RESERVED PARKING FOR DISABLED PERSONS

[Charlie]

Thanks for the clarification!

 

[skfullgun]

Well, given the lack of accountability for anything of substance these days, there are those who just roll up to the front door of "wherever" and get out and leave the car there while they run in to get something....

Tell me you haven't seen that one.

 

[popper]

Funny true story. Went with friends to an outdoor production of Mo-Town. One car I was in had disable plates, the other didn't and didn't have a hang tag. Plated car is escorted to disabled lot. Other parks about 1/2 mi away. Driver of plated car has Parkinson's, other one the gal is way overweight, cancer and other issues survivor, walks with a cane and needs it. We get a ride to the ticket gate and the gal walks all the way. Lesson, if you need the tag, get it. Yea, I get ticked at the WM parkers too.

 

[Fishkiller]

I have had to use the HC placard a few times after knee or ankle surgery. Using crutches to go across parking lot is a lot of work. Anyway it seemed to me that when I needed a HC pot they were all taken. Now that I do not need a spot they are always available. Gripes me when folks abise teh system, but I do not know how to tell the scammers from the real deal.

 

[VNK971]

I have DV plates, and I have the blue placard. I haven't received anything informing me that I must display the placard if I park in a handicapped designated parking space. I wonder how strictly the new law will be enforced.

 

[toddnjoyce]

I have DV plates, and I have the blue placard. I haven't received anything informing me that I must display the placard if I park in a handicapped designated parking space. I wonder how strictly the new law will be enforced.

State is not required to specifically inform you of changes to the code.

Here’s TX DMV’s web announcement from last fall.

Changes to Disabled Veteran License Plates Coming in 2022

https://www.txdmv.gov/sites/default/files/body-files/08_26_21-Disabled-Veteran-Plates.pdf

 

[mongoose]

From my understanding, you have to have a letter from a doctor to be able to apply for a "handicapped" placard. So IMO, some of these doctors are complicit in perpetrating this fraud for people that are abusing the system.

I think too many Doctors give them out willy nilly. Also the duration of the placard should be tied to the time the injured party actually needs them, not to your DL expiration date.

 

[candcallen]

Plates are permanent.

Placard can be permanent or temporary and the permanent ones expire after a few years cause the placard deteriorates over time.

 

[mongoose]

Plates are permanent.

Placard can be permanent or temporary and the permanent ones expire after a few years cause the placard deteriorates over time.

The ones my wife and I acquired separately, expired the same time as our DLs needed renewing (they were acquired years apart and in different TX towns) I don't buy the placard deteriorating over time. Even out here in the West Texas Sun, I saw no deterioration. My friends wife broke her ankle and hers didn't expire for years ( and did she ever take advantage of that).

 

[TipBledsoe]

I have a family member who abuses the disabled placard. Pisses me off!

She has severe back problems but not to a point of being disabled.

The doctors are enablers. I’m certain there are those who need the parking spots and can’t use them because of the multitudes who have placards and don’t really need them.

 

[justmax]

>
"DISABLED PARKING"
Reserved Parking for Disabled Persons
Yes, we have all seen the many abuses of these reserved spaces.
But, before making any specific criticism, you should be warned.
Not all disabilities are easily visible to an observer.

A TRUE story, then some details:

Story: some 12 or 15 years ago, a Houston TV Station decided to do a special report on this problem, and sent out an "investigative reporter" & team. The Lady Reporter staked-out the parking lot of a popular Houston grocery and waited. Soon enough, a placarded auto pulled-up, parked, and a normal looking man got out, walked into the store unaided. Reporter followed & video'd from a distance as man shopped, paid, & left.
Videos were edited, and showed up as an evening news "special report" some 2-1/2 weeks later.
Survivors of the man were rightfully indignant. He had been suffering a terminal illness and had died from it a few days after the episode; over a week before it aired on TV.
The TV folks and many others got a big lesson, and the TV Station had to pay after being "sued".

Now some details:
1) Not all disabilities are obvious, and many are intermittent. Some can come and go w/o warnings. Examples are those from internal derangements remaining from cancer surgeries, seizure disorders, and cardiovascular problems. A person can be OK one moment and seriously impaired the next moment. Of course, anyone with uncontrolled generalized seizures should never drive.
2) We should have two classes of reserved spaces; one for those wheelchair bound or requiring other difficult equipment and another for those disabled, but less burdened.
3) Those with NO disability should never take these spaces, permit or not. The point is that this deprives the disabled persons of that space while occupied, whether a "ticket" is issued or not.
4) Never, ever try to enforce these restrictions yourself unless you are a Law Enforcement Officer, or unless you OWN the parking lot.

Now, my story: I have had these permits for some 15 years. I, and many of my Family, suffer a condition known as "Hereditary Erosive Osteoarthritis". My ability to walk distances is often impaired, sometimes seriously. Often, this temporarily gets a bit better with walking, before inevitably getting much worse. There are "bad days" and better days, but never "normal" days.
Folks sometimes ask why I carry a walking cane to Church, but seem to never need it to walk; but, I don't carry the cane into WalMart or HEB Markets. There are valid reasons for this: At any store, I can always grab a shopping cart, which gives enough support. Also, I must park way out back of Church, as internal cancer-surgery derangements make being near the restroom mandatory on most days. From restroom to the pew is about a block. Yes, I don't need the cane inside the Church, as there are many pews to grab onto, if needed.
Lastly, I have a cardiac condition; some two years back an Ambulance crew had to get me out of the pew at Saint Mary's/Saint Alphonsus in New Orleans. I got a pacemaker then.

So, please, don't criticize us unless you "know the whole story", and are absolutely certain.

leVieux
.

Good story, thanks for sharing it.
As for your story, you have my empathy on two out of the three, and my sympathy on the other. Wait a minute, that means I'm batting ,666, not a good sign for me.

 

[justmax]

From my understanding, you have to have a letter from a doctor to be able to apply for a "handicapped" placard. So IMO, some of these doctors are complicit in perpetrating this fraud for people that are abusing the system.

My placard was prescribed.

 

[Shady]

we want to be treated the same as everyone

give me my close up parking.

 

[seeker_two]

Unless I'm getting paid to enforce parking rules, I don't worry about it. Makes life a lot easier.....

Sent from my SM-G715A using Tapatalk

 

[leVieux]

Good story, thanks for sharing it.
As for your story, you have my empathy on two out of the three, and my sympathy on the other. Wait a minute, that means I'm batting ,666, not a good sign for me.

It just means that you (still) can THINK for yourself.

Congratulations, you test NEGATIVE for "democrat idiocy" !

 

[VNK971]

State is not required to specifically inform you of changes to the code.

Here’s TX DMV’s web announcement from last fall.

Changes to Disabled Veteran License Plates Coming in 2022

https://www.txdmv.gov/sites/default/files/body-files/08_26_21-Disabled-Veteran-Plates.pdf

Thanks, good to know. The only place I have seen information about this change, or new law, is on this forum. I cancelled Direct TV because I only used it to watch the weather. Even though I have the placard I never displayed it because it was not required with DV plates. I didn't like having the placard obstructing my view. I still wonder how strictly it will be enforced.

 

[V-Tach]

Placards specifically state (on the back side) to not drive with them hanging on your mirror......it is obstructed vision and just another reason for LEO's to use for pulling you over..........

 

[HKSig]

I regularly see people without a handicapped / disabled plate parked in handicapped spots. And a FedEx driver parked ON a handicapped ramp. Of course, he was between the handicapped spots... And people parked in the fire lane at the grocery store. Wonder if I can get deputized for a 50% commission...

 

[Vaquero]

I'll walk as long as I'm able.
I hope I never park in a handicapped space.

 

[Reinz]

I'll walk as long as I'm able.
I hope I never park in a handicapped space.

^^^^
My feelings as well. I’ve had a justifiable placard for 5-6 years. I’ve only used it 4 times, but boy did I ever need it those 4 times!