Handicapped Parking
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Anonymous
| Live in Bethesda. Almost every time I go out, I see cars without handicapped tags or placards parked in handicapped spaces. When I’m with my handicapped kid, we often can’t find a space when we need one. Yesterday I saw 3 cars in the same parking lot without tags or placards in handicapped spots. We were able to get a spot but since I actually had 5 minutes I called it in the others to the non-emergency police line. They said they would send an officer out to enforce the law. I told the lady I thought $250 for a fine is not nearly high enough in Bethesda - it needs to be more like $2,500. She said that was a County Council issue, so in my spare time I’ll send them a letter. She also said I can call a tow company on any car I see parked in a handicapped spot and they will come to tow it. I have a FT job plus travel and 2 kids one of which is disabled so I don’t have time for that, but wondering if that is true? ULTIMATELY, I’m trying to understand WHY anyone parks in a handicapped spot when they’re not handicapped. EVEN for 5 minutes if you’re picking something up. DO YOU HAVE NO SHAME?! |
Anonymous
No, they have no shame. They are selfish and wrong. I'm glad you called those cars in and will be writing to the council. |
Anonymous
| I see this often in Cabin John. People, usually those who seem to be in their twenties or thirties, use handicapped spaces as curbside parking. It’s really surprising, because as an older person who can never find parking there, it never occurred to me to use the handicapped spaces. |
Anonymous
| That’s horrible, OP. I’m sorry you’re having to advocate for a right/accommodation that’s literally already in place not being denied because people are being jerks. I have no idea why anyone would park in those spaces if they didn’t need them (aka had a proper tag). |
Anonymous
| When the fire lane is full, the next best place for many folks to park is the handicapped spaces. |
Anonymous
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Some employees in DC’s DMV used to illegally sell those tags to fit, capable people; anyone with cash and a connection to the right person.
Yet another DC scam. Believe either the Post or the Times did one or more investigative journalism pieces on the scheme; maybe it’s still going? but in the past, you could count on the person using those tags in DC to be a fit, unethical, scumbag. |
Anonymous
Well then we need greater enforcement. I have a permanently disabled child and our life is already a living hell made bearable because we have decent incomes. Which we work our a!%$es of for. One of her many doctors got us the handicapped placard. We also have a handicapped space by our house to go to court for. What astounds me is people just park in these spaces WITH NO PLACARD OR NO TAG. How do you have no SHAME?! It’s hard enough going anywhere with my disabled kid. If you are able bodied, DO NOT PARK IN THOSE SPACES, EVEN FOR A MINUTE. PARK AS FAR AWAY AS YOU HAVE TO AND MOVE YOUR BODY ON YOUR OWN BECAUSE YOU CAN!!!!!!!!!
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Anonymous
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I think your outrage is justified.
Selfish, ignorant people really irk me to no end, and I do not have anyone disabled in my family. Can you enlist thr local press to help out, OP? Maybe if a “5 on Your Side” reporter stuck a microphone in some of these people’s faces, they would stop doing it? |
Anonymous
That is a GREAT idea. Another thing to add to my spare time list! Which of course I will get to in my next life 
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Anonymous
Also, I’m going to stop procrastinating and get of DCUM. Thanks all for the feedback. If you could please share the PSA of not parking in handicapped spaces when not handicapped, even for 5 minutes because it’s otherwise too hard to drop off your able-bodied children or walk across the lot to pick up your food, would be much appreciated!
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Anonymous
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She accused him of “salting” her. Does anyone agree with her that he was “salting” her? |
Anonymous
Yet another reason for rampant obesity in America. Too many lazy people who are too important to drive 20-25 feet into the parking lot and park in a real space and walk 15 extra seconds to get into the business. Go park your lazy a$$ in a normal parking space and walk. |
Anonymous
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In my area it’s the delivery services. Uber Eats and stuff. Oh they’re just going to pop in and get their orders. But sometimes the order isn’t ready and then it’s not 1 minute to grab something off the shelf (which is also not ok but stands less of a chance of being noticed) it’s more like 5 or 10 minutes while they wait for the order to be done.
We have a strip mall shopping center by me that has 3 pretty busy takeout places right next to each other and limited parking up close - many spaces a little further away but you’d have to park and walk … the delivery people just pull up there and block the curbs, sometimes they even park next to another already parked car and then the travel lanes are impeded for cars trying to get by in the parking lot. |
Anonymous
| People think it is "handicapped/I'm just gonna be a minute" parking. meanwhile my 85 year old mom who has a hard time walking and a placard won't ever take a handicapped spot because she's worried that someone who needs it more than her might need it. So she parks further and painfully hobbles. |
Anonymous
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I’ve also experienced not being able to find handicapped parking because other, non-handicapped drivers have taken the spots.
I am an adult with severe disabilities, but nothing appear handicapped upon first glance. Yet I’ve been asked many times why I’m parked in a handicapped spot with a legal placard or plate. I don’t respond, “ None of your damn business!” though I want to. Instead I generally smile sweetly and say, “Not all disabilities are visible.” |