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Liberal_in_LA

(44,397 posts)
Sun Jan 29, 2012, 01:49 AM Jan 2012

It's time for a crackdown on abusers of disabled placards - 10% of CA drivers have 'em

It's time for a crackdown on abusers of disabled placards

Los Angeles needs to take tough action, and California should at least require that the drivers get a doctor's signature every two years. Physicians could be more discriminating too.



One healthy-looking woman told me she'd had her placard since a motorcycle accident "six or seven years ago." Two women told me to mind my own business. Another one, I'd say about 30 years old, told me she was born with a back problem.

"I'm blanking on it right now," she said when I asked about the condition. It begins with an "S," she said.

Scoliosis?

"Yes, that's it."

She then walked — quite briskly — to the county courthouse, two blocks away, where she works as a clerk. If she's got a bad back, wouldn't it make more sense to park in the lot at the courthouse? It would if this was really about her back. But I'm guessing it's more about free parking.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-lopez-disabled-20120129,0,4469107.column
28 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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It's time for a crackdown on abusers of disabled placards - 10% of CA drivers have 'em (Original Post) Liberal_in_LA Jan 2012 OP
Full of bullshit anecdotes and thin on facts REP Jan 2012 #1
I had foot surgery Lebam in LA Jan 2012 #2
Otoh, I, too, had foot surgery, and rely on that placard. Atman Jan 2012 #14
A doc's signature is already required every two years in California ProgressiveProfessor Jan 2012 #3
I try not to get upset with those who park in handicap spaces. JohnnyRingo Jan 2012 #4
Just charge for handicapped parking, and require annual medical renewal. boppers Jan 2012 #5
Don't do it in Redmond, WA Missy Vixen Jan 2012 #6
Cards should have a PHOTO of the "disabled" on them - if that person is NOT IN THE CAR, it cannot be msongs Jan 2012 #7
This message was self-deleted by its author Obamanaut Jan 2012 #20
oh, Steve Lopez, that weirdo. provis99 Jan 2012 #8
I have a relative who has one of those--he gets it renewed every year. Doctor signs a form. MADem Jan 2012 #9
I really do have Scoliosis Raine Jan 2012 #10
The local 9 hole golf course... meaculpa2011 Jan 2012 #11
I agree in memory of my good friend Arnold Jackson. Loudmxr Jan 2012 #12
Yep, I saw DiverDave Jan 2012 #13
My friend has one for her dad. He doesn't drive. proud2BlibKansan Jan 2012 #17
You make the assumption that the vehicle has one driver, or that being handicapped disqualifies them Ikonoklast Jan 2012 #26
People should mind their own business obamanut2012 Jan 2012 #15
Absolutely right! My dad had ALS and I used to drive him to the doc, etc. Happyhippychick Jan 2012 #18
Exactly obamanut2012 Jan 2012 #22
They don't expire? proud2BlibKansan Jan 2012 #16
My Dad has a disabled permit... meaculpa2011 Jan 2012 #19
I'd say more than 50% are fakes........ Logical Jan 2012 #21
I have to wonder why it bothers you, actually. MineralMan Jan 2012 #23
The phonies aren't... meaculpa2011 Jan 2012 #24
Back trouble comes & goes. You can be fine one day & barely walk the next. As far as placards... Honeycombe8 Jan 2012 #25
You're very fortunate to be able-bodied. MineralMan Jan 2012 #27
I would love to have one but I have diabetes and my doctor says I need the exercise. It would jwirr Jan 2012 #28

Lebam in LA

(1,344 posts)
2. I had foot surgery
Sun Jan 29, 2012, 02:00 AM
Jan 2012

Was in a cast for 6 weeks. The doctor offered me a handicapped referral. I refused it because I couldn't drive and figured anyone driving me could let me out at the door and park the car. Nonsense to allow so many unnecessary expemptions

Atman

(31,464 posts)
14. Otoh, I, too, had foot surgery, and rely on that placard.
Sun Jan 29, 2012, 09:33 AM
Jan 2012

I was also in a cast for six weeks. I've been wearing just an air-cast for the last couple of weeks; before that, I transitioned with "the boot," which i had to take off and replace with the air-cast for driving, then put back on to walk. I didn't refuse the disabled placard, I just didn't bother to even ask for one until I was driving myself. Like you, my wife or son drove me everywhere before that, so the pass wasn't necessary. But it sure as heck is now! I have a long walk across an uneven dirt parking lot at my office and I'd surely eff-up my ankle and tendon again if I had to deal with that every day...so, for the time being I get park in one of the disabled spaces in the paved reserved/executive area, a short limp to the front door.

However, I made a stop at the mall not too long ago and the only disabled places were full. I found another space farther down the aisle.

As I left the mall, I hobbled past two you girls -- teens or early twenties -- carrying lots of packages, walking briskly, clearly no indication of any disability. They stopped at a shiny new BMW in the handicapped space to load their packages. I said "nice, some of us really could have used that space" as I limped by in my cast. Being the class act that she was, the young driver yelled "FUCK OFF! I have a pass!" and flipped the placard dangling from her mirror. "No, your daddy does, his CAR doesn't. Read the damned thing."

In CT, the cards clearly states that the card is issued to one particular driver, and should be removed if someone else is operating the vehicle. She just called me an asshole as she drove off, while I was still limping to my car.

JohnnyRingo

(18,581 posts)
4. I try not to get upset with those who park in handicap spaces.
Sun Jan 29, 2012, 02:34 AM
Jan 2012

The few people who abuse the system are inviting severe karma as I see it, and it doesn't matter much to me anyway. Where I live there always seems to be a surplus of spaces so I doubt they're actually inconveniencing those who truly need them.

I make a point of never questioning anyone with a placard because some handicaps are not readily evident. Some people are just incapable of walking long distances across a parking lot, unlike my lucky self.

I'm an excellent forger of such things, but I've never been tempted to make one because I'm afraid the irony of a subsequent serious injury would be too much to bear. I did make one though for a guitar player friend of mine. It had the usual graphics with the words "CLASSIC ROCK BAND" in block letters below. He keeps it on his case.

boppers

(16,588 posts)
5. Just charge for handicapped parking, and require annual medical renewal.
Sun Jan 29, 2012, 03:04 AM
Jan 2012

My husbandwife has debilitating psoriatic arthritis, and some days she walks just fine, other days she needs a cane and a lot of time to get anywhere... and she's never had a permit, because she gets by.

The problem, here, doesn't seem to be "fakers", it seems to be that there's a clear, monetary incentive, for faking... it's a free parking pass.

Missy Vixen

(16,207 posts)
6. Don't do it in Redmond, WA
Sun Jan 29, 2012, 03:08 AM
Jan 2012

It's a $250 fine. Redmond's police department has a volunteer enforcement program that tickets scofflaws on sight.

Good luck with getting a judge to dismiss it, too.

msongs

(67,199 posts)
7. Cards should have a PHOTO of the "disabled" on them - if that person is NOT IN THE CAR, it cannot be
Sun Jan 29, 2012, 03:12 AM
Jan 2012

used. That person must be in the car when it arrives and when it leaves.

Response to msongs (Reply #7)

 

provis99

(13,062 posts)
8. oh, Steve Lopez, that weirdo.
Sun Jan 29, 2012, 03:31 AM
Jan 2012

I see he's gone in the Times from obsessing about his greatness, to obsessing over death, to now obsessing over parking.

MADem

(135,425 posts)
9. I have a relative who has one of those--he gets it renewed every year. Doctor signs a form.
Sun Jan 29, 2012, 04:03 AM
Jan 2012

He's pretty disabled, too.

Raine

(30,540 posts)
10. I really do have Scoliosis
Sun Jan 29, 2012, 05:22 AM
Jan 2012

always had it but I've never had a handicaped placard, it never occured to me.

meaculpa2011

(918 posts)
11. The local 9 hole golf course...
Sun Jan 29, 2012, 05:36 AM
Jan 2012

here on Long Island has 20 disabled parking spots. No motor carts on the course.

Loudmxr

(1,405 posts)
12. I agree in memory of my good friend Arnold Jackson.
Sun Jan 29, 2012, 08:14 AM
Jan 2012

He is my hero. He would go and report non-disabled access facilities so they could be fined.

He would not get money just the satisfaction that people were held responsible for not following the law.

A survivor of polio he would walk his crutches down to our parties and sing Frank Sinatra songs.. passionatly.

An activist locally in Leyte, nationally The Philippens, internationally he wrote a paper that he presented or was just about to present on the sex lives of the disabled.

Then he died. He fell or had a heart attack... it is hard to tell when living in the third world. His house overlooked the bay of Tacloban City, in a neighborhood of small streets, small houses, vendors and water purifiers.

I had a disabled placard after I had colon cancer. I did not appear to be disabled but I could not walk far as my scars healed.

They took my colon out and slice and dice and then stuffed it back in. Only on bad days did I use it because there are so many others that need those spaces. I could only walk so far ... but further than others.

I would not advocate prison for those who abuse the placard just an injunction to a separate parking space at the furtherest end of the parking lot. That is justice!!

PS I love you Arnold and this last time in the PI I missed you soooo much.

DiverDave

(4,877 posts)
13. Yep, I saw
Sun Jan 29, 2012, 08:17 AM
Jan 2012

a FLATBED 18 wheeler with one.
Now think about that, whoever it was has to TARP and secure the loads.

They are NOT disabled.

proud2BlibKansan

(96,793 posts)
17. My friend has one for her dad. He doesn't drive.
Sun Jan 29, 2012, 10:12 AM
Jan 2012

It's on her car. She uses it when she takes her dad shopping and to the doctor.

Ikonoklast

(23,973 posts)
26. You make the assumption that the vehicle has one driver, or that being handicapped disqualifies them
Sun Jan 29, 2012, 12:50 PM
Jan 2012

That may be a team operation where one of the CDL holders has a qualifying disability.

I have seen that in person. The man in the husband/wife team had a prosthetic leg.

I have also seen single flatbed drivers with handicapped placards.

The driver I saw had one arm, and a prosthesis. He chained and tarped loads all by himself.

He was most definitely allowed to have and display that placard.

obamanut2012

(25,911 posts)
15. People should mind their own business
Sun Jan 29, 2012, 10:00 AM
Jan 2012

Many people have disabilities that aren't readily apparent to people. They may look "normal," but you have no idea what pain they may be in, or anything else about them.

I have a good friend with MS who looks completely "normal," can walk briskly and seemingly without pain. She is, however, in constant pain and discomfort, and has been ordered by her doctor to "cut corners" on walking as much as she can. Many people in this thread who sneer at her and say she is a liar or a cheat.

There are people who abusing the system by using a relative's placard. But,like the Welfare Queen, the numbers are few compared to to those truly in need of the placard.

If you think someone is abusing the system, then call the police.

Happyhippychick

(8,379 posts)
18. Absolutely right! My dad had ALS and I used to drive him to the doc, etc.
Sun Jan 29, 2012, 10:33 AM
Jan 2012

One time I took him to his appointment, left to get him some groceries, and when I returned I parked in a handicap space so I could get him. I walked "briskly" into the office to get him in his wheelchair and had two different judgmental jerks yell at me.

proud2BlibKansan

(96,793 posts)
16. They don't expire?
Sun Jan 29, 2012, 10:04 AM
Jan 2012

I agree about minding your own business. Not all handicaps are visible. I have a friend with scoliosis. It's devastated her life.

meaculpa2011

(918 posts)
19. My Dad has a disabled permit...
Sun Jan 29, 2012, 10:43 AM
Jan 2012

for his car. He's 89, and suffered frostbite during The Battle of the Bulge. After working until age 86 he finally agreed to the "disabled" permit. When I drive him the VA for his doctor's visits I drop him at the front door and then find a spot. I'm not going to take a spot from a disabled VET.

 

Logical

(22,457 posts)
21. I'd say more than 50% are fakes........
Sun Jan 29, 2012, 11:07 AM
Jan 2012

I have seen too many people with them walk around Walmart 30 minutes with no issue.

If they can walk around walmart 30 minutes they can park 3 minutes away from the door.

MineralMan

(146,192 posts)
23. I have to wonder why it bothers you, actually.
Sun Jan 29, 2012, 11:28 AM
Jan 2012

Some people are disabled but not in a visible way. You can't get the placard without a sign-off from your doctor. No doubt some people abuse these placards, but you have no way of knowing who they are.

Find another parking spot. That's my advice.

meaculpa2011

(918 posts)
24. The phonies aren't...
Sun Jan 29, 2012, 11:36 AM
Jan 2012

taking a spot from me. They're taking a spot from a disabled person that really needs it.

Honeycombe8

(37,648 posts)
25. Back trouble comes & goes. You can be fine one day & barely walk the next. As far as placards...
Sun Jan 29, 2012, 11:54 AM
Jan 2012

there are too many handicap SPACES, IMO. I don't think I've EVER gone to a parking lot where even half of the handicap spaces were even parked in. And there have been numerous times when NONE of the handicap spaces were in use.

Example: my local Target. There must be about 10 - 15 handicap spaces right in front of the door. At most, I've seen only two of those spaces taken at any one time.

But it's good for me to walk a few extra steps, I suppose. Still I think it would be helpful for older, but not handicapped, people, or people who don't feel well, etc., to be able to park nearer the door at times.

Now let's talk about all the people using those electric chairs to shop! In the last 10 years I've seen the number of those grow and grow, and usually it's obese people using them. People seem to be getting fatter and fatter so that they can't even walk around a store?

MineralMan

(146,192 posts)
27. You're very fortunate to be able-bodied.
Sun Jan 29, 2012, 12:58 PM
Jan 2012

Many people are not so fortunate. That you don't see the handicapped spots full does not mean that they are not full at other times. I doubt you are at Target at all times, so you're only getting a brief glimpse of the usage of handicapped parking spots. And it's not Target's call in most places. They have the number of handicapped spots they're required to have, in most jurisdictions.

As for the motorized shopping carts, I guess I don't see how it matters to you if people use them. If they can't comfortably walk around the store, then I'm sure they're glad that the store provides those for their use. I imagine it causes them to patronize the store more often, so the store benefits. Does it harm you when someone uses a motorized cart?

Someday, you may need such facilities or shopping carts. If that happens, I imagine you'll change your tune about them.

jwirr

(39,215 posts)
28. I would love to have one but I have diabetes and my doctor says I need the exercise. It would
Sun Jan 29, 2012, 01:20 PM
Jan 2012

come in handy if we go to the Renaissance Fair this year - just walking to the gate is about a 3/4 mile with out the 22 mile circuit inside the gates.

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