Parking in disabled spots.

JumpShivers · 20-09-2015 06:43PM #1

I know this has been mentioned before, but I think a thread to rant about it would be nice.

I see it on an almost daily basis with my OH. Parking spaces which are extra-wide and conveniently placed for the sole use of people with disabilities or reduced mobility are usually almost fully occupied by vehicles with not a pass in sight. Quite often sloppily parked too.

My OH often waits for an offender to come out and state at him / her but to no avail.

This is actually a persistent problem at his local supermarket (can I name it here?) whine he has contacted by email and phone and in person in several occasions.

The replies he gets are usually along the lines of "Well, the spaces are self-policing so we usually rely on the honesty of our customers". He also got a reply saying that the security man would throw an eye out and ask offenders to move but he has seen the security man standing there having a smoke at the spaces while people swan out if the cars clearly abusing the spaces.

Why are people such selfish dickheads? My OH cousin has also been seen using his fathers pass? When questioned, he just says, "well, I'm entitled to use it".

The card is for the person, not for the car! Why does the holders picture not feature on the card anymore? This would prevent abuse.

I'm sick of this and so is my bf. would the Irish Wheelchair Association lend a listening ear to this?

Sorry for the rant.

eternal · 20-09-2015 06:44PM

The picture is on the card.

biko · 20-09-2015 06:46PM

We need more of these

Judge bans woman from driving for six months after parking in disabled spot

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/sixmonth-driving-ban-for-disabled-bay-parking-30281430.html

JumpShivers · 20-09-2015 06:50PM

eternal wrote: »

The picture is on the card.

Are you sure? I don't think it is.

eternal · 20-09-2015 06:52PM

JumpShivers wrote: »

Are you sure? I don't think it is.

Yeah I have one. It's on the inside though so you can't see it unless the warden asks you to show it for ID purposes.

looksee · 20-09-2015 06:54PM

Yes it is, its on the back, presumably for privacy/safety reasons.

eternal · 20-09-2015 06:56PM

Sure if you'd no picture anyone could use your card.

Ignatius in bloom · 20-09-2015 06:57PM

You should watch me, myself and Irene to see how you solve that problem.

Turtyturd · 20-09-2015 07:13PM

Can your OH solve any issues by staring at those responsible?

MrPudding · 20-09-2015 07:13PM

If I see some one using one without a badge I say, with a friendly coversational tone, "you know those spaces are for physically disabled people, don't you?" I love when people can't work out if they have been insulted.

MrP

kneemos · 20-09-2015 07:25PM

I do it just to piss off the nosy PC self righteous busy bodies.

MadDog76 · 20-09-2015 07:26PM

Let me preface this with saying that I've never personally (nor do I ever intend to) parked in a Disabled Parking Spot ............

I think there are way too many of these spots in some locations ......... in one car park close to me there are 12 Disabled Parking Spaces .......... come on!! What are the chances of all of those being absolutely needed simultaneously!?!!

Also, some drivers who legitimately hold the Blue Badges abuse it, ie. they technically qualify as disabled therefore are entitled to a permit but don't actually need to park any closer to the door than I do nor do they need particularly wide spaces ......... I know one gentleman who has a slight heart defect so he is entitled to (and holds/uses) a permit but, even by his own admittance, doesn't actually need it.

Thirdly, and I may be wrong about this, it's not actually illegal to park in a Disabled Parking Space on private property such as a shopping centre car park is it?

MadDog76 · 20-09-2015 07:28PM

MrPudding wrote: »

If I see some one using one without a badge I say, with a friendly coversational tone, "you know those spaces are for physically disabled people, don't you?" I love when people can't work out if they have been insulted.

MrP

How many times have you been told to "f**k off"?

JumpShivers · 20-09-2015 07:35PM

MadDog76 wrote: »

Thirdly, and I may be wrong about this, it's not actually illegal to park in a Disabled Parking Space on private property such as a shopping centre car park is it?

Something being legal and something being right are not the same thing.

Do you need the law to tell you what's right and what's wrong or do you not have your own moral compass

byhookorbycrook · 20-09-2015 07:39PM

I have , from time to time, parked behind someone in a space who isn't entitled to it and slapped up my badge on my before I hobble off (slowly), tends to get them to move pretty smartish,especially those who tell me they will only be "a minute." Apparently parents at Citywest think their little darling should not not have to walk more than 3 steps to go to the KFC there.

The worst offender in my area is the drug company van that delivers to the local pharmacy. The van actually double parks perpendicular to the the only two spaces blocking both. I have complained to gardaí and the company of the van service repeatedly, to no avail.

The Backwards Man · 20-09-2015 07:39PM

MadDog76 wrote: »

Let me preface this with saying that I've never personally (nor do I ever intend to) parked in a Disabled Parking Spot ............

I think there are way too many of these spots in some locations ......... in one car park close to me there are 12 Disabled Parking Spaces .......... come on!! What are the chances of all of those being absolutely needed simultaneously!?!!

Also, some drivers who legitimately hold the Blue Badges abuse it, ie. they technically qualify as disabled therefore are entitled to a permit but don't actually need to park any closer to the door than I do nor do they need particularly wide spaces ......... I know one gentleman who has a slight heart defect so he is entitled to (and holds/uses) a permit but, even by his own admittance, doesn't actually need it.

Thirdly, and I may be wrong about this, it's not actually illegal to park in a Disabled Parking Space on private property such as a shopping centre car park is it?

1.Whether there was only one or one hundred, how does the amount of them hinder your ability to go about your day unhindered?

2. That's a matter for their own conscience, not yours. A badge holder is just as likely to be an asshole as any of the rest of us.

3. Right and wrong take prcedence over legal and illegal.

kneemos · 20-09-2015 07:49PM

If they wonder around the supermarket for half an hour why can't they walk thirty yards to the door.
Not being provocative,just think people get way too precious about the about it.

Sir Osis of Liver. · 20-09-2015 07:51PM

Just back from buying milk in Aldi where a young fat couple parked up in the disabled space and managed to drag their blubbery arses the ten steps into the shop.

Is fat a disability now?

MadDog76 · 20-09-2015 07:56PM

The Backwards Man wrote: »

1.Whether there was only one or one hundred, how does the amount of them hinder your ability to go about your day unhindered?

2. That's a matter for their own conscience, not yours. A badge holder is just as likely to be an asshole as any of the rest of us.

3. Right and wrong take prcedence over legal and illegal.

1. The more Disabled Parking Spaces there are the less "regular" parking spaces there are so yes, it can/does hinder me when spaces are difficult to find ..........

2. If the system is being visibly abused from within then it's hardly surprising that it can/will/is abused in general .........

3. Right and Wrong is down to personal opinion hence why we must make certain acts legal/illegal ......... obviously.

byhookorbycrook · 20-09-2015 08:00PM

MadDog76 wrote: »

1. The more Disabled Parking Spaces there are the less "regular" parking spaces there are so yes, it can/does hinder me when spaces are difficult to find ..........

2. If the system is being visibly abused from within then it's hardly surprising that it can/will/is abused in general .........

3. Right and Wrong is down to personal opinion hence why we must make certain acts legal/illegal ......... obviously.

I'm sorry, but you having to walk a little further or wait a bit longer doesn't really trump someone who can't walk any further or who can't wait (and I do mean literally CAN'T) to get to a bathroom due to disability isn't really a good enough reason.

MadDog76 · 20-09-2015 08:05PM

byhookorbycrook wrote: »

I'm sorry, but you having to walk a little further or wait a bit longer doesn't really trump someone who can't walk any further or who can't wait (and I do mean literally CAN'T) to get to a bathroom due to disability isn't really a good enough reason.

Eh ........... I think you missed my point .......... re-read my original post and come back to me.

branie2 · 20-09-2015 08:10PM

You understand why we have clampers

MadDog76 · 20-09-2015 08:11PM

JumpShivers wrote: »

Something being legal and something being right are not the same thing.

Do you need the law to tell you what's right and what's wrong or do you not have your own moral compass

I personally, as I stated in my original post, never have parked in a Disabled Parking Space .......... but I think the legality issue is imperative to an individual self-appointing themselves to "policing" other individual's decisions on what's right/wrong for their own personal conscience ......... you're just asking for trouble in that instance and are likely (and quite rightly) to find it eventually.

20-09-2015 08:24PM

I have thought about saying something, but Curb Your Enthusiasm put me off...

http://youtu.be/sORXJLqvlLk

20-09-2015 08:36PM

kneemos wrote: »

I do it just to piss off the nosy PC self righteous busy bodies.

That's nice.

I used to take three hours to get my severely disabled cousin ready for a day out, in her specially adapted van complete with permit. I'd sometimes get to a shopping centre and if it was raining, it was amazing how many disabled spaces were used by cars with no permit. On more than one occasion, we had to turn around and go home, because getting the special wheelchair out of the van was impossible in a normal space.

I'm glad you get to piss off an imaginary PC brigade. You also should bear in mind that you likely have sometimes cost a person who probably has little opportunity to get out and about in the world a precious day out away from their very insular life. I'm sure it's worth it though.

Good for you! You sure showed them.

rubadub · 20-09-2015 08:50PM

MadDog76 wrote: »

in one car park close to me there are 12 Disabled Parking Spaces .......... come on!! What are the chances of all of those being absolutely needed simultaneously!?!!

I wondered if any carparks have detection systems that will turn spaces on or off as needed.

e.g. say 1% of cars have disability allowance. A car park might set 2% of spaces to be disabled to be more certain people can get one. So say you have 20 spaces of of 1000, so 980 standard ones. Now if its a peak time and 979 regular ones are full and no disabled ones are being used it would just make a few available.

It could learn and predict things too. e.g. on a thursday some places have OAP specials so you can expect a lot more.

Cienciano · 20-09-2015 09:17PM

Almost zero reason to use one if you don't have a disabled parking permit. Laziness is the problem, people are unbelievably lazy these days.

Dreannz · 20-09-2015 09:19PM

I park in disabled spaces all the time.

But I'm disabled.

Pinch Flat · 20-09-2015 09:23PM

Cienciano wrote: »

Almost zero reason to use one if you don't have a disabled parking permit. Laziness is the problem, people are unbelievably lazy these days.

Yeah I agree we've become a very lazy car centric country where it's all me, me, me. Happens in my local spar all the time - 2 disabled spots outside the shop, they're occupied quite a lot by non badged cars. More often or not when there's spaces across from the main entrance. People are just in their own little lazy self centred bubble.

Dreannz · 20-09-2015 09:26PM

Also we have to drive the ugliest cars ever. I'd to trade in my lovely car for a kangoo so I can drive my wheelchair in.
I thought in my 30s I'd be cruising around in a nice Audi , but you can't drive a power chair into an Audi oh no. So here I am with my ultra cool kangoo in my disabled parking space driving out in my power chair. Oh ya life's great. Free parking close to a door the one time I get out a month.
Take it all of those who want it I'll give it away

Knine · 20-09-2015 09:28PM

MadDog76 wrote: »

How many times have you been told to "f**k off"?

The last time someone told me to f**k off, I ensured he came back to a clamped car.

Parking in disabled spots.

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