I had a coworker who always carried her mother's handicap parking permit and used it when she deemed necessary. That's why there're people like OP who wonder.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think that main point is that unless somebody has put you in charge of handicapped-parking enforcement, you should mind your own business.

You do realize that all voting citizens are in charge of handicapped-parking? We are the ones that drive the legislation that defines the rules and regulations. It's not the doctor, it's not the cop, it's not the dmv, it's you and me. Come out of that closet and start participating in the process!

Uh, you are in charge of electing people who write legislation. You are not in charge of enforcement.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Since we are on a rant here...WTF people and handicap bathrooms. Am I the only one in the world who gets pissed when there are tons of open bathrooms and people go use the handicaped ones?

Yeah, yeah...you can't judge etc. Save the handicaped bathrooms for people who need them.

Why? It doesn't use the handicapped stall up, when a non-handicapped person uses it.

Now obviously it's different if a person plans to occupy the handicapped stall for a long time, or if a person who could use any stall rushes into the handicapped stall ahead of a person who can only conveniently use the handicapped stall.

+1. I'll use it if no one is otherwise waiting for it if I need to change clothes or I have my 5 year old daughter with me. They aren't dedicated bathrooms; they're available. But obviously I'm not heading in there if someone needs it is behind me.

For someone in a wheelchair that needs to do a lateral transfer in order to get on/off the toilet, the added space next to the toilet is vital. Without that extra space there would be no way for them to make the transfer. While on the other hand, a normal size stall has sufficient space to change clothes or attend to a 5 year old.

Yes, I get that. Did you miss where I said I wouldn't use it if someone was there who needed it? But yes, I'm gong to use it if no one needs it. If no one needs it. Let me say that again. If no one needs it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really can't believe the number of threads on here about handicapped parking. Why is this the hill that people want to die on?

I have a handicapped parking tag. IT'S REALLY NOT THAT GREAT. It doesn't make my life bliss and perfection. I'm not shooting rainbows out of my ass constantly because of it. What the hell is the big deal?

Because you get to park close to the store, and they have to park further away. And if that's not a big deal, I don't know what is!

(I'm not being sincere. I'm sorry, PP.)

In my random anecdotal experience, I've noted that the biggest whiners about handicapped parking abuse are overweight people who really could use the exercise but are too lazy to walk an extra 15 feet complaining about otherwise healthy looking people who may or may not be handicapped.

When my 88 year old father comes to visit, he brings his placard. I drop him off at the curb and park the car...in the handicapped spot. Why? Because he insists when coming out that he wants to walk back to the car and parking farther back may mean that I either have to carry him or he has to stop midway and sit on someone's bumper to catch his breath to get in. So, yes, I'm a healthy able bodied person that usually parks further back and walks, but a handful of times the one week I'm visiting with him or he's visiting with me, I will "abuse" the handicapped parking space. Get over it.

I also know a couple of people with Crohn's disease who have good days and bad days. And unfortunately a bad day can happen at anytime. So they could be perfectly fine going into a restaurant or store and then be hit with an "episode" and it could be excruciating just to get back to their car in the handicapped spot, and near impossible to get back to a sport anywhere else in the parking lot.

So I really think it's churlish for able-bodied people to be policing the use of handicapped spots unless it is your job to do so.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Since we are on a rant here...WTF people and handicap bathrooms. Am I the only one in the world who gets pissed when there are tons of open bathrooms and people go use the handicaped ones?

Yeah, yeah...you can't judge etc. Save the handicaped bathrooms for people who need them.

Why? It doesn't use the handicapped stall up, when a non-handicapped person uses it.

Now obviously it's different if a person plans to occupy the handicapped stall for a long time, or if a person who could use any stall rushes into the handicapped stall ahead of a person who can only conveniently use the handicapped stall.

+1. I'll use it if no one is otherwise waiting for it if I need to change clothes or I have my 5 year old daughter with me. They aren't dedicated bathrooms; they're available. But obviously I'm not heading in there if someone needs it is behind me.

For someone in a wheelchair that needs to do a lateral transfer in order to get on/off the toilet, the added space next to the toilet is vital. Without that extra space there would be no way for them to make the transfer. While on the other hand, a normal size stall has sufficient space to change clothes or attend to a 5 year old.

I don't know what kind of luxurious public bathrooms you use but I can barely get the door closed without scraping my pregnant belly in a normal stall. Certainly wouldn't be changing clothes!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had a friend with cystic fibrosis who didn't always use her oxygen tank, but was still very ill and had trouble walking long distances

How far is long distances?

Maryland uses a measurement of 200 feet on its application.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had a friend with cystic fibrosis who didn't always use her oxygen tank, but was still very ill and had trouble walking long distances

How far is long distances?

A block, a few feet, anything could be long for her on bad days - which is the nature of the beast with cystic fibrosis. She would often had to stop and catch her breath on bad days. But, she was a young lady and looked healthy from the outside, which is why people often confronted her in parking lots.

First let me say, I'm not trying to say in anyway your friend didn't deserve handicap parking. I was simply trying to point out that a long distance is vague. To a healthy in shape person a long distance would be several miles. Someone home-bound a long distance could be from their couch to the bathroom. Now what they mean by limited or severely limited when it comes to qualifying for a placard is anyone's guess. I guess that's probably why permits themselves are so controversial, vague qualifications.

Here's what I don't get. WHY DOES IT MATTER? If you don't need a handicapped spot -- thank your lucky stars.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Since we are on a rant here...WTF people and handicap bathrooms. Am I the only one in the world who gets pissed when there are tons of open bathrooms and people go use the handicaped ones?

Yeah, yeah...you can't judge etc. Save the handicaped bathrooms for people who need them.

Why? It doesn't use the handicapped stall up, when a non-handicapped person uses it.

Now obviously it's different if a person plans to occupy the handicapped stall for a long time, or if a person who could use any stall rushes into the handicapped stall ahead of a person who can only conveniently use the handicapped stall.

+1. I'll use it if no one is otherwise waiting for it if I need to change clothes or I have my 5 year old daughter with me. They aren't dedicated bathrooms; they're available. But obviously I'm not heading in there if someone needs it is behind me.

For someone in a wheelchair that needs to do a lateral transfer in order to get on/off the toilet, the added space next to the toilet is vital. Without that extra space there would be no way for them to make the transfer. While on the other hand, a normal size stall has sufficient space to change clothes or attend to a 5 year old.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had a friend with cystic fibrosis who didn't always use her oxygen tank, but was still very ill and had trouble walking long distances

How far is long distances?

A block, a few feet, anything could be long for her on bad days - which is the nature of the beast with cystic fibrosis. She would often had to stop and catch her breath on bad days. But, she was a young lady and looked healthy from the outside, which is why people often confronted her in parking lots.

First let me say, I'm not trying to say in anyway your friend didn't deserve handicap parking. I was simply trying to point out that a long distance is vague. To a healthy in shape person a long distance would be several miles. Someone home-bound a long distance could be from their couch to the bathroom. Now what they mean by limited or severely limited when it comes to qualifying for a placard is anyone's guess. I guess that's probably why permits themselves are so controversial, vague qualifications.

Anonymous wrote:What fun! I think I'll start pulling drivers over if I think they're speeding, too. And I'm going to ask all of the parents at my child's school if they really live at the address they gave the school district. After all, I vote.

If you feel the posted speed limit is too high or too low, then you have every right to petition your local political representative and try having it changed. Or if you have children and you want a slow children playing sign put up. I think this is what they mean by participating in handicap parking. If you don't agree with who qualifies for handicap parking, then work with your state representatives to have the qualification process changed.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Since we are on a rant here...WTF people and handicap bathrooms. Am I the only one in the world who gets pissed when there are tons of open bathrooms and people go use the handicaped ones?

Yeah, yeah...you can't judge etc. Save the handicaped bathrooms for people who need them.

Why? It doesn't use the handicapped stall up, when a non-handicapped person uses it.

Now obviously it's different if a person plans to occupy the handicapped stall for a long time, or if a person who could use any stall rushes into the handicapped stall ahead of a person who can only conveniently use the handicapped stall.

+1. I'll use it if no one is otherwise waiting for it if I need to change clothes or I have my 5 year old daughter with me. They aren't dedicated bathrooms; they're available. But obviously I'm not heading in there if someone needs it is behind me.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had a friend with cystic fibrosis who didn't always use her oxygen tank, but was still very ill and had trouble walking long distances

How far is long distances?

A block, a few feet, anything could be long for her on bad days - which is the nature of the beast with cystic fibrosis. She would often had to stop and catch her breath on bad days. But, she was a young lady and looked healthy from the outside, which is why people often confronted her in parking lots.

Anonymous wrote:

You can't tell from a forum post if someone is able-bodied or not unless they specifically state so. And even then, there's no way to tell if they are being truthful or just embellishing their point of view.

You are correct, of course, but I think someone who uses a wheelchair would tell us, since it would strengthen the argument.

Anonymous wrote:
Gosh, I sure wish that I had a disability too, so that I could live it up in the handicapped parking spots.

Better luck in your next life. Not everyone can have this insane luxury.

Or in this life, after the accident, the illness, or the child born with a disability.

Anonymous wrote:Since we are on a rant here...WTF people and handicap bathrooms. Am I the only one in the world who gets pissed when there are tons of open bathrooms and people go use the handicaped ones?

Yeah, yeah...you can't judge etc. Save the handicaped bathrooms for people who need them.

Why? It doesn't use the handicapped stall up, when a non-handicapped person uses it.

Now obviously it's different if a person plans to occupy the handicapped stall for a long time, or if a person who could use any stall rushes into the handicapped stall ahead of a person who can only conveniently use the handicapped stall.