Question-are the spots reserved for pregnant women OK to park in or block if you aren't a pregnant woman??

Not in my book. Again, lazy and self-centered people do things like that.

This will be my last post on this thread...but, I wanted to clarify why I brought up the topic of speeding in the first place. And it wasn't to compare the egregious nature of the various laws that get broken. Obviously, we can all agree that someone who murders someone in cold blood, or rapes a 4-month old baby girl, is worse than someone who goes 5 mph over the speed limit on a deserted country road. That's not the issue that I was trying to raise. The comment was made that this guy had a "blatant disregard of the law" and that "laws exist for a reason and they should be respected". And, in principal, I would think that we'd all agree on the second part.

 

However, it was my contention that most of us blatantly disregard the law, and usually on a daily basis. What I was trying to show was that just about every one of us makes a decision as to what laws we actually follow and, by doing so, respect. Obviously someone who is handicapped, or has a family member who is handicapped, will look at this issue with much more scrutiny. Those who have lost a loved one to a drunk driver, will likewise look at those who drink and drive in a different light. And so on and so on. My point with speeding was that the majority of us do it and, we too, are obviously disrespecting the law. The issue that it (speeding) is most of the time a victimless crime, is moot. You are showing a "blatant disregard for the law", just the same way this guy was.

 

And for those who "justify" speeding, in the end, you are no different than some of the arguments made on here about this guy using these spaces. There could've been a hundred other handicapped spots open, or zero people come into that lot needing a handicapped spot, and him parking in those spots would still be against the law. Yes, you may be able to drive at a certain rate of speed, and may have done so without incident for years upon years, and thousands upon thousands of miles. But, all it takes is one time, when you encounter a situation that makes your driving conditions suddenly less than ideal, where suddenly that same, excessive speed is no longer safe. It may be a deer running out across the road, it may be a pothole that causes you to blow a tire, it may be a couple of kids arguing in the back seat, it may be a hundred different things that change your ability to properly control your vehicle. The thing here is, you never know when that is going to happen. I can sit here and say that I could drive up and down I-75 all day long going 80mph and not have any issues. But, all it takes is for one semi (who may be driving reckless and speeding himself) to change lanes unexpectedly in front of me for me to put my vehicle in the center barricade. And if my vehicle bounces back and takes out a mini-van filled with kids, tell me how my speeding is victimless? At what mile per hour do I go from simple speeding to reckless driving or endangering others?

 

Folks, situations arise. You can be in a traffic accident even if you and everyone else around you are following the speed limit. Likewise, a handicapped person can pull into a parking lot where all of the handicapped spots are filled by other, legitimate handicapped needs. But, I don't see a four page thread on how SOAS needs to add more handicapped parking spots, because their six are sometimes all full.

 

Was this situation handled properly according to the law? No. Were there other options available? Based upon Guru's knowledge, I'd say yes. Did it ultimately cause anyone an actual hardship to use SOAS? I don't know. Does it set a bad example for everyone else who saw it? Yes. Did this guy get some bad advice (by taking the owner's recommendation to park there)? Yes. Was he parked there because he was lazy? I don't think so. (Nobody lazy that I know of volunteers to help move anything!)

 

I feel for the handicapped, who fight this on a regular basis. I really do. Which is why, God willing, you'll never see me in a handicapped spot. But, on the other hand, I can't say I don't feel for this guy too...because he was trying to do a good deed, and had a simple lapse in judgment. The other reason why I feel for him, is the fact that "we" (as BGP) have had the ability to personally attacked him, while maintaining our anonymity. I mean how often do we personally see situations like this, and express our displeasure to the driver (if we see them), or the business owner, or even call the cops? Unless we're handicapped, or have someone who is handicapped...I'd say very rarely.

CincySportsFan, I'm not trying to justify speeding, it's wrong and against the law. What I'm talking about, and where the two arguments separate, is the morality aspect of it. Speeding doesn't show a lack of empathy, the other does. BTW, I'm not attacking the guy or saying he's a bad guy. Just pointing out what I think is wrong with parking there and why. It may have been the one and only time he has ever done it. But it's still wrong and I don't mind pointing that out.

Maybe it's a generational thing, I don't know. For me, it's inexcusable and an entitlement mentality. Again, nothing personal.

 

Not taking it personal at all. And you are probably right with the generational idea. I can definitely see that being the difference in opinion. Of course my opinion may be different on this issue 40 years from now.

I would never take a handicapped spot. That's why I always park in the fire lane. What's the chance there is going to be a fire. Kidding

Last year, Florida enhanced penalties for fraudulent use. Now, someone caught using a hang tag not belonging to them is committing a 2nd degree misdemeanor punishable by a $1,000 fine or up to six months in jail.

 

I was over at my son's place and saw the following on the channel 9 news over there. I guess Orlando has had enough and is cracking down.

 

Police to put stop to illegal handicapped parking | www.wftv.com

 

Police spotted Beal's Chevrolet parked in a downtown handicapped spot at 2:30 a.m. and they were suspicious. Officers decided to run the tag that was hanging in her window and realized it belonged to a person in their 80's who had died months ago.

Just got a hang tag, I don't use it every time out, just when I'm having a bad day. So I guess this now hits a little closer home to me. I'll definitely be paying closer attention now to those that abuse it.

 

One thing I recently saw at the local hospital was a SUV parked on the Blue Hash lines between two other Handicapped parking spaces. The SUV did have a hang tag but was definitely parked illegally.

 

That leads me to this, several abusers of handicapped spaces seem to be people that can legally park in them. They park at angles taking up two and some times 3 or 4 spaces or sometimes will park right up against the drivers side of another car, so close they can't get in their car.

That leads me to this, several abusers of handicapped spaces seem to be people that can legally park in them. They park at angles taking up two and some times 3 or 4 spaces or sometimes will park right up against the drivers side of another car, so close they can't get in their car.

Sometimes it isn't abuse, but by necessity. If you have to transfer into a chair, or especially if you have to put down a lift or ramp, you need that extra room to keep from smashing into the next car over. And sometimes it's just people who suck at parking.

Sometimes it isn't abuse, but by necessity. If you have to transfer into a chair, or especially if you have to put down a lift or ramp, you need that extra room to keep from smashing into the next car over. And sometimes it's just people who suck at parking.

I agree, I'm not talking about parking to ensure they have room to get a chair out. I'm just talking about the FEW that seem to think the hang tag gives them an excuse to park however they want. Like the car cramming it self between two other cars in handicap parking.

Did they say anything to the owner who allowed their spots to be occupied by non-handicapped occupants? If not, then that's on them. If no one spoke up then no one was hurt too bad in my book.

 

So, let me make sure I have this right. You are saying (bolded) that since the handicap spots were taken up by this truck/trailer, should a handicapped person have come by and need to use a spot(s), then it was up to them to go into the place of business and say something so they could use the spot? If that's the case, then WOW is all I can say. Those spots are marked for a reason...and the guy in the picture (we assume) does not meet those reasons and thus is in violation of the law and probably could have received a hefty fine. I also believe he's being very inconsiderate.

I was having lunch one day last week and thought of Guru. As I was leaving Frisch's in Highland Heights a UPS truck backed into the two open handicap spots taking both. This was at the height of lunch time with a rather full parking lot so if a disabled person would have pulled in they would of had a nice walk.