James G. Lea, March 20, 2023
Handicap parking spaces are a necessary accommodation for people with disabilities who are wheelchair-bound have difficulty walking long distances. Unfortunately, these spaces are frequently abused, either by people who don’t have a disability or by those who have a disability but don’t require the space. As an amputee who uses a wheelchair, I have encountered numerous instances of people not respecting the wheelchair access aisle area next to the parking spaces. of my major pet peeves is seeing people park in this area, which is reserved for getting to the ramp to enter the building and having room to get your wheelchair in and out of your vehicle.
Another disabled parking violation incident I vividly remember was when my wife and I pulled up to a restaurant and found a motorcycle parked in the wheelchair access aisle. This area was not the actual handicap parking spot but was reserved for access to the building. The motorcycle was blocking the ramp, and I couldn’t get into the building. When a deputy sheriff arrived, he refused to write a ticket or tow the motorcycle, claiming that the wind might blow the ticket off and the driver wouldn’t know they had received it, and could go to jail if he didn’t pay the ticket and subsequently drove on a suspended license. The deputy also threatened to arrest my wife if she moved the motorcycle. This incident illustrates the importance of respecting wheelchair access areas and enforcing handicap parking laws.
Another issue I take issue with is the misuse of handicap parking passes. Many people use passes that don’t belong to them, whether it’s a family member’s or a friend’s. This practice is entirely wrong and should not be done. Similarly, able-bodied family members often park in handicap spaces and run into the business, while the handicapped person stays in the car. This is an abuse of the handicapped parking placard and takes away valuable space that disabled individuals truly need.
I remember a young girl who parked in a handicap spot next to me at a CVS pharmacy without a handicap parking placard, but with a disabled veteran license plate. It was evident from her age that she wasn’t a veteran, and the energy and agility she exhibited while exiting the car and bounding into the store indicated that she was not handicapped. I asked her why she parked there, and her response was vulgar and disrespectful. This incident highlights the need for increased education about handicap parking laws and proper use of parking placards and license plates.
Another issue I see with handicap parking is when individuals who are not bound to a wheelchair or do not require mobility assistance park in a handicap spot when there are open spots as close as or closer than the handicap spot. I recognize that many people with disabilities are simply unable to walk long distances without becoming too winded, which is not a problem in itself. However, when these individuals park in a handicap spot and there’s a regular spot that’s as close or closer to the door they need to use, they’re taking up valuable space that someone who truly needs it could use. I would encourage disabled people who do not need mobility assistance to get into the habit of parking in regular parking spots when those spots are actually closer than the handicap spots.
Perhaps it would be a good idea to enact a system of differing handicap parking spots. There could be those spots that are intended for people who can’t walk very far, but don’t need the extra room to get into and out of their vehicles, and there could be parking with the access isles next to them so that wheelchair-bound people or those who need assistive devices can get into and out of their vehicles. This, along with a robust education program to educate the public, could serve to eliminate the confusion about who should or should not park in a handicap space.
It’s important to note that the legal consequences for misusing handicap parking spots can be severe. Depending on the state, fines for parking illegally in a handicap spot can range from $250 to $1,000. Additionally, misusing a handicap parking placard or permit can result in fines, suspension of driving privileges, and even imprisonment.
Overall, it’s crucial for individuals to respect handicap parking spaces and use them only when necessary. Disabled individuals depend on these spaces to navigate their daily lives and should not have to deal with the added stress of finding an available parking space. Proper education about handicap parking laws and placard use can go a long way in reducing the abuse of these spaces and ensuring they are available to those who truly need them.