Okay....

[conuly]

Nifty article. Woman goes around in semi-vigilante mode and, omg, tickets people who park in handicapped spots! I should send her a cape and a mask.

What? It'd be cool!

But... some people "don't approve of her methods" apparently. They'd be much happier, I suppose, if she just wrote evildoers nasty notes, I assume. And they think it's "inappropriate" if she tickets, say, a guy who *only* parked in the handicapped spot to pick up his kid and wife. Because he couldn't park elsewhere, I'm sure.

*shrugs*

I don't drive. Possibly there are vagaries of parking I simply don't understand.

Comments

[codeman38.livejournal.com]

I'd like to see people do some vigilante enforcement of other traffic laws. Like, for instance, actually going something vaguely resembling the speed limit, rather than 20 miles above it in the pouring rain... yeah, needless to say, trying to cross the street that day was a bit frustrating... >_<

[marveen.livejournal.com]

You can't really call yourself a driver until you've been honked at and swerved around for driving the speed limit.

Being rear-ended for stopping at a red light is a good one, too.

[sparkofcreation.livejournal.com]

Or not using a turn signal. On a sunny day on a straight road with wide lanes (say, the NJ Turnpike), it's perfectly safe to drive 20 miles above the speed limit (which IMO is an argument for raising the speed limit) ... but pulling in front of someone without a blinker is dangerous. (Especially if the cutter-off is doing the speed limit and the cuttee-off is going considerably above it.)

NO. There aren't vagaries of parking.

[marveen.livejournal.com]

There are a whole lot of lazy jackasses out there, is all.

DP spaces are not for picking up family on rainy days, nor for "I'll-just-be-a-minute" trips, nor for celebrities. They are for people who HAVE TROUBLE WALKING. If you, personally, have trouble walking, you should apply for a DP parking permit so you may legally park in these spaces.

In THIS state, you can get a permanent placard (blue) or a temporary (red).

[rachelkachel]

I understand the reasons and all, but it's frankly infuriating when the *only* good parking spots are three handicapped spaces which you have never seen anybody parked in... all the other open spots are literally two and a half blocks away...

[conuly]

Can't be more infuriating than being in a wheelchair, on crutches, and finding out that somebody too lazy to walk 2.5 blocks has parked in the *only* spot that you can use.

[conuly]

Of course, I'm just guessing, never having been in a wheelchair, or on crutches, or behind the wheel of a car.

[leora.livejournal.com]

It varies from area to area. But it really, really sucks to have to park further away and know that you'll be sick all the next day because of it.

[interactiveleaf.livejournal.com]

*shrug* I park in handicapped spaces on a pretty regular basis, and neither I nor anyone else in my family has any trouble walking.

When I go to pick up M from work, I hover near the door while I wait. Campus security prefers that I park in the handicapped spaces near the door rather than circle the parking lot; *I* prefer that I park there rather than park off campus and make at least one of us hike several city blocks, which is often (literally) the only other option--the parking lots really aren't big enough to handle the number of people working in these buildings, and the buildings are far apart. It's a problem for those who work odd hours and try to park; on the other hand, it encourages carpooling.

Anywizzy. That's the only time I park in handicapped spaces, and I think that there are several mitigating factors there--it's safer than repeatedly circling a parking lot with lots of pedestrians, I don't have to cross several busy roads, that's where the local security force prefers I be, and the *biggest* issue is that I never leave my car. If someone pulls up who needs to actually *park* in that space, I say "whoops! One moment!" and pull out. I don't see that as an undue strain on the legitimately-handicapped parker.

I wasn't planning to post here until I saw the mention of her ticketing a man who was waiting for his wife and son. There is a distinct possibility that he really *couldn't* park elsewhere within half a mile. Lord knows it happens often enough--parking space is tight.

It's equivalent to using the handicapped stall in a public bathroom--according to the specifics of the ADA, that space ought to be left open for the handicapped users, but, ummmmm, who does and why would we?

[mortaine.livejournal.com]

In other words, you make handicapped people confront you so they can have the spot you're illegally occupying?

Campus security is DEAD WRONG-- if they don't want you to hover, they need to provide a "20 minute waiting" spot. NOT tell you to "park in the handicapped space." For them to say that does not alleviate your responsibility in this, but it means they themselves are breaking the law as well.

From the inside of a car, on the driver's side, there is no way for you to know that someone is handicapped and wants your spot unless they hover behind you and honk. Many people-- disabled as well as able-bodied-- do not always feel like getting into a confrontation every damn time they want to go somewhere. YOU certainly can't see a handicapped icon on a license plate from that spot. Handicapped placards may be hung from a rearview mirror, but they can also be a card that the person puts on the dashboard before getting out of the car-- something one would not want to drive with, and which would therefore not be visible to *you* sitting inside your car. And the person who is handicapped might drive right by, not sure if you just have a placard that's hard to see from where they are, or if you're one of the able-bodied bastards who make life just that much more difficult for them.

Advice: Stop breaking the law. Show some respect for the gimps out there who legitimately need those spaces and don't want to have to fight with able-bodied people for them.

[lakidaa.livejournal.com]

Forgive me, for one of my major pet peeves is people who park in the Handicapped parking spot without the appropriate items. If you will allow me to be crude for a moment.

*ahem.*

Goddamn those sons of bitches who park in the handicapped spot without the appropriate items. My mom's in a wheelchair! We need those spots! AND YOU! You have a tag! Wonderful! Put it in the goddamn car like how it's supposed to go! NOT on the DASH. ASDFFL *froth*

Also: Parking in the thrice-damned lines. WTF WTF and WTF. COME ON. Stripes != PARKYSPOTS. Don't make me get out the lipstick. Or call the mallcops. Because we have in the past and we will do it again. ESPECIALLY when there are spots *points* over there. That's not that far away. Yes, it's a little hot. Tough muffins.

*cough.*

Alright, done now.

Lakidaa SMASH.

[leora.livejournal.com]

I second this. I need those spots a hell of a lot more than someone who doesn't have a placard/sticker/etc. If you need them that badly - get one.

I really think most people have no idea how badly so many of the people who have the right to use those spots need those spots. An able-bodied person walking two and a half blocks takes a great deal less effort than me walking two feet.

[sporks5000.livejournal.com]

I like to park far away and walk, so if they start putting handicapped spaces out there... Woah! Watch out!

[interactiveleaf.livejournal.com]

I thought you might be interested in this. Hell, I thought you might advertise this to your F-list:

Free "60 seconds is a minute too long" (http://www.unitedspinal.org/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=46&PHPSESSID=81216fdaf8ccad47941495070b2c73ff) Parking pads. Notifies car owners that they have parked illegally in a space reserved for people with disabilities; 20 sheets per pad.

It seemed appropriate to come back and find this entry . . .

[codeman38.livejournal.com]

I'd like to see people do some vigilante enforcement of other traffic laws. Like, for instance, actually going something vaguely resembling the speed limit, rather than 20 miles above it in the pouring rain... yeah, needless to say, trying to cross the street that day was a bit frustrating... >_<

[marveen.livejournal.com]

You can't really call yourself a driver until you've been honked at and swerved around for driving the speed limit.

Being rear-ended for stopping at a red light is a good one, too.

[sparkofcreation.livejournal.com]

Or not using a turn signal. On a sunny day on a straight road with wide lanes (say, the NJ Turnpike), it's perfectly safe to drive 20 miles above the speed limit (which IMO is an argument for raising the speed limit) ... but pulling in front of someone without a blinker is dangerous. (Especially if the cutter-off is doing the speed limit and the cuttee-off is going considerably above it.)

NO. There aren't vagaries of parking.

[marveen.livejournal.com]

There are a whole lot of lazy jackasses out there, is all.

DP spaces are not for picking up family on rainy days, nor for "I'll-just-be-a-minute" trips, nor for celebrities. They are for people who HAVE TROUBLE WALKING. If you, personally, have trouble walking, you should apply for a DP parking permit so you may legally park in these spaces.

In THIS state, you can get a permanent placard (blue) or a temporary (red).

[rachelkachel]

I understand the reasons and all, but it's frankly infuriating when the *only* good parking spots are three handicapped spaces which you have never seen anybody parked in... all the other open spots are literally two and a half blocks away...

[conuly]

Can't be more infuriating than being in a wheelchair, on crutches, and finding out that somebody too lazy to walk 2.5 blocks has parked in the *only* spot that you can use.

[conuly]

Of course, I'm just guessing, never having been in a wheelchair, or on crutches, or behind the wheel of a car.

[interactiveleaf.livejournal.com]

*shrug* I park in handicapped spaces on a pretty regular basis, and neither I nor anyone else in my family has any trouble walking.

When I go to pick up M from work, I hover near the door while I wait. Campus security prefers that I park in the handicapped spaces near the door rather than circle the parking lot; *I* prefer that I park there rather than park off campus and make at least one of us hike several city blocks, which is often (literally) the only other option--the parking lots really aren't big enough to handle the number of people working in these buildings, and the buildings are far apart. It's a problem for those who work odd hours and try to park; on the other hand, it encourages carpooling.

Anywizzy. That's the only time I park in handicapped spaces, and I think that there are several mitigating factors there--it's safer than repeatedly circling a parking lot with lots of pedestrians, I don't have to cross several busy roads, that's where the local security force prefers I be, and the *biggest* issue is that I never leave my car. If someone pulls up who needs to actually *park* in that space, I say "whoops! One moment!" and pull out. I don't see that as an undue strain on the legitimately-handicapped parker.

I wasn't planning to post here until I saw the mention of her ticketing a man who was waiting for his wife and son. There is a distinct possibility that he really *couldn't* park elsewhere within half a mile. Lord knows it happens often enough--parking space is tight.

It's equivalent to using the handicapped stall in a public bathroom--according to the specifics of the ADA, that space ought to be left open for the handicapped users, but, ummmmm, who does and why would we?

[mortaine.livejournal.com]

In other words, you make handicapped people confront you so they can have the spot you're illegally occupying?

Campus security is DEAD WRONG-- if they don't want you to hover, they need to provide a "20 minute waiting" spot. NOT tell you to "park in the handicapped space." For them to say that does not alleviate your responsibility in this, but it means they themselves are breaking the law as well.

From the inside of a car, on the driver's side, there is no way for you to know that someone is handicapped and wants your spot unless they hover behind you and honk. Many people-- disabled as well as able-bodied-- do not always feel like getting into a confrontation every damn time they want to go somewhere. YOU certainly can't see a handicapped icon on a license plate from that spot. Handicapped placards may be hung from a rearview mirror, but they can also be a card that the person puts on the dashboard before getting out of the car-- something one would not want to drive with, and which would therefore not be visible to *you* sitting inside your car. And the person who is handicapped might drive right by, not sure if you just have a placard that's hard to see from where they are, or if you're one of the able-bodied bastards who make life just that much more difficult for them.

Advice: Stop breaking the law. Show some respect for the gimps out there who legitimately need those spaces and don't want to have to fight with able-bodied people for them.

[lakidaa.livejournal.com]

Forgive me, for one of my major pet peeves is people who park in the Handicapped parking spot without the appropriate items. If you will allow me to be crude for a moment.

*ahem.*

Goddamn those sons of bitches who park in the handicapped spot without the appropriate items. My mom's in a wheelchair! We need those spots! AND YOU! You have a tag! Wonderful! Put it in the goddamn car like how it's supposed to go! NOT on the DASH. ASDFFL *froth*

Also: Parking in the thrice-damned lines. WTF WTF and WTF. COME ON. Stripes != PARKYSPOTS. Don't make me get out the lipstick. Or call the mallcops. Because we have in the past and we will do it again. ESPECIALLY when there are spots *points* over there. That's not that far away. Yes, it's a little hot. Tough muffins.

*cough.*

Alright, done now.

Lakidaa SMASH.

[leora.livejournal.com]

I second this. I need those spots a hell of a lot more than someone who doesn't have a placard/sticker/etc. If you need them that badly - get one.

I really think most people have no idea how badly so many of the people who have the right to use those spots need those spots. An able-bodied person walking two and a half blocks takes a great deal less effort than me walking two feet.

[sporks5000.livejournal.com]

I like to park far away and walk, so if they start putting handicapped spaces out there... Woah! Watch out!

[interactiveleaf.livejournal.com]

I thought you might be interested in this. Hell, I thought you might advertise this to your F-list:

Free "60 seconds is a minute too long" (http://www.unitedspinal.org/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=46&PHPSESSID=81216fdaf8ccad47941495070b2c73ff) Parking pads. Notifies car owners that they have parked illegally in a space reserved for people with disabilities; 20 sheets per pad.

It seemed appropriate to come back and find this entry . . .