Discussions

It is sad that this has to be brought up time and time again but it is starting to rise because of the weather.  
 
Please DO NOT Park in a handicapped parking spot if you are not handicapped. We require permits for a reason. You are taking up a space for a person that needs it. You can be fined for it.  
 
It doesen't matter if you are waiting for you friend or spouse, a person who really needs that spot could be waiting for it. An all they see that it is full.  
 
I have experienced it my self, I gentleman was waiting for someone in the handicapped spot and because of that I had to park at the end of the lot where it was very slippery and I require to walk with a cane and I have very fragile ankles and other things and I cannot risk slipping and falling to break them, also I am not supposed to be walking long distances via doctors orders. (I know your thinking a parking lot isn't that far but with my condition it is very painful for my feet and I am currently on the waiting list for surgery for my feet.)  
 
I finally got up to the courage and asked him to move his car as this was not a "waiting spot"  
 
Even today I saw 3 cars that did that. all because it was -11, I could of reported it but unfortunately, I was needed elsewhere.

adam can u post violater pics or is it not allowed cause i take pics of them all  
 
today at sobeys guy had to to one so his wife did not need to carry her disabled flowers too far  
 
and right after that another parked so his companion did not have to carry her tray of disabled coffee to far  

People seem to park wherever they want. Though some disabilities can't truly be seen, running in for coffee obviously isn't one. People park in disabled spots, in the fire lane, right in front of the store... I've seen people park in the middle of the service road on the hill, and seem to think that's fine if they just turn on their flashers. Heck, there's someone parked in front of the fire hydrant outside my house right now.... but if I had to pick which is the least considerate, it would be using the disabled spot, as that can, and does, affect vulnerable people.

navithefairy said "People seem to park wherever they want. Though some disabilities can't truly be seen, running in for coffee obviously isn't one. People park in disabled spots, in the fire lane, right in front of the store... I've seen people park in the middle of the service road on the hill, and seem to think that's fine if they just turn on their flashers. Heck, there's someone parked in front of the fire hydrant outside my house right now.... but if I had to pick which is the least considerate, it would be using the disabled spot, as that can, and does, affect vulnerable people. "

their favourite excuse for parking where they shouldn't?? 'I'm only going to be a minute'. SMH!!

It happens it happens, just get over it!

No, people should not 'just get over it'. There are parking laws for a reason. Those who violate those laws should be held accountable.

Life’s Great said "It happens it happens, just get over it! "

Just have to say something even if it is so unintelligent

Wherever you go even in small towns, people take these handicap spots. These people have no empathy for those who really need the spot.

but I have done this very thing. Now actually READ my post before persecuting me.  
The ONLY place I've parked in a handicap spot is at the mall when I'm picking someone up. NOT waiting for someone, but picking someone up and ONLY if there are lot's of handicap spots available.  
And I do it only sometimes, because I arrive, I park close to the doors and I text the people I'm picking up to say I've arrived and this way it's easy for them to find me.  
 
The only reason I even bothered posting this is because people on this board are always so quick to jump all over people without knowing the other side and immediately think ALL people do things for the same reasons.  
 
I would NEVER pull up and take a handicap spot, let someone out and WAIT while they shopped. However, I will continue to take a spot, while there's lots of spots available, when I'm only pulling up to pick someone up.

Windinthetrees said "but I have done this very thing. Now actually READ my post before persecuting me.   The ONLY place I've parked in a handicap spot is at the mall when I'm picking someone up. NOT waiting for someone, but picking someone up and ONLY if there are lot's of handicap spots available.   And I do it only sometimes, because I arrive, I park close to the doors and I text the people I'm picking up to say I've arrived and this way it's easy for them to find me.     The only reason I even bothered posting this is because people on this board are always so quick to jump all over people without knowing the other side and immediately think ALL people do things for the same reasons.     I would NEVER pull up and take a handicap spot, let someone out and WAIT while they shopped. However, I will continue to take a spot, while there's lots of spots available, when I'm only pulling up to pick someone up. "

but when someone gets their info from SMD regarding their handicap pass they are told if they are having a good day (from whatever ails them) they are to not park in a designated spot because there is a shortage for people to park in.  
 
I stopped at a bank and a young man driving a sporty car had parked in a handicapped spot. He turned around when he heard a car and came back right away. I waved to him but really wanted to say 'you seem like a decent young man, parking in a handicap spot doesn't look good on you'

It's not always easy to see if someone actually needs the spot or not; but you never know. Do the people parking in those handicapped spots placing a sticker on their car window? That's a requirement to park there and people can be ticketed for that if the police see it. Yes, some people abuse those spots and passes; but you never know who actually does need it. Trust me, I've been in this argument before.

Invisble illness or not... My mom clearly had a sign of impairment and people would still be upset i was picking her up at the doors or parking in the closes stalls to the door to help her. She is refusing to get a handicap placement tho she could qualify for it. I know what she would do if people called her out for taking thoses spot. Sadly its just the world we live in where people just want to believe the worst in everyone

Just a note for those who DO have the handicap permit:  
 
You are NOT allowed to use one of these spots if the person with the handicap is waiting in the car while the non-handicap person goes into the store. The permit is not for the car... it's for the person who has the disability.

I have been that driver of a person with disabilities-physical and respiratory. The person would need to go to an appointment or shopping and would want to walk (with cane or walker) as far as he could "because I'm not dead yet". So we parked in the handicap spot and we walked to the building.  
 
After the appointment or shopping, he would sometimes be too tired to walk back to the car so I would have to run to get the vehicle from the handicap spot and pick him up at the entrance.  
 
To anyone watching, it would APPEAR that I, an able-bodied person, running, used a parking spot that was designated for people with disabilities when it wasn't needed. However, you were not there watching when he walked from the car to the building.  
 
Be careful who you target to report when you *think* you know what's going on and also remember not all disabilities are visible.  
 
It use to be required to remove your handicap placard from your mirror when you were not parked. Has that changed because I see so many cars in traffic with them hanging on the mirror. Misuse and abuse of the parking pass has always been an issue and always will be.

within a half hour at the same store, cars in the handicap spot with no tag. This was at Dollerama on 18th Street. When I went in, the car beside mine - ( I have a tag) was in the spot. As I was leaving, another vehicle pulled in where the first one had been. There is room for 2 regular sized vehicles there. It really is too bad that people just don't care about the ones who may need these spots.  
I was "called out" for using one of these spots about 3 weeks ago at G.T. by some man who thought I look "perfectly fit" & doesn't like to " see these spots get abused". I guess we have to be carrying a severed leg to satisfy some nosy people. Humiliating though since there were people all around.

We dont park in the handicap stalls but i try to park in the closes open spot to the door for my mom or i wait in the car and pick her up at the door.... My mom has replied to snide comments about being picked up at the door to couples most times the guys looks horrified while the lady has to keep herself up because she is the one who said something to him

Handicap spots are ones with a permit and it has to be visible  
The law has not changed about driving around with off your mirror. It is a visibility hazard and you can be ticketed.  
 
What peeves me at the mall is close taxi spots. Get real there is no reason for a taxi to have a special spot.  
 
And worse yet us the hybrid cars. Close by spots st Home Depot with free plug ins. I sure would like to plug my car in when I am shopping at -40c.  
 
Have heard other businesses will be forced to add these as well.  
 
People have chosen to drive these why do they get special privileges.  
 
If a store is supplying plugins why not at the far end of parking lot. No need for them to take up all the close spots.  
 
Then there is the short parking spots for banking at the mall where someone parks and then does all their shopping.  
 
The lists go on.  
 
Parking in fire lanes. That’s the big one. I wish you could take a picture of the vehicle in fire lane as there is no question about that and send to police and they get ticket in lane.

If they are illegally parked box them in and go about your day. What are they going to do. They are the ones illegally parked  
 
I'm teasing obviously, but I have a disability and it is very frustrating when spots are taken without the proper tags. Notify customer service about the offending vehicle and the store will deal with it appropriately.

If you have a pass for YOU or if you have a pass for the person in the vehicle with YOU then you can park there. Do not use it for a quick stop, do not use it to pickup people closer to the door and if the person that the pass was issued for is not in the vehicle then DON'T PARK THERE!!!!!  
 
This is not rocket science.....it is the law.

Hackeda said "I have been that driver of a person with disabilities-physical and respiratory. The person would need to go to an appointment or shopping and would want to walk (with cane or walker) as far as he could "because I'm not dead yet". So we parked in the handicap spot and we walked to the building.     After the appointment or shopping, he would sometimes be too tired to walk back to the car so I would have to run to get the vehicle from the handicap spot and pick him up at the entrance.     To anyone watching, it would APPEAR that I, an able-bodied person, running, used a parking spot that was designated for people with disabilities when it wasn't needed. However, you were not there watching when he walked from the car to the building.     Be careful who you target to report when you *think* you know what's going on and also remember not all disabilities are visible.     It use to be required to remove your handicap placard from your mirror when you were not parked. Has that changed because I see so many cars in traffic with them hanging on the mirror. Misuse and abuse of the parking pass has always been an issue and always will be. "

I know about and respect that!! There was an issue once where perfectly able bodied people parked in the handicapped spot at the theater and just walked right in while people who needed that watched in disgust. That's the issue here. We won't always know everyone's story. But there is always more to a story than what we see with our eyes.

we all know the right thing to do, unfortunately this has become a me, me society.

Please, people, do not assume just because I appear like a healthy young female, do not assume that I do not need that spot. I have displayed in my mirror multiple times my pass in a clear spot, and still have had notes accusing me of "using grandmas pass" and being "lazy". Even as vulgar of notes calling me a "f**king idiot*  
 
I'm not sure if people just don't look for the pass, or just see a young female and assume.

I didn’t know this. Please correct me if wrong.  
 
On a private parking lot like the mall. Police only give check and give tickets if an agreement is in place with owner.  
 
Then no consequences if they do park there.  
 
Only a honour system.  
 
Which as people who park there even if just for a moment or “picking someone up” don’t have any honour. Well

is needed everwhere as in winter thats the excuse cant see it on the ground