Elderly and handicapped parking, a question.?

I'm 64 and believe it or not I could get a handicap parking permit, just about any Dr will sign the form if your passed 60. And whine.So, No not every senior needs a tag. What a shame, there are truly people who really need to park in a handicap spot. One thing that really burns me up is seeing someone who weighs about 300 lbs parking there. They can power shop in the mall, but can't walk unless they park next to the door, RIGHT.

I know exactly where you are coming from with this and I agree with you. I see it all the time too.

When my mom had a stroke and needed a walker we used the handicap parking for her until she got to the point where that was even too far away and we then dropped her off at the door so she could go in and get an electric cart.

But yes, some people think that because they are older, they deserve a close spot. And they should realize that if they walk more they will feel better.

And I didn't know some of those mall walkers were using the handicap places. That is really disgusting!

Now that handicap placards are getting abused, what are we to do to help out the truely handicap? Reissue the cards to those that really need them? I'm not sure the government is going to want to do that.

Thanks for giving us your opinion, I thought the law officers were just ignoring the fact.

No, an elderly person with a back problem should not be allowed to park illegally in a handicapped parking spot without a handicapped parking permit. There is a reason why a handicapped parking permit is required for the handicapped parking spots. If people could park there without a permit, using excuses like being old, having problems with their back or legs and so on without having any proof, then those spaces would always be taken by people who don't really need them. People abuse the handicapped parking spots too much as it is. People who need to use handicapped parking spots because of disabilities or medical conditions can get handicapped parking permits. There exist both permanent and temporary permits and they are not hard to get if people have genuine need for them, so there is no excuse to park illegally in handicapped parking spots without a permit. The elderly woman you speak of should be fined for parking there, like anyone else who breaks the law by parking in handicapped parking spots without a permit.

Absolutely positively NO. elderly people should not automatically get handicap placards..any one that can walk any distance should not have a placard. Some people have them that do not look handicapped, ie: walk with cane, walker etc, but they may have a heart or lung disease which makes walking very hard on them..any one that walks for exercise does not need a placard. I have one due to rotten knees and arthritis in my low back, my husband never uses it when he is alone, and sometimes I don't even use it if I feel I can walk OK that day. We have 2 friends in their 80's that don't need or want them. I ONLY WISH policemen/women were allowed to patrol parking lots and tag all those that use the handicapped spaces without a placard..

I do NOT think that being elderly is the only reason for a handicap tag. I have one for my 83 year father in law that I only use when he is with me. He has congestive heart failure and only 20 % of his heart works....but he has to go into the store and straight back out because he can't handle walking that much (which to me that's a good reason to have the parking permit) Which I think was your point.

I also feel it is WAY TOO EASY to get one. There is one doctor in our county if you will pay him the $90 office visit fee he will fill the form out and notorize it for you. When I got the one for my father in law I had his doctor fill out the form and took it to my local tag office and they gave me the permit. Took maybe 45 minutes total to get.

I guess the thing that's the most aggravating with this (at first) When he was with me I would just park in the handicap spot then he'd want me to run in and get his stuff for him...I'd have to move my car find another spot ect... So now I ask him ahead of time if he's going in or not so that I can use the spot if he is, but find another one if he is not.

I don't blame you for being irritated. I look at people using those tags and I wonder why....It's just a crazy world.

Well Mr Cop I have seen younger, healthy people using these spots and that should be your pet peeve. My mother had arthritis in her feet but she never once got to use a handicapped sign because she refused to get on. She never tried to justify anything and she was certainly not lazy. I would usually pull her up as close to the store as I could get without blocking any fire lanes and set her out, go to the far end of the lot and walk back myself. When we were done % did all this in reverse. I really don't get your question. Sorry if I am misunderstanding but if I am not then why not give these seniors a break. Some have conditions you can see with the naked eye. Lighten up and go catch the real bad guys.

aging is not a disease nor a pathology but it is a physiologic process.. so it means that you are an elderly youre not considered a handicapped coz you got no disabilities.. unless youre amputated or something then you can get the right to park in the handicapped parking space... if youre old able to walk able to talk able to eat and groomed just by yourself then youre not handicapped... it doesnt mean youre old you can consider yourself handicapped coz if you try to read a medical book that talks about ageism its not a disability or a disease its a process... so for those elderly who are using those parking spaces dont yah think that someone who really needs it must be given the priority to park on that handicapped parking space?? that parking space should be given to those who need it...

In our state they have begun to really tighten the regulations on issuing these tags so that only the deserving get them. I also get very upset when I see those who borrow a tag from a relative and use them to get a close parking spot. This used to really bug me when I was in college and young students use Grandmas tag to park close to the building because they are late to class! I really wish police would do some blitzs and ask those who park to identify that they are the one who the tag is issued to. I have seem moms with disabled children in wheelchairs have to park in regular spots because the handicapped ones are taken up by older adults who think these tags are issued with their AARP card. I understand that some disabilities are not obvious but I think that there is more misuse than people like to admit. In fact, I found a police car parked in a handicapped spot at the mall and called the local precinct. I complimented the captain for hiring handicapped police officers and gave him the car number. I'll bet that officer had a surprise when he got back to the station.

Thanks for bringing up what is one of my pet peeves too.

Not all people that qualify for handicap permits have visible handicaps. I know some that have them for heart problems, other for respiration, and still others due to the affect of Agent Orange. I personally have a permanent handicap parking permit and have had been forced to pull out that little card that goes with the placard to prove to police officers that the placard is indeed mine. Because the State messed up and put the wrong birthdate on their card (which I had never noticed) I was accused of manufacturing the card. I finally had to resort to pulling off my shoes and let the man see my feet to prevent him from writing me a ticket and having to go to court. The man didn't even apologize properly for his error. His response was, "Well, people are always using these spaces and other people's placards when they aren't handicapped." Then he merely walked off. So, consideration should be afforded when someone sees that placard ... it just might be real even if you can't see the disability.

OK, I am not trying to be rude but you are not a medical professional and have no idea why people have handicapped parking, I have one because I am pregnant and have a broken pelvis and really shouldn't be walking or driving but while my hubby is in iraq i have no choice. I walk slow but looking at me i look "normal" well and 7 months pregnant also if you were 87 and it took you a long time to cross a parking lot and you got tired so easily that you had to sit down inside the store until you had to grab your milk and leave don't you think that the handicapped spot would work a liscened medical professional signed out the tag to someone they believed needed it. Now lazy people and the people who steal others tags have not excuses but comically i was harassed by an officer today while i was at the pharmacy to get meds for my 3 year old with pink eye. He said that I didn't need my tag and asked me to surrender it. I asked for a hand reciept and he refused I then just asked him to ticket him and did not get him my tag but i did get the ticket. Thank you for what you do but please get the guys speeding in neighborhoods or school zones before harassing old lady's and pregnant people over handicapped parking