Monday, April 5, 1998
Handicapped parking debated
Abuse of privilege angers some readers
BY DEBORAH KENDRICK
The Cincinnati Enquirer
In March, I wrote about a piece of legislation introduced in the Ohio House by Rep. Bryan C. Williams, R-Akron. If passed, the bill would tighten regulations on handicapped parking privileges and raise fines for offenders.
As predicted, Enquirer readers have intense feelings about the handicapped parking issue. Here is a sampling of those views:
Dear Deborah: I would like to commend you on the topics and information you provide. In regard to handicapped parking, I think we are all aware that this system has and is being abused.
However, the ones who deserve and need the parking are the ones who are being punished. There are many people out there who have no idea what it is like to have a disability. Some of them, in fact, are the same ones who are complaining and who are using the handicapped parking areas illegally.
I myself received a handicapped parking placard because I have MS. Much of the time I function normally, but I frequently have a balance problem. My doctor insisted that the card might be necessary for me.
However, if there is other parking available near the building, I always leave the handicapped space for someone who might need it more than I would.
As the saying goes, ''Walk a mile in someone else's moccasins.''
- Name withheld by request
Dear Deborah: I have a couple of suggestions that if enforced by law would eliminate (handicapped parking) from being the whipping boy that it sometimes is.
It would be my guess that the majority of drivers respect the parking spaces set aside for handicapped people.
What bothers most people is to see a car park in one of the designated spots, a hand flips down the visor showing the blue card, and a perfectly healthy person hops out and runs into the store. Most of the people I have witnessed doing this appear to be healthy enough to play in professional sports.
The card should be issued only to the handicapped person, and unless that individual is the driver or a passenger in the car which is occupying the handicapped space, that car should be towed and ticketed. The car is not handicapped. Some of the cards should be issued for less than a year.
I find it very hard to believe that the number of handicapped people has doubled in just five years time. The issuing and policing of blue cards needs to be examined. People with true disabilities need our help. By eliminating the cheats, they will get it.
- Jim Keller, Cincinnati
Dear Deborah: I have a handicapped parking placard because I have Parkinson's disease. If a person other than the owner of the card uses the card when the disabled person is not riding in the car, is there any recourse?
For example, if the grandchildren of someone with a disability uses the grandparent's car, are they allowed to use the parking card as well? I think there should be rules against it.
In my case, if I am in the car but not going into the store, my children do not park in the handicapped area.
- Margaret Wayne, Bethel
Dear Deborah: Your argument for handicapped parking was very well thought out. Now here's what I see.
I see eight out of 16 parking spots set aside for ''handicapped'' parking. I see the users of those spaces strut the steps to work with little problem. I see them smoking every 30 minutes with little concern, and I see them hike across campus for lunch.
So if they can walk for food, why can't they walk for work? If they want us to have compassion for them and their health or physical disabilities, then why do they smoke?
Handicapped parking should be for those who are physically and VISIBLY handicapped. Not for those who are overweight and abusive - the exercise will do them good. Handicapped parking should not be a way of circumventing the parking system which exists everywhere.
- Ken Wolterman, Batavia
Deborah Kendrick, a Cincinnati free-lance writer, is a nationally recognized advocate for people with disabilities. Write: Deborah Kendrick, Cincinnati Enquirer, 312 Elm St., Cincinnati 45202; e-mail: 71340.473@compuserve.com.
KENDRICK ARCHIVE
