Why calling the police may not be such a good idea (long)

[EvilEmpryss]

I'm guessing that if the woman had been properly contrite, she could have made the rounds with a serious apology that may have gotten her out of everything but the handicapped parking fine. If it had been me, and my job was on the line (everyone say it with me) "in this economy", I would have at least tried to get the trespassing thing lifted with an apology.

Primer: I'm disabled with both a plate and a plaque. My guess would be that while it is technically not good (and probably illegal) for you to use someone elses' gimp plate, the fact that you are also properly tagged on your own car may be a mitigating factor that would keep you from getting fined. You would probably have to go before a judge to prove it, especially if you're driving the vehicle of someone of the opposite gender, but seeing as you're all part of the same family and all handicapped, I don't *think* a judge would impose the fine. I'm no lawyer, though, and your local may have very strict rules. No harm calling the police and asking.

[Mikkel]

"in this economy", I would have at least tried to get the trespassing thing lifted with an apology.

A bit over a year ago "this economy" wasn't as bad as now. I prefer to think that she got a new job soon, wiser and poorer.
It may have been the last straw for her boss as well as for Dwight K. Schrutes manager.

[Dwight K. Schrute]

A bit over a year ago "this economy" wasn't as bad as now. I prefer to think that she got a new job soon, wiser and poorer.
It may have been the last straw for her boss as well as for Dwight K. Schrutes manager.

Reading some of the comments posted here has made me think that she was, as said by Mikkel, down to her last "straw" with her boss and the mall management. Remember she had been to the mall manager several times before to complain about my drivers parking and I can't believe she was always polite and sunny when making these complaints. The mall manager did recognize her and not in a good way. She also probably had irritated her boss and co-workers to the point they were looking for a reason to get rid of her, Anyone as irrational as to call the cops when they themselves were not following the law could not have been the best employee in the office.

I think thats probably the most likely reason for her being fired. I have to go give an inspection on that location this week so while I'm there I'll stop by the mall managers office and see if he'll confirm some of our suspicions about this woman.

[EvilEmpryss]

I can't wait to hear how that turns out.

[nuthing12]

I felt bad because she was in tears by the end of it but I wasn't in a position to alter the outcome even if I wanted to. I did find out later that the company she worked for terminated her employment that week and that was the last we heard of her.

I'm not sure sure why you'd feel bad for her? She got her just desserts the same as anyone else in that position would deserve them. I guess some people have too big a heart for people like that. I'd laugh in her face.

[Andara Bledin]

And this, my friends, serves to illustrate the point that you don't sh|t where you eat, as it were.

^-.-^

[draftermatt]

I have a friend who always gets cranky when someone who doesn't "look" disabled uses those plates. I try to tell him that not all disabilities are visible from the outside

Exactly. My Grandmother-in-law is 80 years old and has heart problems, so she has Handicap tags. To look at her she looks great, but what you don't know is that a long walk through a parking lot will cause her more harm than good.

[Nohbody]

Exactly. My Grandmother-in-law is 80 years old and has heart problems, so she has Handicap tags. To look at her she looks great, but what you don't know is that a long walk through a parking lot will cause her more harm than good.

To be fair, for someone in their 80s, many would be more willing to believe that they're not as healthy as they used to be, and thus less likely to bitch about them using handicap parking spaces.

(Yes, some would complain anyway, but that's not exactly an unknown phenomenon on this site, where some of the worst of the shopping public gets highlighted. They're not the norm, though.)

[Akasa]

My best friend went blind at 19 and the outraged people we would get for us to park in handicapped spots was amazing. Cause "you don't look handicapped."

See her clinging to my right arm? I'm her guide. With me she can tell where to stop, when to go, I can stop her if children dart out in front of us, tell her when there it a step up or down, and move her around those damned displays in the middle of the isles.

[drunkenwildmage]

She doesn't deserve any sympathy whatsoever. People need to learn that they aren't allowed to go ape-sh!t on people and not expect there to be repercussions. Her right to be outraged ended first with her public display of ass and then with her hypocrisy.

I'm handicapped, and I have the plates (not the tag) on one of my vehicles, but even so, my husband isn't allowed to use the handicapped parking spaces if I'm not in the car.

Which led to him getting bitched out by a woman in a Wally World parking lot: He took a sweet parking spot right next to the gimp spot on a very busy day (he says the lot was packed!). As he got out, the woman in the car behind him proceeded to park in the middle of the lane, get out, and give him what-for for not using the empty gimp spot. She actually followed him to the entrance insisting that he go back and move the car! She just could not understand that he wasn't disabled and wasn't allowed to park there.

Frankly, I'm glad the crazy nut didn't key the car out of anger.

I've had this same thing happen to me also.. ( I think it was also at a Wally World) I was driving my wife's car, (which also has Handicap plates) and got bitched out by someone for taking up a "Regular spot Needlessly"

Regarding the Using Someone Else's Permit.. Take a look what happen at a auto race in '03.




Disabled Parking Sting at Chicagoland Speedway



source: http://www.ccdionline.org/newsletter.php?article_id=4&

[draftermatt]

To be fair, for someone in their 80s, many would be more willing to believe that they're not as healthy as they used to be, and thus less likely to bitch about them using handicap parking spaces.

True, but despite her being 80 she looks all of 65 so...

[protege]

To look at her she looks great, but what you don't know is that a long walk through a parking lot will cause her more harm than good.

I know what that's like. My grandmother will turn 93 in January, and doesn't get around very well at times. Usually, she's in a wheelchair. If I take her our, most people are pretty damn nice, and don't mind the car sitting in the fire lane for a bit while I wheel her inside a restaurant. Usually, they'll even open the doors for us. "Us," because I have to push her chair--because of her auto accident 15 years ago, she can't push her own chair.

But, every now and then, I get to deal with some asshole. Usually, because I've "taken up two parking spots," because at Eat N Park, I'll park on the end of the aisle, with the driver's side of the car over the line, and into the triangular area (that *isn't a spot to begin with!). I have to do that, because otherwise, there's not enough room to open the car door, and get Grandma into her chair.

If it's not that, I get someone blasting their horn because I'll pull up outside the restaurant, put the hazards on, and wheel Grandma inside. At least I'm nice enough that I won't *totally* block the entry way, but still.

Nearly every damn weekend, it never fails, and it's almost *always* some old fool in a Cadillac or Buick, who just can't wait to get that "cheap" food on the buffet Respect Grandma's chair...or I'll put you in one!

[MrsEclipse]

A recent article from the Suburban Chicago News quoted an irate 27-year-old stripped of a placard as telling an officer he was “screwing over” his 80-year-old disabled mother. The officer replied, “No, you screwed over your 80-year-old mother by taking her placard.”

source: http://www.ccdionline.org/newsletter.php?article_id=4&

I love this response, because I hate this situation.

You did something you weren't supposed to. I did what I am supposed to do. Therefore, I'm the one who's in the wrong. Yyssw. NOT.

I see it all the time in sitcoms and it usually makes for a wallbanger episode, but when it happens in real life it totally hackles my bacon. I love this response and I love everyone who says it.

[trailerparkmedic]

People who abuse handicapped tags make me

I am actually quite happy that this lady got fired. She sounds like she had been causing problems for awhile, especially since I can't imagine her getting a trespass notice just for this incident.

[Shalom]

A recent article from the Suburban Chicago News quoted an irate 27-year-old stripped of a placard as telling an officer he was “screwing over” his 80-year-old disabled mother. The officer replied, “No, you screwed over your 80-year-old mother by taking her placard.”

Am I the only one that finds this placard-abuser's story somewhat unlikely? If accurate, his mom would have to have been 53 when she gave birth to him. Wonder if he was just making things up in an attempt to shop for sympathy (although if so it would seem he went to the wrong store, and serves him right too).