. I know it's unfair to need the space and have someone come up and give you the third degree on it. But, yes, they obviously must look at you and see you as healthy and fit. This is great because it means you don't "look" disabled, and I'm sure you've often been complemented as being quite young looking (we've seen your pic) - another bonus. I'm sure they don't think you love being disabled. They just haven't realised that you are in the first place. If you're not displaying a sticker on the windscreen, then, unfortunately, you just have to accept that people are going to ask why you're parking in the space in the first place. Even I admit I have a habit of looking at the windscreens of cars parked in disabled spaces to see if they've a sticker on them. I suppose the one good thing is that at least they're paying attention to who parks in these spaces. But if they're going to ask if you realise it's a disabled space then they should be polite about it and not give you the third degree. And that guy should have apologised before he walked away. Personally I wouldn't challenge anyone at all. I leave it up to the ticket wardens and the police to check the parking.

Sorry that this happens to you. During time that I needed to use these type parking spaces as I used a walker and then a cane to walk. I was also informed I needed a decal to prove that legally I was entitled to park there. I contacted DMV and the answer was I need a certificate from my doctor confirming I was disabled. If you are caught without said proof you are liable (here in Georgia) for a $500.00 fine.

Its was a bad day just it...forget what happened and live life to its fullest. Do not mind these small things because life is much bigger than that. Try living each moment and do not give ears to such people. Never think you are wrong..just believe in the fact that God has made you the best and you able to everything. I also used to mind things in my life..but soon i realised that it useless to think like that..it will do no good to me..and nobody will come for help. I try to keep myself happy in bad situations also.....because i again say..life is after all life..what happens tomorrow nobody knows. We just know "Today"..and thats the best god's gift..that's why it is called "PRESENT"

I used to know this guy who was in a wheelchair who used to park in the parking spots for disabled & handicapped people. This was back in college, & he was in a class with me. By the end of the course, he had a HUGE pile of parking tickets because he kept forgetting to put his handicapped sign up. The last time we met was after the final exam when he said "Now I get to go to court with this pile." He showed me the nice bundle of parking tickets. Being that he & I never ran into each other again, I can only imagine that guy wheeling himself in his wheelchair into a court room with that pile of parking tickets.

No you're right to be upset. Sad to say there are so many people who use these parking bays that don't need to so I sort of understand why people interfere but they could put things in a nicer way.

I don't blame you for being upset. It would be different if someone were to question your parking if you had parked, exited the vehicle and didn't display your parking badge. However, if the badge you have is like the ones we have here, they hang from the rear-view mirror and can be quite a vision obstuction, so I don't blame you for not having it hanging on the mirror at all times. Personally I think people go looking for someone or something to criticize. It's sad, since it generally stems from the fact that they're miserable in their lives and are trying to impose their misery on others. Next time someone says something to you just ask them simply if they have nothing better to do with their time than to play "parking lot police!"

Yes,I believe you are.If your badge isn't displayed then how are these people to know? They are just trying to be good samairitains by looking out for the disabled.Most of the people who are handicapped/disabled have a sticker/mirror tag/ or plates showing at all times to avoid this and possibly tickets.Wouldn't it just be easier for everyone if you did the same? Then the samairitains can go back to scolding the rude inconsiderate people who aren't handicapped and park there.

My dad has one of those and I'd like for my mom to get one. He does not have his hanging from the mirror at all times. He just slides it up abouve the visor when not in use. Then when he uses it he just slips it out and puts it on the mirror. If you were to look at him you wouldn't know he needs it. He does have trouble with his hips sometimes, especially durring the cold and has had heart problems.

You have every right to be upset. It's hard for people to understand someone is disabled if they physically don't look it. So they jump to the conclusion that you aren't.. Don't worry about it, you know you are... they don't need to know you are. You have the badge & the disability. You owe no explanation to anyone.

Noo, we have the same problem here, I get odd looks all the time from people when I park on disabled parks. I think most people tend to think missing limbs or paraplegic when they think disabled, they see what they percieve to be a healthy person and get upset. Luckily I've had to stand up knock down arguments with people, yet, but my size might be in my favour and make them think twice before using their mouths.

Just ignore what people say to you, some times people don't know any better. Yes, all you can do is explain to them, "I have X", so I am in fact disabled. The best way is just to ignore and pray for them to learn how to handle people better. Like you said, you have the sticker so people shouldn't be telling you about parking there. Pablo

Isnt society cruel. I myself is disabled sometimes it takes everything to walk to the door. The city wont give me a parking pass for it though. Sometimes i really do need to park in the spot so i do and man even when they see me practically crawling to my car people make such remarks about parking there. I think people need to take there heads out of there a$$'s sometimes.

I can't imaging actually approaching someone unless they had packed in the handicapped spot and DIDN'T have someone on their car saying they were allowed to park there. There are so many people that park in them that aren't supposed to be that it is irritating to people, especially those that are allowed to park there, to see people parking in a spot they have no business in. I see why you were upset, and he should have kept his mouth shut until everyone was out of the car, but I can see why he asked. Having handicap plates, myself, I see those spots abused way to often. He probably thought he was doing a good thing by policing the handicapped spots, not realizing he was stepping on toes.

some people are too busy trying to find bad things that are happening in the world that they fail to see what is right in front of them and have some compassion. they want to be the one that catches someone doing something wrong so much that they will just blame anyone for doing things even if the person is doing nothing rong.

I can understand that, because I work in car parks. Some people abuse the disabled parking bays and spoil it for the people who are really disabled. This man was probably one of those and annoyed that the space he wanted had been taken. That's why he just walked away when your daughter told him you were disabled... he had lost! If he'd tried that in one of my car parks, he would have found a ticket on his car, that's for sure. I don't mind booking the Mayor and the police so I'm sure he wouldn't have been a problem. lol.

I don't know where you life. I live in Canada. It is a lway here that if you park in a disabled parking lot, your sign has to be displayed. I'm surprised it's not a law wherever you are, then it would avoid all these questions.

Hi Gabs. I understand how you feel and you are not wrong feeling that way. Here in the United States I never had that problem but of course I am new here. I was learning how to drive for a long time so sometimes I would drive my mother in-laws car but she also rides with me in the front seat because my license doesn't allow me to drive by myself yet. I was always parking in the areas reserved to disabled people but I would also hang the blue sign on the thing that attaches the mirror to the windshield. People never asked me if I was or not disabled. Well I guess maybe where you are there is a lot of abuse and people park in those areas and that's not fair for disabled people. To avoid this problem put the sign on the car in an area so that everybody can see it well. Take care Gabs!