Parking rage at the mall

[Gambitgirl]

I was hunting for spot at the mall today. After looking for about 15 mintes I finally found exactly what I was looking for and pulled in.

As I hopped out of my car a guy pulled up behind me and started screaming "You can't park there! You're a bleepity bleep for parking there! You bleeping bleep bleep bleeper!" He was really ranting, practically turning purple in the face.

I rolled my eyes at him as he continued his tirade, still behind me screaming, and went around to let my passenger out, who gleefully waved his red and white cane and handicapped placard at the screaming driver before he handed it to me so I could hang it on my rearview mirror and legally park in the handicapped parking space I'd just snagged for my blind friend.

Ranting driver immediately shut up and said "oh sorry sir!" to my visually imparied friend, rather than to me, as we walked past. Friend, holding my arm, tugged for me to stop and turned to the ranter and said "I don't have to blind to see you are a bleep."  Ranter drove off in a hurry.

ok, i know that was so wrong of my friend, but we cracked up so bad walking to the mall.

P.S. Ranter did not have handicapped placard or license plate, so I guess he was being a jerk on behalf of the disabled...I'm sure the appreciate the thought. 

[MorningGlory]

Oh, oh, oh, my sides hurt from laughing at this post.  I needed a good laugh -thank you!

[Lisbeth]

Ranter got put in his place beautifully.

[bigozzy]

Strike one for the disabled!!!

Off post but I must share a story from one of my students a few years ago who was restricted to a wheel chair. The disabled access toilet in the building he had most of his classes was constantly out of order.
After several complaints and requests for action he got fed up.
The next day he rolled his chair into the dean's office where he was in a big meeting. He rolled right pass the astonished senior faculty faces into the deans' lovely large bathroom. On the way out he explained that this was the only bathroom in the building that he could access.

Perhaps a bit rude but amazing how quickly that situation was remedied!

[Bijou]

I was hunting for spot at the mall today. After looking for about 15 mintes I finally found exactly what I was looking for and pulled in.

As I hopped out of my car a guy pulled up behind me and started screaming "You can't park there! You're a bleepity bleep for parking there! You bleeping bleep bleep bleeper!" He was really ranting, practically turning purple in the face.

I rolled my eyes at him as he continued his tirade, still behind me screaming, and went around to let my passenger out, who gleefully waved his red and white cane and handicapped placard at the screaming driver before he handed it to me so I could hang it on my rearview mirror and legally park in the handicapped parking space I'd just snagged for my blind friend.

Ranting driver immediately shut up and said "oh sorry sir!" to my visually imparied friend, rather than to me, as we walked past. Friend, holding my arm, tugged for me to stop and turned to the ranter and said "I don't have to blind to see you are a bleep."  Ranter drove off in a hurry.

ok, i know that was so wrong of my friend, but we cracked up so bad walking to the mall.

P.S. Ranter did not have handicapped placard or license plate, so I guess he was being a jerk on behalf of the disabled...I'm sure the appreciate the thought. 

I only wish the yeller had been at the parking lot in safeway when a woman who owns a restaurant pulled into a handicap spot, got out of her car, went into the store, big as you please.  I saw NO placard anywhere.  Now I wish I had said something, but she was in the store and I was driving away.  I can only hope the cops did a drive by and nailed her butt.

[DaeOne]

I hate it when someone misuses a handicapped placard/parking space. Grrr.

[hyzenthlay]

My DH and I joke about borrowing my FIL's placard, and my SIL's cane for the holiday season. But it's easier to just avoid the mall entirely

[Hanna]

I hate it, too but I hear far more stories about people making assumptions and being rude to people with a legitimate reason to park in a handicapped spot than I hear about people actually parking there illegally.

[Gambitgirl]

I hate it, too but I hear far more stories about people making assumptions and being rude to people with a legitimate reason to park in a handicapped spot than I hear about people actually parking there illegally.

me too...i had a handicapped placard from my city and from my uni for 6 months after a severe illness...i could barely walk without wanting to pass out or needing to lean on something. you wouldn't believe the number of people who yelled at me for taking a handicapped spot b/c i was visibly impaired in their eyes (like missing a limb or in a wheelchair). if i felt the need, or had the energy to respond i'd either say "my handicap is not visible to the naked eye!" or something coloful version of go jump off a cliff.

[mddg4]

I have no problem, if someone has a placard or handicapped liscense plate, but I get really upset if someone doesn't! I have called mall security if I see a car with NO indication that it belongs in a handicap space. I feel absoluetly no regrets if they get towed. Both my parents are handicapped and cannot walk far and it has happened a few times that there is NO WHERE to park because of people like this. If I had seen you I would have WAITED to see if you had put up a placard and I would have never confronted you directly, I would have gotten security. My parents sometimes forget up until the last minute to put the placard up if they are in someone else's car, so I wait. But if the car is unoccupied and there is no placard... tough cookies! In MD it is a $100 fine to park illegaly in a handicapped spot and I have called the non emergency number on occasion for it.

By the way, the city of Albqurque (sp?) last year opened a brand new state of the art $5million courthouse. Problem?? They used 15year old building codes that are NOT handicapped accessible! My poor mom got a speeding ticket and went to BRANDNEWWEARE SO PROUD OF IT Courthouse to pay the fine and COULDN'T GET IN! They ended up tossing the case out (lucky MOM!) because she couldn't get her walker through the courtroom doorway. OOOOPS! Now the city is trying to decide do they rip it up and start over (another $10mil) or try to renovate (closer to $15mil).

Guess they better work on those building specs.

[rashea]

I have no problem, if someone has a placard or handicapped liscense plate, but I get really upset if someone doesn't! I have called mall security if I see a car with NO indication that it belongs in a handicap space. I feel absoluetly no regrets if they get towed. Both my parents are handicapped and cannot walk far and it has happened a few times that there is NO WHERE to park because of people like this. If I had seen you I would have WAITED to see if you had put up a placard and I would have never confronted you directly, I would have gotten security. My parents sometimes forget up until the last minute to put the placard up if they are in someone else's car, so I wait. But if the car is unoccupied and there is no placard... tough cookies! In MD it is a $100 fine to park illegaly in a handicapped spot and I have called the non emergency number on occasion for it.

By the way, the city of Albqurque (sp?) last year opened a brand new state of the art $5million courthouse. Problem?? They used 15year old building codes that are NOT handicapped accessible! My poor mom got a speeding ticket and went to BRANDNEWWEARE SO PROUD OF IT Courthouse to pay the fine and COULDN'T GET IN! They ended up tossing the case out (lucky MOM!) because she couldn't get her walker through the courtroom doorway. OOOOPS! Now the city is trying to decide do they rip it up and start over (another $10mil) or try to renovate (closer to $15mil).

Guess they better work on those building specs.

She won in part because of a Supreme Court Case that happened a few years ago. Essentially, the guy refused to be carried up the stairs and sat in a chair. So they held him in contempt of court. I've actually had problems of being told to come down to the police station before pointing out that I couldn't get it. How sad is it that 17 years after ADA passed we still have NEW buildings that aren't to code.

I never yell. Those spaces make all the difference in the world to me. But I would rather call and have them towed.

And no, I don't appreciate other people yelling on my behalf. Feel free to call and have them ticketed though!

[Kaire]

Ti's the season for me to get even more nasty looks for parking in handicapped.  Even though I *am* handicapped.   

I just thought of something though ... I could subsidise my Christmas budget by riding shotgun to the malls with people!  Tired of the holiday hassle?  For only $29.95 you can take me with and park a bit closer! 

[Hanna]

Ti's the season for me to get even more nasty looks for parking in handicapped.  Even though I *am* handicapped.  

I just thought of something though ... I could subsidise my Christmas budget by riding shotgun to the malls with people!  Tired of the holiday hassle?  For only $29.95 you can take me with and park a bit closer! 

Just be sure to remember and put that placard up.
Would be terrible if you came out of the mall to find your Ride was towed by some "good samaritan" making assumptions.

[hjaye]

I have no problem, if someone has a placard or handicapped liscense plate, but I get really upset if someone doesn't! I have called mall security if I see a car with NO indication that it belongs in a handicap space. I feel absoluetly no regrets if they get towed. Both my parents are handicapped and cannot walk far and it has happened a few times that there is NO WHERE to park because of people like this. If I had seen you I would have WAITED to see if you had put up a placard and I would have never confronted you directly, I would have gotten security. My parents sometimes forget up until the last minute to put the placard up if they are in someone else's car, so I wait. But if the car is unoccupied and there is no placard... tough cookies! In MD it is a $100 fine to park illegaly in a handicapped spot and I have called the non emergency number on occasion for it.

I have to admit I was guilty once of parking in a handicapped spot and I did not have a placard.  I had broken my leg the day after Thanksgiving in 1993, I had a full length leg cast from my ankle to my hip.  (It was very difficult driving, I would get in my car and physically move my right leg out of the way so I could drive with my left leg, very uncomfortable)

I had gone to the mall to do some holiday shopping, the only spots that were open except for those in the far reaches of the outer mall parking lot were handicapped spots.  I saw a mall security guard cruising in his little golf cart in the parking lot.  I pulled up beside him and asked him if it would be alright if I parked in a handicapped spot.  It had not occurred to me to ask for a temporary handicapped placard from my doctor.  He saw the cast on my leg and told me it was ok.

[Kaire]

Ti's the season for me to get even more nasty looks for parking in handicapped.  Even though I *am* handicapped.  

I just thought of something though ... I could subsidise my Christmas budget by riding shotgun to the malls with people!  Tired of the holiday hassle?  For only $29.95 you can take me with and park a bit closer! 

Just be sure to remember and put that placard up.
Would be terrible if you came out of the mall to find your Ride was towed by some "good samaritan" making assumptions.

One time I did have a woman parked across from me whip out her cell phone and call the police.  I knew what she was doing because she was craning her neck all around trying to see my plates and dashboard.  As soon as she hung up she gave the most smug look and crossed her arms like "I've shown you!"  I pointed out my placard which is clipped to my window in the lower left corner of my front window.  The change on her face was the best!

I leave mine up all the time.  I've been ticketed twice when it's in PLAIN sight.  Each time I got "oh it wasn't on your mirror!"  No, it never has been.  It just has to be displayed in the window, not hung.