Notes from the Pond by Sheila Dobbie

More Handicapped Parking Violations | NBC 4i.

Sometimes you are just in the right place at the right time. Recently, while waiting for my husband at the local Kroger store, Candice Lee from NBC4i interviewed me about handicapped parking. I told her she needed to talk to my husband because he is the reason we have the placard. He not only had a lot to say about handicapped parking and those who illegally park in the spots  (as I knew he would); but he also had the scars on the knees to prove he did, indeed, need a handicapped placard.

For those who are tempted to pull into handicapped spaces and run in for a quick errand, remember, there are people who actually need the space. Also, a person doesn’t need to be limping, on a walker or cane, or pulling an oxygen tank to need a handicapped space. Many people with breathing problems, such as asthma or emphazema, or heart disease need handicapped parking. They may look healthy but even a short walk can be difficult for such people.

As Candice Lee points out, permits for the handicapped have increased greatly in recent years creating more of a demand for such parking. The baby boomers are getting older and there will be more of a demand in the future. So the next time you or a friend are tempted to park illegally in a handicapped space please be respectful to those who really need these spaces. Remember, you may be old and need a close parking space some day.