OT - Self service cash registers

I just *have* to add my two cents here.... my mother, who had seven bypasses in 1979, and again another 4 in 2002 has a handicapped tag. (hangs from the rearview mirror) She LOOKS healthy. A man commented one day, "boy, I wish I could get one of those tags and park close" Mom replied: "Mr, would you like to see my scars?" and even proceeded to start opening up her shirt!

another two cents: my good friend, Laurie, has a daughter born with cerebral palsey. This involves a mini-van with electric doors, electric wheel-chair, etc. Now, mind you, Laurie does NOT park in the handicapped zone when her daughter is not with her. This van has both handi-capped plates AND the tag. Some woman started in on Laurie even HAVING the plates and tag, because she couldn't see any handicapped person/body onboard, even though, as I said, Laurie doesn't PARK there when Chelsea isn't along! I lit into this woman big-time.

JM2C, Noreen

news: snipped-for-privacy@corp.supernews.com...

Hi Gem:

I just had to comment on what you saw. Someone parked in a handicapped parking spot at a local gym...during really "off" hours so lots of other spots in the parking lot. The parking enforcement person ticketed the vehicle. The owner of the vehicle took it to court and they lifted that hefty fine. His arguement was...."yes" he parked in that prohibited spot but there were lots of other spots empty that were even closer to the door . This was an article in our local newspaper so I'm commenting on what I read . But really....I think he should have been fined and had to pay it. I believe the fine is near $500 or something like that. Rules/Laws are put in place for reasons!

take care donna from ontario, canada

My husband has the placard because he has a prosthetic leg. He belongs to a newsgroup associated with that. They periodically have long drawn out "debates" about who should get to use them with some of them believing they should be only for those in a wheelchair. He doesn't agree with that and uses his regularly.

The other side is my Sister-In-Law has one because my nephew has Cerebral Palsy (he can walk, but he sometimes gets very tired). She uses it for herself all the time when he's not with her and laughs about it, which I find inexcusable.

BB

Okay, now another angle to this conversation. Does your area have "Stork Spots"? This is becoming a new thing around here. This is parking for pregnant women. I can see how this would be of help, especially when you get far along. They did not have these when I was pregnant.

But I guess people can abuse these as well. You can say you are and be early on and who could tell?

I have gotten used to parking further back because I like to walk, and like the exercise even if it is a short distance. Every little bit helps. :)

Di

Hi there:

Ohh, I didn't mean to imply some people should have them and not others. My father in law (bless him) had a sticker as well. Going into the store he would be fine...walking great. But by the time he finished what he was doing his back was giving out on him. He didn't have a wheelchair and wouldn't use a cane either. These reserved spaces are a good thing for all who need them.

take care donna from ontario, canada

Diane, Not only have I seen them, I've seen 70 year old women using them! AND I saw one man, who's very preggers wife was in the pssgr. seat use it. (Must've figured, we'll my WIFE is preggers!) LOL Noreen

Don't know about other provinces or the U.S., but in Winnipeg, next down from the Handicapped spaces are one or two spaces for mothers/families with infants - marked in pink paint with a white baby carriage. Good idea.

Shelagh

Yes, we have those here in Ontario as well. And, you're right a very good idea. I've used them on many of occassion with my little one (well now

donna from ontario, canada

Donna,

I didn't read your post as implying some people shouldn't have them! I only repsonded because I think it's interesting that even among a group of people who have them (specifially, leg amputees), there can be huge disagreements about who should use them.

There will always be people who abuse a privilege. I don't think my husband does, or would. My SIL most surely abuses it.

BB

Nodding in agreement with BB... I didn't take it as an implication of any sort either, I just responded, as BB did, because it's an interesting subject. JM2c, Noreen

I'm not keeping up with the posts on this group!!! But I read this thread with interest, as I had a situation once.

I am a tourist guide, and on this occasion I had a group of about 6 people, of which 4 were unable to walk very far at all. And what walking they did was at a snails pace. I had to take them to a shopping centre, I think it was for lunch or something, but it may not have been. These people were foreign, and in their own country had disabled stickers for their vehicles, but not for South Africa (of course). Anyway, next to the door was a parking spot for the disabled, so i pulled into it, with the intention of going into the shopping centre to get a wheelchair for the most severely disabled, taking the people to where they needed to be, and then to move the van again. an extremely irate attendant came and refused to let me stop there, even after I explained.

Now, as tourist guides we shouldn't leave our tourists in any area where they are vulnerable, so I couldn't leave them standing outside the centre while I parked. I couldn't direct them to the place without leaving the vehicle myself, and I also couldn't take them with me to the parking spot or we'd still be there today, waiting for someone to get back. Eventually I left them outside the shopping centre. I thnk they were Indians, and if I'd tried to direct them into the centre to the place we needed to be, we'd ALSO still be there, waiting for them to come out. (Indian female tourists like shops)

Catherine

Keith has a handicapped parking sticker, and some people glare at him when he uses it. We don't really care any more, and as long as someone has a sticker, we assume that it is legit. After all, there are invisible disabilities. As for the others, here, they are ticketed. And, Catherine, you need to get some kind of permit so that your particular situation won't arise again.

Higs, Katherine

I have a disabled parking ticket. Yet to look at me you would think I look a picture of health and younger than my years. But take a look under my clothes ( better not it is not a pretty sight). However you would see two kidney operation scars (growth in kidney) plus a huge appendix scar and a heart bypass scar that goes from throat to under ribs. People think I look okay, but they do not follow me up the road after going up a slope and see me frantically finding my spray. It is worse on cold and windy days. There is one shop in the town centre were I can tell you most things in the window. It is where I stop and gaze to get my breath back again. If anyone queries my right to park I can always show them my chest scar and the card that I have to carry showing exactly where the 6 stents are in my heart. Shirley

In message , Katherine writes

Hi there

Yes, so correct...always abusers....unfortunately.

take care donna from ontario, canada

I LOOK healthy too, Noreen! I wasn't b*tching because these kids in the vehicle looked healthy... they had absolutely no handicapped tag, sticker, plates, or anything anywhere on that vehicle to indicate that anyone in (or even the one who had gone into the store) was handicapped and needed to park there... *that* was my b*tch about it.

Well, that's just nuts to complain at someone for *having* the plates and tag when she wasn't even using a handicapped parking spot.

When my Mom was still with us, we had a handicapped tag to put on the dashboard for her after her strokes.... which was never used when she wasn't with us, or even sometimes when she was with us but chose not to go into the store and one of us ran in for a couple of minutes. In fact, her tag (and mine too now, for that matter) stay(ed) in the glove compartment unless it was/is needed. If I am feeling well enough to walk a bit, then I park in a regular parking spot further away and leave the handicapped spots for people who really need them, even if I'm in a hurry.

Gemini

Wow, unbelievable that the court lifted the fine, especially considering there were non-handicapped parking spaces available. *shakes head* I agree, he should have had to pay the fine!

Gem

Oh I totally agree with him, he has every right to use it!

It is understandable that your nephew needs one, but your sister-in-law should be ashamed of herself for using it when he's not even with her. :o/

Gemini

Yes, there are a few of these parking spots in the nearby city. I think they are a good idea for those who *are* further along when their backs and legs start aching a lot, etc.

Yeah, that would be the problem with that.

I do this too when I'm feeling REALLY good. In fact I have (rarely, mind you) parked at the very far end of the parking lot. I can't wait for the snow and ice to be gone (and the mushiness that follows to be dried up on the trail where the railway tracks used to be) and for days when I am feeling pretty good... so I can get back into walking along the trail again. I love walking and miss it!

Gemini

Aww, that's a shame, Catherine! You need to get a handicapped tag to put on your dashboard for when you *do* have handicapped tourists along with you. I would think that the people who issue them should understand about these situations arising in your line of business.

Gemini