Tue Oct 2, 2012, 01:22 AM

pstokely (7,530 posts)

Use of Handicapped Parking Scrutinized at Arrowhead Stadium

Last edited Tue Oct 2, 2012, 01:30 AM USA/ET - Edit history (3)

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by muriel_volestrangler (a host of the Latest Breaking News forum).

Source: Fox 4 (not Fox news)

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A Chiefs fan is disgruntled after Sunday’s game against the San Diego Chargers — but not because the Chiefs lost. He’s frustrated over alleged misuse of handicapped parking spaces.
Chris Sampson said his friend took cell phone video of what appeared to be an able-bodied person — parked in a handicapped parking space — load a wheelchair with party supplies then walk away. Sampson said the driver of the car used a disabled parking mirror tag.
“It’s the biggest insult to all insults in this issue,” Sampson said. “It’s a total disregard to No. 1, what they’re doing — and No. 2, who’s around them seeing it.”
Sampson isn’t alone. Pete Williams works for The Whole Person , a non-profit group that assists disabled people in learning to live independently. He, like Sampson, uses a lift-van and needs the bigger disabled parking space so his wheelchair can access the van. Both he and Sampson said parking attendants at Arrowhead don’t check close enough.
“They’re directing traffic — park here, park there,” he said. “There should be parking attendants doing some checks, driving around to see if people have the proper tags.”

Read more: http://fox4kc.com/2012/10/01/use-of-handicapped-parking-scrutinized-at-arrowhead-stadium/

If the Chiefs are $20 mil below the salary cap, they aren't going to hire any more attendents to enforce the handicapped spots, and there will be plenty of room for tailgating at Arrowhead for the rest of the season.

The parking fines aren't even a whole lot more than the parking costs for Chiefs games

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30 replies	Author	Time	Post
Use of Handicapped Parking Scrutinized at Arrowhead Stadium (Original post)	pstokely	Oct 2012	OP
It does suck but if you have the tag, you get the spot.	MrSlayer	Oct 2012	#1
A lot of things the qualify for the tag aren't visible	pstokely	Oct 2012	#2
Agreed.	MrSlayer	Oct 2012	#5
Yep, no public transportation available to the stadiums either	pstokely	Oct 2012	#15
If you're going there to party you're driving anyway.	MrSlayer	Oct 2012	#24
Arrowhead is in KC City proper	pstokely	Oct 2012	#27
I have a handicapped plate...........	mrmpa	Oct 2012	#3
if just one of the people has the tag legitimately, there's nothing wrong with it	CreekDog	Oct 2012	#4
Can a handicapped person lift a 50 pound cooler?	pstokely	Oct 2012	#6
is the person who lifted the cooler the one with the placard?	CreekDog	Oct 2012	#8
+27	MrSlayer	Oct 2012	#25
also, for all you know, the person might have an artificial limb	CreekDog	Oct 2012	#11
Hi Dr. Frist!	CreekDog	Oct 2012	#22
I drive handicapped people around on occasion.	MADem	Oct 2012	#18
I woudn't be too hasty to pass judgement without more information...	silvershadow	Oct 2012	#7
The internet is full of people	Mr.Bill	Oct 2012	#9
as is the general populace. You wouldn't believe the dirty looks I get.	silvershadow	Oct 2012	#16
We have a handicapped plate on our car	Mr.Bill	Oct 2012	#19
I Had A Guy Follow Me Into A Grocery Store!	Bigredhunk	Oct 2012	#26
St Pete had parking patrols go through Tropicana field	HooptieWagon	Oct 2012	#10
Were the fines a whole lot more than the parking prices?	pstokely	Oct 2012	#12
$200 fine. $100 towing charge.	HooptieWagon	Oct 2012	#28
People should leave the diagnoses to the professionals	CreekDog	Oct 2012	#13
No one was wrongly accused.	HooptieWagon	Oct 2012	#29
He could have wheeled someone to their seats and gone back for other things using the wheelchair.	appleannie1	Oct 2012	#14
This message was self-deleted by its author	pstokely	Oct 2012	#17
so you're saying the disabled person should have been in their seats while their friends partied?	CreekDog	Oct 2012	#21
I see it happen alot in my area to and it pisses me off because often I actually need the spot	cstanleytech	Oct 2012	#20
This Is A VERY Tough Issue	Bigredhunk	Oct 2012	#23
Locking - not national news	muriel_volestrangler	Oct 2012	#30

Response to pstokely (Original post)

Tue Oct 2, 2012, 01:28 AM

MrSlayer (21,550 posts)

1. It does suck but if you have the tag, you get the spot.

You can't have every disabled person physically prove they need to use the handicapped spot.

It's fucked up to do that but I see it all the time.

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Response to MrSlayer (Reply #1)

Tue Oct 2, 2012, 01:33 AM

pstokely (7,530 posts)

2. A lot of things the qualify for the tag aren't visible

Last edited Tue Oct 2, 2012, 01:47 AM USA/ET - Edit history (1)

Can't blame the 1%er Chiefs ownership for tag abuse, a lot of people will probably just pay the $50-$300 find a good tailgating spot

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Response to pstokely (Reply #2)

Tue Oct 2, 2012, 01:43 AM

MrSlayer (21,550 posts)

5. Agreed.

Does it cost that much to tailgate there? Damn.

Parking is $25 here in Philly. Had a hell of a tailgate yesterday.

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Response to MrSlayer (Reply #5)

Tue Oct 2, 2012, 01:55 AM

pstokely (7,530 posts)

15. Yep, no public transportation available to the stadiums either

Last edited Tue Oct 2, 2012, 02:39 AM USA/ET - Edit history (1)

the private bus companies complained about the competition

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Response to pstokely (Reply #15)

Tue Oct 2, 2012, 02:24 AM

MrSlayer (21,550 posts)

24. If you're going there to party you're driving anyway.

I'm just amazed that people are paying hundreds for a spot. But for those that just want to get to the game, having the subway two blocks away from the sports complex does help a lot. I'm guessing Arrowhead is not in the city proper.

I've always heard the tailgate parties in K.C. are top of the line. I'd like to check it out one day.

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Response to MrSlayer (Reply #24)

Tue Oct 2, 2012, 02:35 AM

pstokely (7,530 posts)

27. Arrowhead is in KC City proper

but it's geographically wide and covers a lot of suburban areas

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Response to pstokely (Original post)

Tue Oct 2, 2012, 01:37 AM

mrmpa (1,874 posts)

3. I have a handicapped plate...........

I may look able bodied, but if I get challenged, I ask "what scar do you want to see"? But what you describe is the misuse of handicapped placards.

Two weeks ago I attended a College football game, small school Division III. My mother (who uses a walker) was with me. I drove into the parking lot, a car in front of me was stopped, as a car was leaving a parking space. What we saw pissed us both off. The driver left the space, got out of the car, went to the stopped car in front of me, and handed over to that driver a handicapped placard. The driver then drove into the space, which we saw was a handicapped parking space.

There were no other spaces, or handicapped spaces available anywhere in the lot. Finally, I parked in a space in front a loading area. I figured, I'd either get a ticket, or they would announce over the stadium speakers that my van needed to be moved.

Handicapped placards and their use is a big problem. I spoke to my Police Chief about their use & misuse, he told me that the DMV, does not plug placards into the computer system. If they did, he said he could begin targeting their misuse.

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Response to pstokely (Original post)

Tue Oct 2, 2012, 01:39 AM

CreekDog (37,336 posts)

4. if just one of the people has the tag legitimately, there's nothing wrong with it

being able to sit at a tailgate party doesn't mean one is able to easily walk through a very large parking lot.

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Response to CreekDog (Reply #4)

Tue Oct 2, 2012, 01:46 AM

pstokely (7,530 posts)

6. Can a handicapped person lift a 50 pound cooler?

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Response to pstokely (Reply #6)

Tue Oct 2, 2012, 01:49 AM

CreekDog (37,336 posts)

8. is the person who lifted the cooler the one with the placard?

or did they all pass around the cooler like it was a bong?

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Response to CreekDog (Reply #8)

Tue Oct 2, 2012, 02:26 AM

MrSlayer (21,550 posts)

25. +27

Last edited Tue Oct 2, 2012, 02:27 AM USA/ET - Edit history (1)

Nice.

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Response to pstokely (Reply #6)

Tue Oct 2, 2012, 01:52 AM

CreekDog (37,336 posts)

11. also, for all you know, the person might have an artificial limb

and can lift things fairly well, but have some difficulty (even if it looks easy) walking any significant distance.

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Response to pstokely (Reply #6)

Tue Oct 2, 2012, 02:12 AM

CreekDog (37,336 posts)

22. Hi Dr. Frist!

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Response to CreekDog (Reply #4)

Tue Oct 2, 2012, 02:02 AM

MADem (87,192 posts)

18. I drive handicapped people around on occasion.

I'm not the handicapped person--the one in the pax seat is. The "wheelchair" used to transport the party items might have been a "rollator"--there's a fold up one that doubles as a transport chair (push wheelchair) and a walker that can also be used to transport items too cumbersome to carry. It can also serve as an armchair. Very versatile thing...

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Response to pstokely (Original post)

Tue Oct 2, 2012, 01:47 AM

silvershadow (1,591 posts)

7. I woudn't be too hasty to pass judgement without more information...

I am disabled, and every day is different. Sometimes I use a cane, sometimes a walker, and sometimes use no assistance at all. That he had a wheelchair is a start...maybe he already took his party to their seats and used the chair to go back down to transport the supplies. Who knows? We talk about his all the time in my support group. If you don't know, butt out. As it is I will likely die looking "perfectly healthy"...I have one of the *MANY invisible diseases.

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Response to silvershadow (Reply #7)

Tue Oct 2, 2012, 01:50 AM

Mr.Bill (977 posts)

9. The internet is full of people

that can instantly diagnose people's disabilities by simply watching them exit their cars from fifty feet away. They should quit their day jobs and open medical practices, they are geniouses.

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Response to Mr.Bill (Reply #9)

Tue Oct 2, 2012, 01:58 AM

silvershadow (1,591 posts)

16. as is the general populace. You wouldn't believe the dirty looks I get.

I am still a youngish man, 47, and don't want to use the cane unless I have to (vanity I guess). But inside, my whole right side is numb and tingly, and I have difficulty walking, which is extra exhausting. As it happens, I have been told I am a fairly attractive man, and I've held my age well despite the more recent disability, so perhaps that plays into it some. Regardless, I know that if I was an overweight person, the public would be like "He's just got that handicap tag because he's fat". I know. It's just sad. The only people who should be reported are those without the proper credentials displayed. Thanks for you comments!

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Response to silvershadow (Reply #16)

Tue Oct 2, 2012, 02:02 AM

Mr.Bill (977 posts)

19. We have a handicapped plate on our car

because of my wife's arthritis and asthma. neither are very visible ailments, but waking long distances is difficult for her at times.

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Response to silvershadow (Reply #16)

Tue Oct 2, 2012, 02:27 AM

Bigredhunk (253 posts)

26. I Had A Guy Follow Me Into A Grocery Store!

And come up to me talking shit. "You don't look handicapped," he said. Of course the person I was with was the handicapped passenger. But this dumbass comes up to me, a very big guy, and starts mouthing off. People are morons.

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Response to pstokely (Original post)

Tue Oct 2, 2012, 01:51 AM

HooptieWagon (6,566 posts)

10. St Pete had parking patrols go through Tropicana field

Checking handicap placards. Found yhat over half of yhem were being used illegally. Peeps were pretty pissed at being caught and paying big fines.

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Response to HooptieWagon (Reply #10)

Tue Oct 2, 2012, 01:52 AM

pstokely (7,530 posts)

12. Were the fines a whole lot more than the parking prices?

They aren't at Arrowhead

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Response to pstokely (Reply #12)

Tue Oct 2, 2012, 02:38 AM

HooptieWagon (6,566 posts)

28. $200 fine. $100 towing charge.

And IIRC the placards were confiscated so the people that illegally loaned them out had to get replacements.

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Response to HooptieWagon (Reply #10)

Tue Oct 2, 2012, 01:54 AM

CreekDog (37,336 posts)

13. People should leave the diagnoses to the professionals

or they might end up falsely accusing somebody of "faking".

worse, do you want/expect a person to tell you what their medical issue is?

do they owe that to you if they already have a legitimate disabled tag or plaque?

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Response to CreekDog (Reply #13)

Tue Oct 2, 2012, 02:44 AM

HooptieWagon (6,566 posts)

29. No one was wrongly accused.

Several people complained to the city, but shut up when informed they could be arrested.
The operation ran 3 days, as I recall it was the season-opening series against the Yankees. After that, word got out and problem solved. They still do occassional spot checks. I assume they are checking against some database.

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Response to pstokely (Original post)

Tue Oct 2, 2012, 01:54 AM

appleannie1 (3,015 posts)

14. He could have wheeled someone to their seats and gone back for other things using the wheelchair.

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Response to appleannie1 (Reply #14)

pstokely This message was self-deleted by its author.

Response to appleannie1 (Reply #14)

Tue Oct 2, 2012, 02:11 AM

CreekDog (37,336 posts)

21. so you're saying the disabled person should have been in their seats while their friends partied?

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Response to pstokely (Original post)

Tue Oct 2, 2012, 02:03 AM

cstanleytech (5,487 posts)

20. I see it happen alot in my area to and it pisses me off because often I actually need the spot

because my mother actually does have to use a wheelchair and it makes finding a spot to park and get her in it difficult.

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Response to pstokely (Original post)

Tue Oct 2, 2012, 02:23 AM

Bigredhunk (253 posts)

23. This Is A VERY Tough Issue

People have a tendency to be Judgy Judgersons anyway. But I think it's especially so in this case. They look at people, probably jealous that Joe Handicapped has a better spot than them, and personally determine Joe H's handicapped'ness/lack thereof.

That said, there is also a lot of misuse. I remember reading in the Chicago Sun-Times years ago (5'ish?) about police running stings at malls during the holiday shopping season. They caught a bunch of people using placards which belonged to someone else. I think a lot of people will borrow one from someone in their family and use it out of laziness/convenience/desire to save time. True, not everybody who uses handicapped parking but appears able-bodied is able-bodied (you have no idea what's going on with someone). And yes, you can have somebody who's handicapped with you and not be walking into the store (or wherever) with them. I'll often drop my mother off close to the door so she has fewer steps to get to the handicapped cart...then I'll park...then I'll walk in. If someone only sees me parking and walking in, it doesn't look good. But you know there's rampant abuse. There has to be. People will cheat the the hell out of every system they can. You see it in all walks of life. I'm sure this is no different.

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Response to pstokely (Original post)

Tue Oct 2, 2012, 02:49 AM

muriel_volestrangler (65,808 posts)

30. Locking - not national news

This is an article about one instance at one stadium, and what that one stadium does about its rules, so seems local news. Perhaps the Missouri group would be more suitable, or GD, or the Disability group.

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