Rant about someone parking at work

"cazzyodo" (cazzyodo)
01/23/2014 at 09:36 • Filed to: Rant

On my walk into the office from parking in the waaaaay back corner of the lot I sometimes pass cars parking in the few handicap spots closer to the door. There was one occasion where I couldn't discern what necessitated a plate for the driver and it bugged me. Today, it happened again.

Stock image from Google search but the vehicle in question was a BMW. Driver parked in the lines, though (hooray!!!!).

Passenger (man) got out while still talking to the driver (woman), driver stood up from the car. I'm walking along casually to see if there is a placard in the window (there was) and I move along. It's 2 degrees out today so I wasn't surprised to hear the sound of heels walking quickly across the walkway to get inside. Then I thought about the parking space and I became very surprised. Here's my thought process:

I'm 6'4" and take large strides...often beating people wherever I walk without trying. This person is catching up to me. She parked in a handicap spot. She's not tall at all (I saw that much). She had a placard. Why can't I make sense of this?!?

I got to the door and turned to hold it for the woman who was now BASICALLY RIGHT BEHIND ME and noted she had a very slight limp. I mean slight like you were to hurt your knee while playing basketball. I had a greater limp walking around Montreal this past summer.

I have a friend who got in a terrible accident last year. He lost a lot of muscle in his legs (through the accident) and received a handicap plaque for some amount of time. That time ran out around Halloween and he had to turn it in. He's doing well walking and everything but in the snow and icy conditions we have, his steps are very careful. This woman was speed walking in heels.

I know this stuff bugs some of us more than others but I really just don't get it. I can't process what qualifies anymore. She very well could have a condition and today was just a good day or she was so determined cuz it was frickin cold out. I am likely getting carried away, but that's what a rant is for.

I had to put this in writing though because I haven't been able to focus this morning at all. Thanks.

DISCUSSION (14)

Jeremy H formerly Kalakaboooom > cazzyodo
01/23/2014 at 09:41

She might not have been disabled at all, my father-in-law pulls this crap all the time, one of his direct relatives is disabled, and he borrows her placard all the time to park in handicap spots, it's absolutely disgusting to pull that sort of crap, but people do it, and most if not all people don't look closely at the placards at all.

Jayhawk Jake > cazzyodo
01/23/2014 at 09:48

I'm always bothered by seeing brotrucks with handicap tags, which happens more often than you think.

I'm sorry, but if you can climb into a lifted truck, you can walk an extra 20 feet to the store.

And don't get me started on handicap tags for obese people...

fink stinger > cazzyodo
01/23/2014 at 09:49

One day a group of us all went out to lunch and as we were walking past the handicap spaces, this 50-something lady had pulled into the frontmost and was just getting out of her car. We were probably 25-30 feet away when my buddy loudly proclaims "Apparently, driving a Cadillac makes you important enough to just park anywhere you want".

At this point, she was only a few steps away from her car. She spins around, jumps back in and takes off. I can't remember if she left of just re-parked. With any luck, the shaming left a permanent impression.

davedave1111 > cazzyodo
01/23/2014 at 09:49

You shouldn't judge, because you can never tell. Amongst other embarrassing conditions you can get a disabled badge for is incontinence. For all you know the woman was half-running to get to a loo before she wet herself.

It's also legitimate to use a disabled badge to park if you're the driver for a disabled person. Maybe the lady you saw wasn't disabled, but was hurrying because she was late to pick up someone who is disabled.

I can think of any number of other possibilities.

With-a-G is back to not having anything written after his username > cazzyodo
01/23/2014 at 09:51

I'd like to caution people about making assumptions just because you see someone walking with no visible impairment after parking in a handicapped spot. You just plain don't know what that person's situation might be, and there are valid reasons for people to have handicapped parking placards that are not readily apparent.

I know there are abusers of the system out there, and that outright fraud goes on. Personally, I'd rather give courtesy to everyone displaying the placard, rather than try to be the judge.

cazzyodo > With-a-G is back to not having anything written after his username
01/23/2014 at 09:54

That's why I said I was getting carried away. I don't know for sure, and I acknowledge it, but it was bugging me.

cazzyodo > davedave1111
01/23/2014 at 09:58

I can think of plenty of reasons as well and I acknowledge it towards the end.

My grandparents have a placard and try to get me to park in spaces when I'm with them. I tell them no and drop them off at the door of wherever we are going (my brother or family member joins them, so they aren't alone) and then I park somewhere else.

It just bugs me quite a bit because of the various times I have encountered those without a placard or with an expired placard. I don't act on my thoughts but choose to rant instead. It's my version of benefit of the doubt.

jariten1781 > cazzyodo
01/23/2014 at 09:59

I'm someone who gets the 'do you need that?' treatment every so often.

I have a placard because my knee can slip out of joint due to adolescent injury that never healed. When it does, I'm lucky to be able to go 100 ft without being overwhelmed by the pain. I don't normally use the placard because 90% of the time I have absolutely no symptoms or pain. There are times, however, where I notice warning signs (increased pressure/slight swelling) that an event could be pending (about 3/4 times I get them my knee will go out within a day or two). While I have those signs I'm still fully mobile, but if it goes out on the way back to the car I'm basically forced to sit down in the middle of the parking lot waiting for the pain to lower enough for me to go another 30 ft. Trust me, sitting on the ground in agony in a Walmart parking lot is no fun (in addition, people look at you like you're insane!).

I look very healthy and fit, so yeah, I've had some folks bitch when they see me using the tag (including calling the cops). I also feel ashamed due to random peoples scorn occasionally when I use it and then don't have any issues...Logically I know I'm in the good, but the stares and suspicions still weigh on you.

gt6xxer > cazzyodo
01/23/2014 at 10:06

Shoulda given that bitch a real handicap and punched her in the ovaries.

Nibbles > Jayhawk Jake
01/23/2014 at 10:11

cazzyodo > jariten1781
01/23/2014 at 10:16

I can imagine people getting to you...which is why I don't say anything because there are so many cases that aren't obvious I would rather not say anything than be a dick to someone who doesn't deserve it.

That's the great thing about rants; the relief.

It's just that same spot was used by someone before and I am 99.9% certain she had no need for it (either I had talked with her before or something, can't recall) so while it wasn't the same person the bias crept in.

Jayhawk Jake > Nibbles
01/23/2014 at 10:16

That's actually really cool. Handicap tag has been earned.

Nibbles > Jayhawk Jake
01/23/2014 at 10:20

I saw these things at DIAS last year; pretty sure there was a realtree-bedecked, XD-shoed bro truck version sitting there as well. They're pretty neat

RazoE > cazzyodo
01/23/2014 at 10:52

Not all handicaps are external. You can get a placard for having a bad heart, or crappy kidneys. Stuff like that.

That said, my wife recently broke her leg and we got the temporary red placard. The problem is every handicap spot is taken so we have to park in a regular space. I have to push her a few more feet but designated handicap spaces seem almost useless in that sense.