Sunday mornings are my mornings to grab a cup of coffee, meander out to the mailbox for my paper and sit back and relax and catch up on what’s been going on in the world…one of my absolute favorite sections is the editorials.
Any obviously visible tag earns a $25 dollar fine, really Roanoke?
A lot of time they’re about stupid stuff, or just rephrasing things I already know (yes, leaving your dog in the hot car is wrong, no home owners associates should not be allowed to do that)…but every once in a while I read one that sticks with me…either it makes me laugh, or maybe cry or infuriates me to where I’m ready to throw the paper…well, this Sunday’s paper was one of those! Did you see this editorial in the Roanoke Times by Dan Casey about the handicap lady who is being fined $25 bucks for putting her placard in the windshield rather than hanging it from the mirror? Yes, I know, 25 bucks really isn’t that much in the grand scheme of things…and that’s part of what makes this so horrible. She had the tag, why charge her? It’s a prime example of people with little tiny bits of power who let it go to their heads…and the worst part? They’re actually running her in circles about it! Just throw out the ticket! I would think once one of the head writers for the local paper calls, she’d get some action…but no, apparently he got the run around too. Shame on you Roanoke and your lazy parking Cushman cops (read the article, you’ll get the reference).
What I think really annoys me even more is the number of people that are 100% clearly not handicap, who don’t have tags or placards and still park in handicap spots. I don’t care what your excuse is…you’re not handicap, don’t park there! I think it’s incredible the audacity of people who think the entire would should revolve around them…who’d rather inconvience people who’s lives are already way worse than theirs just because they don’t want to walk an extra 10 or 20 yards (P.s. You should consider not having to park in a handicap spot a privilege…so exercise that privilege and walk!)…which brings me back to the lazy Cushman cops, who are too lazy to get off their little clown cars to check a tag and therefore fined this poor lady. You’re a cop…you should be in good shape anyway! Where are you riding these cars anyway? Get out and walk, save our environment, tax payers fuel dollars and some dignity for this city!
So am I the only person disturbed that she is in to much pain to reach for her rear view mirror but she is fine driving a Ford Expedition? I agree she shouldn’t have gotten the ticket but I am scared at how she can’t reach up 3 feet but she can drive a SUV with her disabilities. Am I wrong.
(BTW I hate how some handicap people think the world should revolve around them b/c they are handicap. A lady at B’s school last year threw fits b/c they wouldn’t do automatic doors for her but they couldn’t by law b/c there is a rule about kids and automatic doors.)
Oh, I agree there are lots of people who think the world should revolve around them (handicapped or not)…people don’t ever stop to think how what they do (or want done) is going to effect everyone else in the world.
I was a little concerned about her driving, but I think my bigger issue here was how stupid the ticket was. If they’ll do it to handicapped people, what about the rest of us? In the state of Virginia it is illegal to have anything hanging from the rear view mirror while you’re driving…that goes for student passes, state park passes, employee passes, etc. I keep both my student (and when I had) state park pass on the dash board so it can stay there whether or not I’m moving. (I almost got a ticket in a state park once cause I forgot to put the pass up, fortunately the officer was nice and gave me a warning). I just don’t think they should be quite so picky, I think as long as it’s plainly visible then what’s the problem? If it had been laying on her seat or something, then I could see where the issue is.
On a note of handicap people wanting things to revolve around them…when I worked at a community college a (handicapped) woman wanted us to “ticket” another (non-handicapped) woman for using the handicapped restroom stall. Was a busy morning, rest of the stalls were taken. I say it that instance, yet get to wait like everyone else is. With that being said, I always only use the handicapped stall if it’s the only one available. The police officer was very nice in informing her that he couldn’t legally do that, handicapped accessible stuff isn’t the same as handicapped parking spots. You can’t legally stop someone from using the handicapped stall or wheelchair ramps, etc. Thought it was kinda funny…especially that she took the time out of her busy day to come complain, when it was obviously too much of an inconvience to wait 1 minute for a bathroom stall.