Good Parking Spaces

Do you think Handicap parking spaces are abused?

Everytime I go to the store, for instance say Kroger or Walmart. I can never find parking. I drive around constantly trying to find some place to park and then end up parking in the back of the lot. As I am walking to the store entrance I notice alot of people that park in the Handicap spaces are overweight and most of them look young. It seems as if today people are abusing handicap parking because of their eating problems. Why should I have to park in the back of the parking lot because Im not overweight? To me, I think its unfair. There are actually people who need those spots like the elderly and people with disablitilies. I don't think people should be getting handicap stickers just because they can control their weight. If they want to lose weight it just takes alot of hard work or an exepensive surgery. haha

Public Comments

1. Yes. I know that people are abusing them. It's ironic that people who are overweight, who probably need more exercise, cop out and get one of those permits so they can further their rebellion against exercise. I have a chronic illness that can be really bad when it flares up. My doctor told me I could get one and I refused. Even though it would be very helpful if I needed it. He said lots of "new" patients try to fake that illness so they could get one because they found out that you could get one if you had my illness. Well, that really irks me, because I have a terrible illness that I would never wish upon anybody, and they are faking it just so they can be lazy.
2. I see more people using the spaces WITHOUT a placard than getting a placard for weight related reasons. You should also note, SOME overweight people have other issues that CAUSE the weight problems. You can't tell form appearance WHY they have the placard.
3. You cannot tell what medical problems someone has by looking at them. If you look at me, I look like a healthy individual. What you don't see is the painful wound from my surgery that I have monthly (under my clothes). You don't see my other medical issues. And elderly is not a handicap. There are plenty of elderly who are healthy. I think there are more people with legitimate reasons who have had to prove to the state they live in with a letter from the doctor, parking in those spots than you realize. You cannot tell from looking at someone. I hope that you never are placed in a situation where you are in need of one. Where it is all you can do to go to the store and get your meds and a few groceries and then you go home and are in pain for the next week from the shopping trip alone. Or worse have to put up with ignorant jerks who assume things not factual based on appearance and make what is already a difficult life even harder. Maybe you should take the time to go to a children's hospital and see how many young people are sick with Chronic Illnesses. They grow up to drive. Or volunteer in a Hospital for a year or two and see what illnesses there are that do not show. That cause dibilitating pain.
4. People of all ages may have a disability that you may or may not see. People who are overweight, is considered to be a disability. Even though they can "TRY" to control it. What about people that smoke all there life and end up having to be on oxygen and get a handicap placard/plate because they cannot walk far. What is the difference from that from an overweight person?? Who says that an elderly person has a disability. My 86 year old grandmother still drives great, goes to the bowling alley, walks around the mall, etc. I believe YOU just need to stop being judgmental against people!!!
5. Everytime i go to the store all the handicap spaces are open and i have to park at the furthest end of the lot.
6. Holding special parking spaces for anyone is a violation of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.
7. Has it ever occurred to you that they may have other problems than weight problems? Or that their weight might be a result of another underlying problem? Some medical problems can make people gain weight or prevent them from being able to lose weight. Young people can have disabilities just like everyone else. Not all disabilities are visible either. Not all elderly people need handicap parking spaces. Some of them are healthy and fit and as capable of walking further as anyone else. It's really up to doctors to decide who needs a blue badge and who doesn't. The rest of us can't see it by just looking at the person whether or not they need those parking spaces. You're being judgemental and unfair.