Yet again, another story on handicapped parking and entitlement

[greensinestro]

I think Florida does since this may be the state with the most abuse.

[Aethian]

I also hear placards may also have your tag number on them, like your license plate does.

Not always, depends on the locality.

[greensinestro]

I also hear placards may also have your tag number on them, like your license plate does.

[Kittykat]

Here it's $250.00 fine for the first offense, 500 for second, and suspended license for third.

[DGoddessChardonnay]

It really chaps me when someone is using a family member's card when they themselves are able bodied and their family member is not in the car.

I have to think that if you are the family member of a person with mobility issues, then you should know firsthand how wrong it is to misuse something like that.

Amen!

Stuff like this chaps my ass to no end. We have a hard enough time just getting a space for our little Toyota and a scooter at Wallyworld so Mom can go in and shop.

Luckily though we've seen people out patrolling the parking lot (this started around a year ago or so now) and tickets ARE being issued for those who are parking in handicapped spaces but have NO placard hanging from the rear-view mirror or a permanent plate on the back (Mom has both the placard and the license plate, so she's well covered.)

Now how many of those who are using those placard and don't need them personally I really couldn't say - but at least it's a step in the right direction. I would think a $250.00 fine per violation would get most folks' attention right quick.

[MoonCat]

Hey RK! Missed you, been wondering where you were.

My dad used to have a handicapped card (heart issues) and when he took us shopping, sometimes (not always) he'd park in the handicapped spot. I always felt guilty about it unless he also got out of the car.

There was a guy here a couple years ago who was caught selling handicapped placards to whoever had the money to buy.

And for the record, I don't think I could walk AT ALL in high heels anymore...let alone briskly!

[Sapphire Silk]

Neither would I. It really makes you wonder how people like this obtain the placards. Maybe something once happened that warranted them getting one. But, do these ever expire? Or are they good for life?

They expire. If they're regular tags, they have to renew like any other tag. Hang tags expire and have to be replaced.

A cop can ask to see your driver's license and run the serial number on the tag. If your name does not go with the tag, and the person whose does is not with you, then that person can permanently lose their tag. Campus police regularly checks for this because we have a lot of problems with students using Grandma's hang tag to use HC parking.

A call to a cop to run the hang tag probably would have resulted in a similar fate for the EW in our story.

[taxguykarl]

Once when I was called on that, I simply stated (honestly) that I just dropped off my wife, whose placard it was. Never heard anything since.

[otakuneko]

My mom has a placard that I keep in my car. It goes up when I show up at her apartment to pick her up, but that's the only time it goes up without her.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

Yes, of course. That's not a misuse of the card. No, I mean people who are simply using it for no other reason than to get a sweet park.

I park in the zone when I have my mother in law with me. I guess I'm taking a risk, as I do not have a card or a plate. But I have to park close, where there's a ramp.

I'm always a little embarrassed. Fortunately, it's usually places where they know us (like her favorite restaurant and the like).

[TopEndDave]

It really chaps me when someone is using a family member's card when they themselves are able bodied and their family member is not in the car.

There is only one situation where it is ok to use the family member's card, when picking up the family member. My nephew went go pick up his great grandmother from her weekly shopping trip. Parked in the disabled spot by the doors and hopped out of the cars. Other people waiting to pick him up gave him dirty looks until he took the shopping from great grandmother. He put the shopping in the car, loaded up her walking frame and then left the spot.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

It really chaps me when someone is using a family member's card when they themselves are able bodied and their family member is not in the car.

I have to think that if you are the family member of a person with mobility issues, then you should know firsthand how wrong it is to misuse something like that.

[LillFilly]

Different states have different placecard layouts. some states write in the name, DOB and expiration date of the card holder I believe, so nobody else can use it. Most have an expiration date clearly printed. The cards are like licenses; good for several years, then you have to submit paperwork with your doctor to renew them; this is due to possible changes in disability status or the person passing away, so family members can't keep using the cards. I know you certainly can't judge whether someone 'looks' disabled, but this sure sounds fishy! If the person is the true card holder, they should have a matching wallet-sized card they carry with them.

[bainsidhe]

Regardless of whatever disability Nissan woman may or may not have had (and she DID have a placard, after all), it sounds like she budged ahead of the other vehicle to nab the space. That alone is incredibly rude and deserves a

[mathnerd]

The fine in Florida for using somebody else's placard just went up to something like two or three times the amount of the fine for parking without one at all.

Now, in the interest of full disclosure, I have put my son's placard up in the window if I'm using street parking, but that's for "insurance" if you will, just in case I don't get back in time to feed the meter, as most places in Florida allow you to not pay for parking if you're hanging a valid permit. I still feed the meter (and don't park in designated spots), but do hang it just in case.