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What would you do?

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Chronic Pain
Should I have...
simply left a note on the offending vehicle - 11.1% - 2 votes
done what I did, contact the parking office - 72.2% - 13 votes
ignorned the problem and just park farther away - 0.0% - 0 votes
slashed the tires and keyed the car (kidding) - 16.7% - 3 votes
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Posted 8/30/2012 11:56 PM (GMT 0)
The parking around my office is a mess. A large lot behind the building has been fenced off while they construct a multi-level lot. But I usually park right along side the building where there are 4 handicap spots and about 15 regular spots. The other nearby lots are smaller, but there are large lots about 1/4 mile away.

Because of the large lot being closed, the lot where I usually park has been much more busy -- and every day I've been to my office this month, I've seen the same Nissan Murano parked in a handicap spot, though it has no handicap license or tags (either from the state or my employer).

As a result, I've not been able to park in that lot about 20% of the time and today I got fed up and emailed my employer's security/parking office. I included the vehicle's make and model, license plate and parking ID tag, asking that they contact the owner of the vehicle and ask him/her to stop parking in a handicap spot (or if needed, get the appropriate tag).

I hate being a busy-body or a "tool" of the system -- was my action appropriate?
Posted 8/31/2012 12:07 AM (GMT 0)
Of course it was, and I would have done the same thing myself. Fair is fair.

david
Posted 8/31/2012 12:20 AM (GMT 0)
Good evening cogito!

I just had the same thing happen to me about two months ago, and after I got to my work station, I simply typed out a note, and had intended to leave it on the cars window. However as I approached the vehicle, I noticed a young man getting in it, so I tapped on his window and asked politely to have a chat with him. He obliged and slowly lowered the window…and I asked him if he had permission to park there, and explained that I had a permanent handicap tag, and an assigned parking slot where his car was now parked.

He told me that after the tornado there at our place of employment, the company was doing repairs on a building he worked in and that construction workers had blocked off his normal parking space. Now I'm a pretty observant person, and I noticed that his eyes were pinned and I said "your in some sort of pain…aren't you?" He looked sort of surprised and confessed that he was indeed in pain. Not only that…but he was having a fusion surgery the next week on his lumbar spine. It was then that I shared with him my own experience with back problems. He really turned to be a nice kid, and before it was over, I told him to feel free to use the parking space, since he was working 3rd shift, and all I had to do was move my Jeep back after he left…as our working hours crossed 30min apart.

Cogito, in your case,…it seems that it was rather obvious that the driver was deliberately ignoring the handicap sign…and that burns my rear to no end!…so yes I think you did the correct thing there.

Thanks for asking and sharing your story.

SE wink
Posted 8/31/2012 12:29 AM (GMT 0)
I vote for number 4
Posted 8/31/2012 12:43 AM (GMT 0)
I believe you did the right thing cogito. That person was nowhere around, and the same car being there time after time gives you the right to do what you did. If you get nowhere with what you did, I would advise taking it further because you have the right to that spot.

hugs
Loretta
Posted 8/31/2012 2:04 AM (GMT 0)
You could also ask the office of the parking garage to call the non emergency police number, so that this car can get ticketed. Should it
happen again ask them to call the police, non emergency number. Only
the police can hand out tickets. But for now you did the right thing, good for you for doing it too.
Posted 8/31/2012 3:09 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Cogito, I'm afraid after the third time, I would have been merciless. The federal laws are pretty straight forward on that offense, and I take offense to that sort of highly disrespectful action. I would have called the highway patrol or the sheriff and had the person's car towed. Where I live, all handicapped plates or placards are issued through the department of motor vehicles of the state, and the police can look up the information on the owner in about 2 minutes. If the owner doesn't have a placard issued to them, they get a ticket for $1500, and usually get their car towed.
Posted 8/31/2012 3:16 AM (GMT 0)
I would also like to add that I currently do not have a handicapped placard, even though I desperately need one, and even I'm respectful enough of the law to park in a regular spot until I get one. So I'm really offended by someone who does that, it's just nonsense and completely disrespectful.
Posted 8/31/2012 3:20 AM (GMT 0)
Haha, I just remembered Jack Nicholson's approach to moving a car in the movie "Anger Management", I might have done that one instead lol.
Posted 8/31/2012 3:50 AM (GMT 0)
Cogito - I think you absolutely did the right thing... and I would have done the same...

Matt - LOL on the Anger Management... I like that idea too :) :)
Posted 8/31/2012 3:33 PM (GMT 0)
I got an email this morning from the guy in charge of parking who asked me to phone him next time I see the car in a handicap spot. So, it looks like they aren't going to contact him on their own (which they could, since we all have registered parking passes). They also have a tie-in with the state system and are authorized to ticket.

I won't be going to work again until Tuesday (I usually am there just a couple days a week and work mostly from home).

I suppose I would have preferred that they send him a warning since that may do enough, rather than his facing a huge ticket.
Posted 8/31/2012 3:47 PM (GMT 0)
Cogito....I think you did what many of us would do...

And if they get fined...that is their issue as pretty much everyone knows that there are fines associated with parking in handicapped spots when you do not have authorization to do so.

It is written on every single sign.

And obviously this person did not care at all as it wasn't a one time mistake which then I would feel bad for them. They obviously feel that laws/regulations don't apply to them.

Now, if for some reason there is a sticker or placard that is sitting there that someone is missing seeing...then they can easily take this to fight the ticket.

So you shouldn't worry about anything that you did.

Enjoy your weekend:)
Posted 8/31/2012 5:16 PM (GMT 0)
Hi cogito, I think it's possible that they did issue the owner a warning, and may have told him/her that they would be ticketed if there are further complaints. I really wouldn't rule out that possibility, and I'd say that they likely looked the vehicle up, and found the the owner has no tags or placards issued. Like I said earlier, I really have no sympathy for someone who is going to do such a disrespectful action, and I think if the driver had tags, and had just lost them, the people running the parking lot would have likely told you, at least just to put your mind at ease.

I think everyone is being a lot more lenient on this than I would have been, so I guess in that aspect, my community should be very happy that I was medically disqualified from the highway patrol academy two weeks before going in lol. I would have been ruthless lol. And yes, under the right circumstances, I would have written my own mother a ticket, might have saved her from a few of the collisions she's been in the last few years from tailgating people.

Hope you don't have any more parking issues, but I think it's something that's always going to be a general problem worldwide, as long as there's cars around lol.

Take care Cogito, and have a good weekend.
Posted 9/1/2012 12:28 AM (GMT 0)
I may have gone more extreem quicker and requested that it be ticketed right away. Especially since it happens frequently. No second chances or warnings from me. As other have said it is clearly marked and if you dont have a placard it is very simple, you dont belong there period!

It is also illegal to use it if it is not your placard. Thats a little tougher to detect, however everyone with a placard should have an ID card with your name and matching number that you are supposed to carry as well. I had someone complain about me parking in a handicapped spot at Walmart. Even though at that point I was using a cane/ walker. There was an officer that they flagged down and I had to show that the placard was actually mine. I was angry but understand the need to check. I see so many people using others placards, people who have no obvious physical impairments or a car load of teens. Of course someone may have it legit but I am sure you know what I mean. I knew someone who used their deceased fathers placard for 4 years till it expired, that made me so mad, but she didnt want to hear it!

Must remind everyone with placards too, it is illegal to drive with your placard hanging off the mirror (at least in PA)!! I was ticketed $127 for having it hanging! OUCH, just what I needed on black Friday. He was able to pull me over just for that. Usually I take it down, but I was going between stores and didnt think. Silly me. I cant tell you how many people I see every day with them hanging.

Cogito, hopefully the staff will keep their eye out now and take care of this person! I would absolutely make them fully aware everytime you see it, even if there was an open space for you!
Posted 9/3/2012 12:50 PM (GMT 0)
Hi All,

This is a very interesting topic to me and one close to my heart.  I have had my placard (and a permanent license plate) for several years now and it is a Godsend!  Without it I would be unable to walk into the stores most of the time.  I would most certainly not be able to walk back out with purchases and often ask for assistance when I am at the local "mall" in the nearest town.  I cannot do this in a "big" city, but we are small and rural here so things are a bit easier.  It is really hard to find a spot to park either way and I will use the non-marked spaces if they are close enough to walk to save the other spots for those like us.  I'm sure you understand.

My reason for posting on this thread, however, is first to agree with Cogito and second to ask why those with a placard haven't gone ahead and gotten the disabled license plate.  I have both (and they didn't bat an eye when I asked for them both).  They did ask why I wanted both and I explained that I need the placard for when I ride with my husband or with a friend and cannot walk from the standard spots. There was absolutely no problem getting both (but I do think it is time time to renew the placard though...I had forgotten about it because I almost always drive...it is much easier on my back to drive or to use my vehicle anyway). 

I had to buy a vehicle with the lumbar support and heated seats, along with a back-up camera, and the whole cell phone system with navagation and all that jazz.  I still ended up adding more mirrors (that were less than $2.00 at BigLots) to help see the side of the vehicle so I don't hit someone in a blind spot if I need to change lanes.  I highly recommend them, if nothing else.  Not everyone will be able to go buy a new vehicle and I understand that, but if you can afford the mirrors or a GPS that you can dash or window mount, you will find the system helps to keep you where you can see the roads and know exactly how far you have before you need to be in the other lane.  It is difficult when your body does not turn like it should and you have to depend on some kind of device to help you drive, but I did what I had to do.

Anyway, I wish all of you the best.  If you need the placard or the license plate, please ask...my pcp did my request (and my PM would have done it too).  The key was to have the info filled out (just print the form from the internet from your state's website) and bring it in to your next appointment.  They sign and you go get your new tag and placard.  It really is so easy when you consider the independence you will gain.

Good luck my friends!

Posted 9/3/2012 2:15 PM (GMT 0)
I hate this people who have NO IDEA what it is like to EVER have health problems not even the sniffles who think its ok to take from people who need it.

I commend you for your efforts this person needs a wake up call to reality
Posted 9/3/2012 3:01 PM (GMT 0)
I think Cognito emailing the parking authority is what I would have done, to give whomever a chance and reminder to put up their placard (if they have one).
I have mine but only use it when I am hurting to move, I did have my first placard stolen because my side window got stuck in the down position, and I popped into store for milk. That is how quick someone was, I do not think we have actual plates here I will have to check.
Hopefully you will not have this person parking in the handicap spot anymore.
Posted 9/3/2012 4:05 PM (GMT 0)
I certainly wouldn't recommend the stickers as then you can get into trouble with the police for tampering with someone's vehicle as well as it would be considered dangerous for them to drive with blind spots on their window.

So, even though it's a funny thought....following through and doing something "mean" to get back at someone just isn't the way to go.

As I think you have already done Cogito....reporting them to the parking authority is simple and should solve the problem as they will most likely give the person a strong warning that if they do this again the police will be called and they will be ticketed.
Posted 9/3/2012 4:31 PM (GMT 0)
….I don't think Darn me meant any harm as he indicated,…but I have to agree with Snowbunny on this, probably not a good idea, as it could lead to more trouble than one may wish.

I have seen cases where a handicapped driver forgot their plaque, but still carried proof of it in their wallet or purse, and if questioned could show it. It would be a real hardship on someone who was indeed handicapped if this happened to them.

SE
Posted 9/3/2012 4:39 PM (GMT 0)
Ohh...I don't think Darnme meant any harm either....I was just being my usual self and writing that in case anyone thinks it could be a fun joke play on someone and then they turn around and are the ones who get into trouble:(

As many of us do..there are the fun things that may cross our minds of what we WANT to do to someone who aggravates us in life...lol...And then reality when we do the right thing:)

Believe me...one of my biggest pet peeves while driving are those who wait until the very last second to merge into a turn lane when the rest of us have sat in traffic forever doing the right thing...or they sneak over in the emergency/pull off lane to cut in line...ARGHH..So what I WANT to do to them is not very nice!;)

Ok...back on track! LOL....
Posted 9/3/2012 10:43 PM (GMT 0)
The police here have handicapped parking patrols and it's a $400.00 fine. I have seen them around. I do have a placard. I walk with a cane, as I have fallen before. Let me assure you it's my card and I use it no one else in my family uses it without me at all. I keep it for me, most people help me once they see me walking with my cane. I'm glad there are people still out there that do care, sometimes a kind soul will help pick something I drop, which is very welcomed.
Many well wishes
Posted 9/4/2012 9:49 PM (GMT 0)
When I got to my office today, the same Murano was parked in a handicap spot once again. So, I called the parking office and they had someone go by to ticket them. There turned out to be a second car in a handicap spot without a permit, so it got caught in the dragnet.

I also mentioned the issue to one of the secretaries whose window looks out to that lot. So, during the days I'm not there (which are usually MWF), she can keep an eye out for the Murano.

Unfortunately, the ticket is a measly $100. But I was told (by the secretary) after 3 unpaid tickets, the car would get towed or booted.
Posted 9/4/2012 10:56 PM (GMT 0)
Good for you!!! Hey, $100 every time they get caught will add up. Maybe they will rethink what they are doing then. I wish more people would call and have the police enforce handicapped parking requirements.
Posted 9/5/2012 9:25 AM (GMT 0)
Good for you. $100.00 may be a slap on the wrist, but it would sting me a little bit so I'm sury the ones breaking the law will consider what they are doing before they park there again. I know I would.
It will also show up when they run them if they are pulled over (I think) and may sway the officer to give a ticket instead of a warning....let alone insurance issues if it counts (I just don't know). Either way...it's a slap and nobody likes to get slapped.

Great job my friend!
Posted 9/5/2012 4:45 PM (GMT 0)
I have two issues with handicap parking.

1. People who use it who don't need it

and

2. Places with tons of handicap spots that never get used!
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