Chicagoist: Parking Sign(ing Off)

Ingrid

Wed, 09 Jan 2008 12:53:39 -0600

I always think of my grandma (who was riding her bike and rollerskating well into her late 70's) when I see the abuse of handicapped parking spaces. There are many old people out there who think that just because they're old they deserve to park in the handicapped spot. It annoys me to no end when I see some white haired oldie get out of their car and they saunter jauntily to their destination. Do they have no pride? I will strive to be like my grandmother when I'm a senior and I will NEVER park in a handicapped spot just because I'm old. My grandma would have NEVER done this...she would have been ashamed to do so without being actually handicapped and incapable of walking without severe pain

Ward Up

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 23:22:15 -0600

I work in the health field on the South Side. It is quite a hoot to see people with mild arthritis, no limp whatsoever, demanding to have handicap parking forms completed. You would think it's the crippled crawling towards Lourdes. When these people don't get their forms filled out, the wailing starts. Sorry, people, being overweight and over fifty does not mean you get your own parking space.

MTG

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 21:54:30 -0600

What happened to the law here? If you forget to put up your pass, you deserve a ticket, its the law to have one up. These people deserve tickets, they already have the benefit of the spot and they should be very grateful for it, and the least they could do it put up their passes, not complain to the city for getting tickets. Whats next? Oh hey I forgot to stop at the red light, but I don't deserve a ticket BECAUSE I FORGOT! NO EXCUSE Again, they have a major perk here, and they don't have to suffer by walking far to their cars, they should have to follow every law and not complain about their own mistakes.

curmudgeon

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 18:39:07 -0600

The Sun-Times did a story on abuse of handicapped parking spots last January. Family members use spots long after the people who had the space die, etc. The city does a crappy job of removing the signs, and there is very little verification of who needs the spot or if they still live there. The current system sucks, but this suggestion is one of the stupidest I ever heard.

boemelaar

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 16:23:13 -0600

The issue, as I understand it, is that individuals requiring a parking permit tag need a removable tag for multiple car use. Sometimes they are driven by others that are able bodied and don't have a tag. Something that is transferable between cars is a must. I personally think that it is the responsibility of those with the tags to not forget to hang them in their cars. That is the easiest and most reasonable method for resolving the issue. If you forget the tag, you get a ticket. Problem solved.

Stephen

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 14:57:31 -0600

Tower18 - technically speaking, you shouldn't have loose hang tags and signs displayed in the front window while the vehicle is being operated. I think there is a law about this but I'm too lazy to check. It used to be the case that there was a warning printed on the backsides of each of these tags/signs advising you to remove it from the window/dashboard when driving. I agree, a sticker would be the right approach.

Tower18

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 14:41:42 -0600

Why is the sign not just always on their dashboard? That is it's purpose, correct? Forgetting, my ass, someone just wants to be able to abuse the system.

Navin

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 13:56:58 -0600

p.s., There was a great 'gotcha' thing on one of the local news stations where they caught a (perfectly able) city worker using one of the disabled signs to park all over downtown.

Navin

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 13:51:16 -0600

But seriously folks, why can't the City issue permit stickers? For real, problem solved. I had one of these spaces right by my house and it was often unused and I *never* saw somebody that appeared to be disabled in any way get out or into a car parked there.