Proper Use of Tags
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We must live in the town of handicapped persons, for I see so many cars with the handicap tags hanging on the rear-view mirror. If you watch, you’ll see that persons who alight from those autos are not handicapped.
Now please, don’t get me wrong; there must be a handicapped person in the household, but it appears that most persons are under the opinion that, as long as they have the tag, they can use it at any time, regardless of whether or not the handicapped person is in the car.
Their belief is incorrect, since the sticker is issued to the handicapped person and no one else in the family. One sees this violation at the health center and grocery stores, but I am certain the law is abused elsewhere.
I am also wondering where the police are to monitor this violation. I personally think the signs posted for the fines for misuse are worthless, for there is no enforcement. I wish the state would instruct the person/persons as to the proper use, which would allow the really handicapped persons to use the parking spaces set aside for their use.
Raymond M. Anderson
Pinehurst
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Comments
JER 1 year, 8 months ago
With all the problems we have in the world, you would think this would be way down on the list of things to be upset about but I have to agree with Mr. Anderson. It also bugs me when I see a car pull right up to the front door of a store, park in the fire lane and head on into the store when 20 feet away are empty parking spaces. Or people who don't return their shopping carts to the designated areas and leave them in the middle of parking lots to roll around and ding up sheet metal. Based on the premise that these folks don't know what they are doing is incorrect, I usually point it out to them. Being 6'3" and 210 lbs., I can usually get away with doing that but would not recommend it for everyone.
babiehop 1 year, 8 months ago
Where were you when I needed back up ???
Courseaire 1 year, 8 months ago
Just remember that sometimes the handicap is not readily visible.
JER 1 year, 8 months ago
If you can hop out of the car and bound into the store, you don't need a handicapped permit regardless of what is visible.
Courseaire 1 year, 8 months ago
Hope you are never in need of one.
Bigguy 1 year, 8 months ago
Courseaire, could not agree more with you. It seems this alway's comes up because some radio jerks like Neil Boortz rails about this all the time without knowing the circumstances. I have gotten some nasty comments when in the past I had to use the handicap tag. On the outside I mave have looked healthy. After surgury and being on chemo I needed the handicap parking. I did not feel that I should have to explain myeself other than the proper authorities. Did not wan't to drop my pants in a parking lot and show all the work done to my leg. I did have a Southern Pines officer question me once in unsettling mannner, and felt rather embarressed about it. After much re-hab and getting off chemo I was able to return the handicap tag to DMV.
Bigguy 1 year, 8 months ago
Obviouse who listens to Boortz and Beck. Jer hope to God you don't come down with anything. probably just had to put your two cents in because you are miserable.
JER 1 year, 8 months ago
Really!! I thought we were discussing a problem that involved people misusing handicap placards.
fugitiveguy 1 year, 8 months ago
Last night I took my mother in law (wheelchair bound) out to dinner. Every handicap space filled. I too wondered how many were abusing the privilege.
Bigguy 1 year, 8 months ago
Yes, we are all out there jumping for joy that we are "abusing" the privalage. I bet they were all gining eachother hi fives. You are a bunch of "nitpickers" never happy unless you can belittle someone else. Get a life!!!
Courseaire 1 year, 8 months ago
Last month, I was driving down Broad St and a big black Mercedes pull into a Handicap spot. This young man jumped out of the Drivers side, so infuriating me, that I bumped him with my car. His mother got out of the other side and had the nerve to flip me off with her cane. Some people.
CNMT 1 year, 8 months ago
If the mother was using a cane, she probably was the one the handicap permit was issued to. And as long as she was in the vehicle, it was legal to park in the handicap parking space. It sounds to me like you didn't give her a chance to get out of the car before you "bumped" her son with your vehicle. You were wrong here - and hopefully you didn't hurt the young man. You also need to be thankful he didn't have you charged for hitting him with your vehicle!!!!
hollywood 1 year, 8 months ago
To CNMT... Clearly you lack enough marbles to understand the JOKE by Courseaire...but you are smart enough to define what is LEGAL??? You need to find a new hobby and not waist time with your non-sense..............
CNMT 1 year, 8 months ago
I never "waist" my time on anything...I might waste me time on some things!
buddysmith 1 year, 8 months ago
most businesses post the handicapped parking spaces because they get a tax credit for doing so. I know a few people that have the card on their rear view mirror and are not very handicapped at all. I was at a grocery store recently and watched a person buy a carton of cigarettes, then jog out the door to their vehicle, which was parked in handicapped, and speed off. JER is not the only person annoyed with people leaving shopping carts were they load their car and drive off. that drives me nuts. there should be a 50$ fine for doing this, payable to a charity or veterans organization. most stores have parking lot video so the ticket could be mailed to them like the cameras used at intersections by the state.
Bigguy 1 year, 8 months ago
Dang coursair at first you sounded reasonable, now you are some kind of vigalante. To use your car for a "bumb" message is one of the most idiotic things I have ever heard. And I don't care if your name is Richard Petty. And if fugitiveguy had parked in a handicap spot with his wheelchair bound mother in-law would you have bumped him because he is capable of pushing a few more feet. Quit listening to some of these "shock jocks" on the radeo who keep trying to provoke retalliations. If you honestly feel someone has broken the law I am sure most of you have a cell phone handy. Call the Police.
dustyrhoades 1 year, 8 months ago
I'm fairly sure Courseaire was making a joke.
Courseaire 1 year, 8 months ago
Thanks DR, you know me too well by now.
hollywood 1 year, 8 months ago
lol
Bigguy 1 year, 8 months ago
My bad!
Courseaire 1 year, 8 months ago
Gotcha though.
Bigguy 1 year, 8 months ago
Yes you did. Will honestly say I may have been one of those people that would whine and gripe about the handicap tags. It's funny (not) when circumstances make you look at from the other perspective. As for carts being left in the parking lots I say have the offenders flogged in the Town Square.
fugitiveguy 1 year, 8 months ago
Bigguy, I'm glad you got that all out of your system. I nor anyone else on here is referring to anyone who remotely needs the handicap space rather those (likely healthy family members) who take abuse the privelege. Last time I checked this is still a public forum.
babiehop 1 year, 8 months ago
This never really peeved me until my mom was disabled and occassionally all of the handicapped would be taken. Some of which left no question but that they were being abused. A well placed loogie served dual purpose, expressing displeasure and relieving frustration, or so I heard. Another tag abuse that peeves me is people driving around in their personal vehicles with dealer's tags. Although it may be some financial benefit to do so and meet the letter of law requirements, that it is the dealerships' "inventory", isn't the intent of the law for these to be used on vehicles that are for sale and not a privately used vehicle ? And doesn't the law also indicate that they are not to be used to conduct other business ? And isn't attending board meetings at the courthouse in an official capacity considered business ? And aren't we, the taxpayers getting ripped off because the DMV is losing the income that would be generated if there were proper tags issued for these ? Someone please enlighten me !!
Toda 1 year, 8 months ago
One local dealer who operates several dealerships drive "lot cars" all the time. They don't even own a personal vehicle. If one is looking for a "new vehicle", if it has more than 600 miles, ask for "black book" value. That's what it's worth at the sale. Managers take beach trips, vacations, and drive a different car home every night...all with dealers tags. One manager has never driven a car except one off the lot and usually new. So if you are looking for a new car, drive past dealerships on US 1 in Southern Pines and go to Sanford. Better deal...I know how "lot-ups" work.
babiehop 1 year, 8 months ago
How about a motorcycle dealership that doesn't even sell cars having dealers' tags on cars used privately ? ....that have been personalized ! Is this not against the law ? If not, how is it not ? Seriously, how ?? DR ?? Anyone ??
Toda 1 year, 8 months ago
I am of the opinion that way to many people in Poorer County abuse the handicapped spaces. The last violation that took place in my presence was at Wal Mart when an Aberdeen Police Officer was taking information from a "gentleman" who squeezed his Cadillac into a handicapped space. The "gentleman was leaning up against the rear of his car, while obstructing his license plate. On lookers were vigilant to see if he was cited for a parking violation. His wife was pacing from the passengers side to the rear. Finally the Aberdeen Officer went to his patrol care and WALLAH ~ came out with a pink citation. I think public service would be better served if a police officer would park and walk the streets for public awareness and to ticket those in violation. As opposed to vigilantes verbally insulting drives who park in those spaces. One exception to the rule: My wife who is handicapped parked at the Aberdump post office but failed to display her placard. One middle aged man took it upon himself to chastise her for parking in a handicapped space. He would have had a very bad day should I happened to drive up...Aberdeen Police would have taken me to jail and him to First Health. Fact, not fiction, for those who know me personally.
JER 1 year, 8 months ago
So was the guy who said something to her wrong, or was she wrong to have forgotten to display her placard. If I was the guy questioning her and she produced the placard, I would have apologized profusely and explained that I was questioning her about it because I wanted that space to be available to her or anyone else with a need for that space. And I would have expected (but not demanded) that she would thank me for my concern. No trips to jail or hospital required and no wondering which of us went where.
bobbylaton 1 year, 8 months ago
You would probably be the one whining if someone without a tag was parked there and there was no handicap spot for your wife. The rules are the rules and they apply to you and your wife too. Sorry she forgot to display her handicap tag. Are you supposed to be a bad a--? You may not be as bad as you think you are!
Bigguy 1 year, 8 months ago
Toda I am in agreement with you. Except you don't need to disparage the County (Poorer County) never heard it called that befor or Aberdump. I have lived here 40 years, love this county, love Southern Pines(which you did not bad mouth) and enjoy the Town Of Aberdeen. We have a capable Police force who can enforce the laws, without some of us running around like Gomer Pyle yelling Citizens Arrest, Citezens Arrest.
CNMT 1 year, 8 months ago
My husband also has a handicap permit. We opted for the two blue hang cards so we could keep one in each vehicle. Each of those hang cards comes with a card similar to your registration card you get with your license plates. This registration card has his name on it and he has to sign it. Any police officer can ask to see that card if the vehicle is parked in a handicap space. We have never been asked to show the card, but would do so willingly if need be. When I picked up the blue hang cards at the license plate office, I was instructed on use - that only could be used if the person they were issued to is in the vehicle. I think some of these people choose to ignore that part! I have never used the hang card in my vehicle if my husband was not with me - I hope I never have the need for one myself! It is frustrating when people who park in the handicap spaces when they don't have a legal right to do so - but some handicaps are not always visible. Some people have cardiac or respiratory issues, while others do have obvious physical issues.
boomer 1 year, 8 months ago
CMNT you are right.My husband also has a handicapped tag.He's had 2 triple bypasses and looks fine, but gets very out of breath if he has to walk very far, so people should not judge by looks!
JER 1 year, 8 months ago
So I'm guessing he does not leap from the car and bound into the store, which was the "looks" I was judging by.
FightFireWithFire 1 year, 8 months ago
I have observed abuse more than once from people with "temporary" handcap tags. I have no issue with people who really need them using them, but when my leg was broken and I was in a cast for 12 weeks, the military didn't issue me one. My mother had asthma since childhood, she never had one. My father had open heart surgery (twice) and he never had one. One of my best friends is paralyzed from the waist down and while he DOES have handicapped tags, he still parks out in the far reaches if the parking lot and "rolls" in.
I would like to redefine handicap. I think we need to do that.....
ahrenggss 1 year, 8 months ago
Right - all of these senior citizens with broken legs are wussy. When I was a boy...............................
greatbrit 1 year, 8 months ago
My wife is handicapped with a hip replacement. None the less she works really hard at a big box store. we're poor enough that I have to pick her up from work so I park in a handicapped parking spot, hang the card (not driving around with it in place) and leap out and run into the store (I'm always pleased to see my wife) Now according to JER, he would take issue with me but I'm parking for the benefit of my wife, to shorten the walk that SHE has. Remember, things are not always as you first perceive them. I'm sure that there are people that abuse the parking advantage but because something looks one way does not mean it is.