Ethically Disabled Drivers
One of every 10 drivers in California has a disabled placard. David Goldstein of CBS2 Los Angeles did an investigative report on this, talking to people he found working out vigorously on treadmills and other workout machines at a chichi LA gym -- after getting out of their cars they hung the disabled tags on.
From the news story with the video:
To qualify for placards, drivers must have a medical professional certify they have substantial impaired mobility, lung or cardiovascular disease or severe vision problems, according to the DMV.A hidden camera caught one woman place her placard in the rear view mirror of her Range Rover before taking a spin class - several days in a row.
According to DMV records, the woman has been disabled for over a decade.
"You've had the placard since 1999. Do you have a disability or are you just using it to park for free?" Goldstein asked.
"I obviously have a disability," the woman said.
When asked to explain her disability, the woman responded, "There's laws regarding privacy matters."
An internationally-renowned fitness expert, Karen Voight, was also spotted using a disabled placard. She teaches a stretching class at the health club.
"You have a disability?" Goldstein asked.
"Well, my knee is unable to do a lot of things, and I was told by the doctor to be off of it as often as I can," Voight responded.
"Even though you're teaching a class here twice a week?" Goldstein said.
"But I don't. What I teach is a rehab class," she said.
The health club simply labels the class as "stretching.
Young kids were also seen weight-lifting and playing basketball -- their car uses a placard linked to a 77-year-old man.
What this means for truly disabled people -- the sort who roll out of wheelchair vans instead of skipping out of cute convertibles -- is that they sometimes can't find a space because of all the bullshit disabled taking them.
Or, as the woman in the wheelchair in the piece points out, a person like her with real disability may be put through danger and hardship by needing to park far away.
It's reprehensible and I hope the people who have these tags because they got the right doctor to wink-wink that they needed them know deep down what scummy people they are and hate themselves for it.
Oh, and as the report points out, disabled status, once granted, doesn't expire. The placards are automatically renewed, year after year after year.
And finally, as a commenter -- "Mr Law Abider" -- noted at the CBS site:
The real question is why people with the placards need to park at meters for free? What part of their disability requires free parking? What, they can't reach up to put money in the meter? I thought the idea behind the placards was to give people with a disability a parking spot closer to a building....and those with vans, enough room to get a wheel chair in and out. But why free parking? Do away with that and I think a majority of your problems will go away.
Which brings us back to fitness trainer Karen Voigt (Ohhhh, her knees. She can teach stretching, but can't wallllk...oh, it's so hard). The truth is, there's a garage where just about every spot is close to the elevator at that chi-chi gym, Sports Club LA.
I do not work out at a gym or that gym, but David Rensin, my friend and literary conscience, takes me to lunch there about once every six months.
The thing is, you have to PAY to park at that gym's garage, and people with handicapped placards get to park free at meters.
I emailed Karen Voight: karen@karenvoight.com:
Subj: being cheap is not a true disability - saving parking $ at Sports Club LA's garageMy friend takes me to Sports Club LA for lunch every six months.
The truth is, no space in that garage is far from the elevator.
In fact, it looks like you walked further than you would have if you'd parked at ANY space in the garage to get to your meter.
Hmmm...could it be that you get to park at meters for free, and it costs MONEY to park in that garage?
My eyesight sucks, north of 20/400. I'm missing half a lung, and due to the intial damage to my knee in the arm and some subsequesnt accidents I occasionally have to use a cane.
I can still run, jog, and hike, though not very far and not very fast and the cost in pain is prohibitive.
My point being I could qualify for the handicapped placard if I wanted too. I'm probably more f'ed up than every faux disabled person in that report.
But I can still walk an extra 25 yards. Lazy fucks
lujlp at February 2, 2013 11:14 PM
Back before it became trendy to have these tags, my dad had one. He used it only on those days he really couldn't walk far, figuring it was better for him to walk if he could.
I detest these "fake" disabled idiots. Foremost among them the ones that are just obese, and really need to walk those extra few yards.
You would think that the organizations for the genuinely disabled people would be up in arms about this. At many places, the handicapped parking (and there is a *lot* of it) is always full. If someone really needs it, they won't be able to get it.
a_random_guy at February 2, 2013 11:39 PM
Looks can be deceiving. On more than one occasion when receiving the evil eye, I wanted to rip my shirt Superman style to placate the placard worriers by showing them an 8" scar in progress.
And while I walk as often as I can, walking long distances can be pretty strenuous, especially in the environment I find myself. I am still fairly young (slightly older than Amy), but I had a congenital heart defect.
Okay, so here is the one time that I still use my placard:
IF the parking lot is close to filled
AND the disabled spaces are mostly empty
THEN I park in a disabled space
AND I think it's a win win for everyone that I do.
Otherwise I walk because it's better for me or there is a real probability someone in more need than I could use that space. Like the woman in her wheelchair.
I am surprised to learn it means no paying the meter in California, that's not the case where I am.
My placard isn't renewed for life either, in fact, within the next 24 months I either need to drive over at least one more person to show I have the severe vision problems required for this placard or demonstrate substantially impaired motility.
jerry at February 3, 2013 12:50 AM
My mom had gotten a temporary one when I was in high school and hard torn muscles in my ankle. I wasn't allowed to walk for 12 weeks and then another 12 weeks only weightbearing with crutches. I didn't want the permit though and felt terribly embarrassed to have it. I figured I was young and in otherwise excellent shape (gymnast) so it was not a big deal for me to get around on crutches. She, however, thought it was wonderful to get super close, wide parking spots. She now needs one of her own years later because of some major heart issues and knee arthritis (primary pain problem is she's 50-60 pounds overweight and won't lose it). But, we still have to pay at meters here too.
BunnyGirl at February 3, 2013 1:18 AM
The one that irritates the shit out of me:
You see the clearly handicapped person pull into the spot and stay in the vehicle. Then the non-disabled person gets out of the passenger side and goes into store.
WTF?
Jim P. at February 3, 2013 2:04 AM
Karen Voight should be ashamed!
KateC at February 3, 2013 4:39 AM
There's a UPS delivery man who parks in the handicapped spaces at my office every.damn.day! One day I took a picture of his truck, with the number visible and posted it to UPS' Facebook page. It stopped for a couple of weeks then he started parking there again so I called him on it. He said he has bad knees (this guy is obviously a gym rat when he isn't running packages into buildings) so he has a placard. I called bullshit on him. He obviously has no shame, because he still parks there. And then there's a woman in my office who was telling me one day how she uses her deceased mother's placard, because the DMV just keep renewing it and sending the new placard. I have contemplated reporting her because it irritates me so badly. My mother is handicapped and there have been many times I haven't been able to find a parking spot when I take her shopping. People should be ashamed of themselves but they are more worried about getting something for nothing because they feel they are entitled!
sara at February 3, 2013 6:25 AM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2013/02/03/ethically_disab.html#comment-3591418">comment from saraHe said he has bad knees (this guy is obviously a gym rat when he isn't running packages into buildings) so he has a placard.
I'd send it to higher ups at UPS. Mail the photo if you have to. Email gets deleted easily.
As for that woman in your office, I have friends who are in motorized wheelchairs. People in them go through great suffering and hardship when the spaces are taken up by people who get out of them and trot to their destination.
Yes, yes, I know that every disability isn't completely visible. But, I have "bad knees." I caused them -- years of running. What's really bad for them is running and putting that sort of slamming pressure on them. Walking is not. I can't say that's true for everyone, but unless you've had your hip replaced, can you really not walk two blocks? Or is it that it's cold or raining or you get to park free at parking meters.
Really, it's disgusting. In that video, you see Voight walking BEYOND the distance she would have parked in the garage, where you PAY.
Amy Alkon at February 3, 2013 6:35 AM
I have a very bad back, some days I can barely move when I get out of bed. My kids have been nagging me to get the placard but unless and until I'm confined to a wheel chair, I'll be damned if I'm going the handicapped placard route.
sara at February 3, 2013 7:02 AM
I saw this last month on the local police department's facebook page:
"Willoughby Police Department
January 6
1/5 at 2:02pm WPD received a complaint of two ladies that parked in a handicap spot at Giant Eagle that did not appeared disabled. The caller advised she observed them running from the car to the store. Officers responded and spoke with the ladies. The registered party of the handicap placard was not in the vehicle. The occupants were not disabled. The driver was cited."
I hope a lesson was learned.
Goo at February 3, 2013 7:04 AM
To those who posted about being severly visually impaired: How do you drive if you can't see?
DBRN at February 3, 2013 7:44 AM
A few years back I was watching a hearing in our legislature about this problem. One legislator suggested that maybe if they did away with free parking it might help reduce the problem. Needless to say his suggestion was not well received or went anywhere. So, the problem remains unsolved. Evidently for many disabled it is more about a free ride than it is about being disabled.
Bill O Rights at February 3, 2013 8:10 AM
About five years ago one of the local TV stations did an expose about the abuse of the handicapped placards. Who was abusing them? Doctors and nurses working up on First Hill (aka Pill Hill) in Seattle. Because of the numerous medical centers up there parking is terrible. The excuse used by the doctors and nurses? Parking is so bad that if they didn't park in disabled spaces they would have to park so far away they'd be late for work. Gag-inducing to the maximum.
David Crawford at February 3, 2013 8:10 AM
According to DMV records, the woman has been disabled for over a decade.
Any one care to wager that this person is also receiving disability income from Social Security?
I R A Darth Aggie at February 3, 2013 8:40 AM
I wish I could get my grandmother to get one.
NicoleK at February 3, 2013 10:15 AM
Hmm.
Let us be consistent with respect to society.
Is this the same society that would magically behave responsibly if all drugs were "legalized"?
Just checking.
And no, this isn't a question about police misconduct. It's about the level of responsibility claimed of ordinary Americans - the ones who want to do drugs for entertainment.
Radwaste at February 3, 2013 10:20 AM
I personally rarely see this problem, pretty much the opposite. I live in a very heavy traffic area, go to a place and every parking spot will be filled, every except the 20 best ones right near the doors. They will be handicapped and will be empty, maybe 1 taken.
Why? because I live near DC, and it is an extremely transient population, Every few years there's an admin change, with corresponding staff cahnges, focus changes, military reassignment, toss in a younger avg age, etc. So unlike a lot of other places people here more than 5-6 years are considered practically natives.
SO we don't have as much of the handicapped faking, problem. What we do have is a lack of available parking, so having 10% of a places parking left empty by law, is ridiculous.
Joe J at February 3, 2013 10:33 AM
Jim p. - I see that ALL the time by me and have often thought the same - these folks have no shame.
Years ago, when she was alive, I used to "park" in the handicap spot with my grandmother's car (she had the placard) when I took her to the grocery store. I would then help her walk until she got over to the shopping carts (which she would use as a walker) then I would go move the car. When we were done shopping I would leave her at the front door (still using the shopping cart as her walker) and go get the car from where I park it in a non-handicapped spot. Even as I was doing this, and clearly doing it to help her, I felt so guilty. I often thought as I walked back to move the car - what if someone sees me and didn't see me help my grandmother walk over to the carts? Will they think I'm a selfish prick?
So these people clearly have no sense of shame.
Charles at February 3, 2013 10:47 AM
I'd dare someone to have called me on using mine when I had one. I looked perfectly fine but walking was agony for a while due to pregnancy complications.
Why do the handicapped get free parking? Up close, yes, but why are they less capable of paying thanm the rest of us? It's not free here in TX.
momof4 at February 3, 2013 11:17 AM
In California a disabled placard gives one free parking. I don't think that is true in all states. If the powers that be took away the free parking bennie, I bet abuse of these placards would be much less.
Another thing using a disabled placard does is allow the person parking an unlimited amount of time in the space. If you are disabled it is a hardship to have to move your car hourly or whatever. Making people pay would ensure that there would be more available disabled parking for those who actually need it.
I have a friend who has had both her hips replaced. If you saw her in real life you would think she's very healthy and not disabled. She has had people tut tut her parking in disabled parking spaces since you can't tell she's disabled by looking at her. My friend will also if possible not park in an available disabled space so others more disabled can park there.
JanetC at February 3, 2013 11:20 AM
I see the same thing Joe F does. Full parking lot with all (at least almost all) the prime spots empty because they are handicapped spots.
Although now that I think about, I remember hearing it was a big problem by where I used to work downtown. Again parking was difficult and placards got 4 hours free (even in a 15 minute loading spot).
The Former Banker at February 3, 2013 11:41 AM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2013/02/03/ethically_disab.html#comment-3591752">comment from JanetCRegarding not looking handicapped, I think that point is important to remember -- not everyone who has problems moving is going to have it be obvious to the eye. The reason, however, for the suspicion in California (when there was never that suspicion when I was growing up in Michigan) is how easy it is to get these (scam artists' doctors should be ashamed!), and the incentive for people to get them to get this free parking, which they shouldn't have.
Amy Alkon at February 3, 2013 11:46 AM
Handicap parking is not free here in NY and I think your letter to Karen Voight belongs in "I See Rude People." Who made you the handicap police? I have a disability and there are days I need the spot and days I don't. I am considerate of others but don't owe anyone an explanation regarding my private medical issues.
A woman banged on my window one day demanding I explain my need for a handicap spot. I took my time getting out of the car not because I was being dramatic but because there are days I move like I'm 90 and I asked her who she thought she was thinking it was ok to interrogate me regarding a private health matter. There are many things I don't like to see in this world but don't confuse rudeness with being an advocate for the handicapped or the taxpayers.
Kristen at February 3, 2013 12:33 PM
To those who posted about being severly visually impaired: How do you drive if you can't see? -DBRN
They have these new fangled thing called eyeglasses, been makin em for over 700 yrs now
lujlp at February 3, 2013 1:46 PM
My son was born at an Army hospital that has absolutely the worst parking I have ever seen anywhere. OB patients could get a special parking permit at 34 weeks that allowed us to park just past all the handicapped spaces. Before getting this, I sometimes had to budget an extra 30 minutes to find parking and walk to the hospital.
However, more often than not, I'd arrive for an appointment (of which I had up to 3 a week because of complications) to find all the "stork parking" full. If I did manage to find a space, I'd waddle past several cars that did not have permits. Luckily I never ran into any of the drivers because you do NOT want to fuck with me when I'm pregnant. One Sunday I lamented this to our chaplain, whose wife gave birth at the same hospital last year. He said they had the same experience, and he complained to the patient advocacy office. And within minutes, the police were out there, because those complaints go straight to the general. I decided that I would complain when I went to my appointment the next day. Then my water broke that night, so I never did have another appointment or make that complaint.
It really, really sucks when you have a legitimate need for a special parking space and can't find one.
Sosij at February 3, 2013 3:18 PM
One main point of the video that people are missing is not that people might be handicapped and that their handicap might not be visible - but that the people in the video CLEARLY ARE NOT handicapped.
Sorry - my feeling is that if you can do 20 minutes on the treadmill you are not so handicapped that you can't walk from a normal parking space to that treadmill.
vinny at February 3, 2013 4:49 PM
> scam artists' doctors should be ashamed!
Shame won't do it; they're taking money from the people whose parking passes they authorize. Until doctors pay a meaningful penalty for gratuitous placards, this will not improve. The doctors need to be able to look a high-paying 'patient' in the eye and say "Sorry, it's not worth it to me."
> I am considerate of others but don't owe
> anyone an explanation regarding my private
> medical issues.
Why not?
Listen, it's nothing personal. But here's the deal:
All the blessings and courtesies of modernity are synthetic. They are not from God. They come from other people, who are asked (or are compelled) to make allowances for those less fortunate... Or at least, for those who third parties say are less fortunate.
…And you'll have noticed that third parties are not so good at judging the worthiness of distant strangers.
You're taking that parking space from US, lady. It's not yours by birthright, but by the goodwill and trust of others. The stars in Heaven don't give a fuck where you park. If your "medical issues" were truly "private," the rest of us wouldn't care: Instead you insist on sharing their consequences with the public.
A few years ago I start dating this older woman who I knew to be living on a budget. Over dinner she mentioned that she had a severely disabled son who I'd not seen in her home. I expressed sympathy for what I was sure was a profound burden on family finance. She clucked and said that the State covered his twenty-four hour care, so I shouldn't be worried.
I've never forgiven the cluck... Because what she was saying was that I was paying for his care. The wealth for his food and ass-wiping and amusement needs to come from somewhere... And he will never create that wealth. There's no God in Christendom who packed a magic nickel behind his ear when delivering him to our planet.
She was a wonderful, gracious, and thoughtful woman. Great to talk to. And fun to look at. IJS.
Before scolding the rest of us for being presumptuous to the disabled, try offering some gratitude for the fantastic refinement of our culture in such matters. It's unprecedented, and still unseen in much of the world.
Crid [CridComment at gmail] at February 3, 2013 4:59 PM
I didn't even see Amy's first sentence on the first pass:
> One of every 10 drivers in California has
> a disabled placard.
Ten per fucking cent.
Listen, there's not thing "private" about you "medical issues" whatsoever, Kristen... They're common as dirt.
Crid [CridComment at gmail] at February 3, 2013 5:20 PM
C'mon Crid, you're going to make people get PTSD and feel worse. Then they'll need more placards.
The "free parking" is insane to me, but, Amy, you're in California. There's a reason it's so effed up.
Everything's insane there.
Unix-Jedi at February 3, 2013 8:48 PM
"Listen, there's not thing "private" about you "medical issues" whatsoever, Kristen... They're common as dirt."
Crid, of course I have a right to privacy regarding my medical issues. I don't owe an explanation to some lunatic banging on my car window who decides it her job to verify I have a handicap. I also do not owe an explanation to anyone sending me an email telling me to hate myself because they do not know what my handicap is.
I do not get a discount on parking for having a pass and quite frankly I do not always use the pass, just on the bad days. I do not get money from the government or any of my bills paid. I have a physical handicap that is treatable but not curable. There are days that it is recommended I go for a walk or get some exercise but stretching at a gym or walking on a treadmill that has bars for balance is not proof that the handicap is fraudulent.
There are people who are committing fraud but the answer is not to harangue them in emails. The system doesn't always work but I'd rather harangue the elected officials who make it a joke for some to get the passes. No matter what you think is a legitimate handicap, I don't owe the person on the street or a blogger that explanation.
Kristen at February 4, 2013 4:42 AM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2013/02/03/ethically_disab.html#comment-3592361">comment from KristenThere are people who are committing fraud but the answer is not to harangue them in emails.
Why not? Shaming is an effective tactic on humans.
Furthermore, Karen Voight, a fitness trainer, walked further than she would have if she'd parked in the gym's lot. Again, the gym's lot charges and she gets free parking with that placard at a meter. So, is the handicap really her knee?
Amy Alkon at February 4, 2013 5:10 AM
> I don't owe an explanation to some lunatic
> banging on my car window who decides it her
> job to verify I have a handicap.
ONE IN TEN.
Listen, if you want gripe about it like a troubled teen ('Dammit, don't I have any RIGHTS in this house?'), well, feel free… But it will be just as hard to take you seriously.
It isn't 'elected officials' who've ruined this system. Integrity has obviously failed on a much broader scale.
Crid [CridComment at gmail] at February 4, 2013 5:19 AM
I hope someone posts a link to that news clip in Karen Voight's reviews on Amazon.
Grey Ghost at February 4, 2013 6:27 AM
>The one that irritates the shit out of me:
>You see the clearly handicapped person pull into
>the spot and stay in the vehicle. Then the
>non-disabled person gets out of the passenger
>side and goes into store.
>WTF?
I've done that. You are helping them get something. Walking into the store is nothing for me, but maybe kind of a big deal for them. I don't just take the car because it's not my car and it's not my errand.
In my case they are well entitled to their tag. I'm basically just a helper monkey.
I have also been know to stride, healthy and full of manly vigor, over to a car that is parked with the tag in a handicapped spot, get in, drive off. Looks bad, right? I'm bringing the car around so they don't have to walk back to it. To them it matters.
kenmce at February 4, 2013 4:06 PM
On the other hand, the city where I used to work required almost a dozen handicapped spaces right up next to a running track. For real. I worked in the nearest building for years and never, even once, saw anybody use one of the spaces. Guess the disabled don't run a lot of track. And wheelchair athletes are, well, athletes. But the City Code said they had to be there.
Nolo Contendere at February 4, 2013 4:22 PM
If you are a fully functioning helper monkey there is no reason to take a handicapped spot. That spot could have been used by a handicapped person in the meantime.
Again that spot could have been used by a handicapped person in the meantime.
Now if the person you are assisting is using a walker or cane, I can see it. If they are in a wheelchair and you are pushing them with manly vigor, why do they need a handicapped spot with your assistance? Or did you drop them off using a walker or cane and then park in the handicapped spot? Then you are an asshole.
If you want to be an asshole -- more power to you. Just don't think it is a good thing.
Jim P. at February 4, 2013 7:43 PM
Handicapped spaces are wider, Jim. A wheelchair might not be able to get out of the car in a narrower spot.
NicoleK at February 5, 2013 12:06 PM
The owner of a horseshoeing school near Sacramento was being harangued by the authorities, for NOT having special handicapped parking. His response was gratifying: You cannot shoe a horse if you're handicapped!
In fact, I had 6-tuple bypass surgery to save my useless life, and I could have wangled a placard, but I didn't. I'd have no objection to flashing the scar on my chest, either.
jefe at February 5, 2013 7:57 PM
Is the gentleman, with many vigor, is picking or dropping John Doe up at the curb, does he need to able to get out of the car in a narrower spot?
Please use a little logic.
Jim P. at February 5, 2013 9:26 PM
I had to force my 87 year old father to get a Handcapp tag for his car. He drives my mother and and his 90 year old sister to doctors appointments it was an accident waiting to happen when he had to let them out of the car sometimes in the street to get to their Dr. office. He is a good driver and really did not want an Handcapp tag, but I told him for the safety of his passengers and others it was best to have a safe place to let them out. It really made a difference for his elder passengers to have a safe place to park and walk from to get to their appointments.
M.Mitford at February 6, 2013 4:16 PM
Leave a comment