Sorry to nag you about disabled parking again...

[humor me]

Yesterday I was walking Endless and I walked by a car that had a temp plate on it. The placard wasn't hanging on the rearview, so when I went by (I don't like to get too close to someone's car, people can get really negative), I made the decision to loop into the back door of the office and let them know.

Just as I'm walking away, the person comes out, I realize its them, I said, "You do realize this is a handicapped spot, right?" Maybe not the best choice of words, but the number of people that use it as the I'll-only-be-5-minutes-spot just pisses the hell out of me. Her response was, "I HAVE a placard!", and she pulled it off the dash.

I totally understand hidden disabilities. But I didn't use a really snarky tone when I asked. I just said "I'm sorry, I didn't see it since it wasn't displayed properly, but I dislike people who walk all over the rights of the disabled. I apologize." and walked on.

After 30 years working in retail, I know that even if you have dancing girls, flashing lights and streamers, nobody is going to read the SIGN that says "We close at 6:00pm Wednesday for Thanksgiving and won't open until 10:00am on Friday so we can be with our families. We will then be announcing the winner of our FREE drawing!" All they will see is "FREE" and think, "Everything is FREE on Thanksgiving!" and that they will be open from 6:00pm Wednesday to 10:00am Friday for incredible Black Friday deals. When they show up and no one is there, they blame the store.

That's why when I see someone in a disabled parking spot and they don't have their plate or placard displayed properly, I can only assume that they A) aren't disabled or B) can't read a sign. I decided to look up the statutes to see what "displays" meant, but it doesn't define it.
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Going from the general consensus, what is your definition of "display"?

And while we're at it, does it ever bother you the number of people who drive with their placard still hanging from their mirror? Does that constitute a safety hazard? Do you ever check to see if any placards are stolen?

As always, thank you for your time.

[retdetsgt]

Legally, they have to be displayed. My definition of disabled is meaningless. It's determined by a doctor who fills out a form the person takes to DMV to get the placard.

On another note, if I were you I'd quit trying to play vigilante in these situations. If you are concerned, call the police and report it. Confronting people on the street can be dangerous since you have no idea who you're dealing with.

As far as driving with the placards, some states are picky as are the cops about stuff like that. I don't think it's safe, but I probably wouldn't ticket someone for it. Most people I know keep the placard in the car and only put it up when they park.

[Joeyd6]

Back in the day when I was doing AP at Sears in college, we had handicapped ticket writing autority for the spots at the store, as did other LP at the mall. Once it was under way and people found out, few if any abused it.

I park far away as possible. I figure folks with kids or the seniors who have no disability but worn bodies can use the closer spots.

[Cat_Doc]

On another note, if I were you I'd quit trying to play vigilante in these situations.

Yep.

[mcsap]

I have cited people for parking in a HP slot because I could NOT see a placard ANYWHERE. I even looked directly into the car etc. Later they came to the station saying that their placard was in the glovebox etc. Since I would usually write the $10 tickets for this I told them I would not withdraw it and they should be GLAD that I am out enforcing THEIR parking places.

[G35 Mass]

I too do the "look around" in a vehicle before issuing a h/c citation. Often you'll see them stuck above the visor, on a seat, etc..

I too do not take back any parking tickets I write. If I have to spend the time looking around your car then time filling out the citation, you can spend the time appealing it.

[retdetsgt]

I too do not take back any parking tickets I write. If I have to spend the time looking around your car then time filling out the citation, you can spend the time appealing it.

I think the law here says that it has to be prominently displayed so it doesn't matter if you have one or not, if we can't see it, it's a good ticket.

Also, once we turn a citation of any kind in, it can't be voided or cancelled.

[L-1]

I don't know about other states, but California accepts placing it on the dash or hanging it on the rear view mirror.

[humor me]

@retdetsgt: I suppose I should have defined "your" as "your city/county/state" or whatever when it came to "display". My original intention was to notify the office, but I could see the person was getting ready to leave.

@mcsap, etc.: Considering the number of people who abuse handicapped parking to the number of police available to take a low priority parking call, I think that mentioning that a parking space was for the disabled when their placard wasn't easily visible means that I'm ALSO looking out for their (our) rights. They have that silly hook thing at the top for a reason. I also apologized and when I asked, my tone was never once snarky. I could have said, "What are you, F***ing BLIND? That's a HANDICAPPED SPOT B***H!" See my point?

I just wanted to know what constituted "visible". When I lived in CT, I was thinking that in MA, my friend told me that they HAD to be displayed on the rearview unless it was one of those cargo vans that didn't have a rearview (for obvious reasons). Then it had to be displayed on the dash in plain sight.

I'm not normally such a bold person, but when you have circled a store parking lot 4 times because all of the spots are full and the weather is so cold and snowy that you just want to get in, get your stuff, and GTFO, but you can't because you see cars either not HC, or not properly displayed, you learn to speak up. I'm not psychic, nor do I have x-ray vision. If you don't have your placard or plate where I can plainly see them, I WILL say something.

[ChesCopPodz]

I only write parking tickets to three offenses, handicap parking, parking in front of a fire hydrant, and blocking a person's driveway.

I actually take a picture of the front windshield and make sure the angle gets the dashboard. That way if they show up at the station, or the one time in 8 years I've actually gone to court over it, I can simply show them the picture if they try to say that the placard was displayed.

[retdetsgt]

If you don't have your placard or plate where I can plainly see them, I WILL say something.

Okay, but bear in mind that there are crazies out there who won't care if you're in a wheelchair or not if you confront them. I've had cases where people like you were assaulted, sometimes badly. And I really doubt that your saying something to them is going to mean a thing if they're so calloused as to park there anyway.

[Cat_Doc]

Okay, but bear in mind that there are crazies out there who won't care if you're in a wheelchair or not if you confront them. I've had cases where people like you were assaulted, sometimes badly. And I really doubt that your saying something to them is going to mean a thing if they're so calloused as to park there anyway.

Yep.