Subscriber Comments for
Just Plain Rude! (And Illegal)

Most recent Comments first | (reverse order)

COMMENT 319482	2012-09-13 03:20 PM
I think it is common for spouse or ?? Taking the tag along when they go somewhere- "I will bring her tag so we can park," is not an uncommon phrase even when the disabled person is not along.
COMMENT 319105	2012-09-12 04:35 PM
A friend in his middle 20s parked his car in a disabled space. He got out of his car with his girlfriend and was approached by an elderly woman who immediately started yelling at him regarding the fact that he had taken a disabled space from someone who really needed it. He let the woman rant and rave on about how inconsiderate, self-centered and ignorant he was. He patiently listened and when she seemed to calm down a bit, he asked if she was finished. She said, sharply, "Yes, I am." He then calmly lifted his jeans from the bottom to reveal an artificial right leg; then he put that leg back on the ground and lifted the left leg of his jeans to reveal a second artificial leg. All he said was, "Afghanistan" and the date he was injured." No further comment from her. Hopefully she learned a lesson most of us have already learned, and, that is, "Don't judge a book by its cover."
CORKY	2012-09-12 03:25 PM
I like the idea of notifying the parking attendant. Very frustrating, to say the least.
COMMENT 319030	2012-09-12 02:07 PM
I suspect those who make excuses for people who illegally park in handicapped spots must do it themselves. Clearly this is a hot topic because it happens way too often and is so repugnant to decent folks. I will keep that parking enforcement phone number in my phone for future use.
COMMENT 318934	2012-09-12 10:18 AM
@ NAT12298 It is their business. And it's all of ours, too ... lawbreakers disrupt civilized society. The word "snitch" was invented by criminals.
COMMENT 318858	2012-09-12 07:23 AM
sb police only respond to homeless drinking on the beach.....which is a real threat
MESARATS	2012-09-11 10:12 PM
Some infractions are worse than others. Taking handicap parking or blocking access causes more hardship than in example, staying longer then 3 minutes in a loading zone. I say after you have wedged your car out, got you person in the car, then packed up the walker or the wheelchair, deflate a few tires, call the cops and then leave. more likely they will stay arround longer and give the cops time to show and if they don't, at least they have to call someone unless they have a portable air compressor in their trunk. I have done the tire thing a few times for egregious acts is not permanent, but annoying. It is appropriate for the big black Hummer parked diagonally across 3 spots including a handicap, in a crowded parking lot.
COMMENT 318787	2012-09-11 05:49 PM
I used to be a bad kid..... I would park in those all the time. When some old fart would start saying hay YOU. I would get out of the car with a huge limp. Then the people would say OH im so Sorry! The point of the matter is you really don't know who you are dealing with, the best advise is to mind your own.
COMMENT 318729	2012-09-11 03:06 PM
One of my favorite "gotcha" moments happened approx 15 years ago, up on the Mesa. There used to be an ATM near the Pizza parlor (many shops east of Albertson's). There was also a pay phone. I pulled into a parking space at the curb, just as a beautiful Rolls Royce was driven into the handicapped space next to my car. I noted the driver had no placard/sticker. So, I said to him, sweetly, "You know you're parked in a handicapped space?" He glared at me, and continued with his ATM business. I went over to the pay phone, picked up the receiver and said, loudly enough for him to hear, "Santa Barbara Police Department, please." He ran for his car and sped off. At the time, the ticket was only about $100, I think.
COMMENT 318718	2012-09-11 02:49 PM
I spent several years helping my mother into and out of her car, first with her walker, then with a wheelchair. I have the Police Non-Emergency No. in my contact list on my cell phone so it's always available to me. I have used it twice at 5 Points to call in cars parked in the handicap zones. Both times the police came almost immediately and ticketed the car. Good for them. Good for you. That number is 897-2410. Use it!
COMMENT 318703	2012-09-11 02:27 PM
If it's a persistent problem, otherwise being a jerk is optional. (Drive away.)
COMMENT 318671	2012-09-11 01:41 PM
AQUAHOLIC - Often I drive my handicapped wife somewhere, park in a handicapped spot so she does not have to walk far, walk her to where she needs to go, then get back in the car and drive away. So just because you see someone that's seemingly non-disabled get into a car with a placard doesn't mean they are cheating the system.
COMMENT 318661P	2012-09-11 01:30 PM
The lot attendant should be able to get the car towed, and they should call the parking control, or the police, to have the car ticketed. Or you can call the police. We used to have a (private) parking lot at our business, which had state-mandated handicapped parking spots. Twice, when our customers parked in them illegally, they got tickets with big fines ($250, iirc, 10 years ago). I assume another customer called the cops. In any case, it's a violation of state law whether you're on a public or private lot.
COMMENT 318671	2012-09-11 12:44 PM
Yea, it sucks that someone was either too stupid to notice the huge "No Parking" decal or too insensitive to care, but the fact is that all you had to do was back your car up a little bit to slide dear ole Mom in.
AQUAHOLIC	2012-09-11 11:29 AM
I'm certain there are many of us who have experienced this, I know I did when my Mom was still alive and confined to a wheelchair. A bigger gripe for me is the inadequate (it seems) number of Handicapped spaces in parking lots. Most times we were unable to find an empty spot. I'm not questioning another persons disability or need for a placard, but you do begin to wonder when a person comes walking swiftly up to their placarded vehicle, hops in easily and drives away... methinks there could be some abuse of the system, or, we just have a lot more disabled folks these days, I hope it is the latter.
COMMENT 318598	2012-09-11 11:26 AM
Response to 318553, who said, "A traffic infraction or misdemeanor has to be witnessed by a peace officer for a citation to be issued. Yeah, I know.... traffic light cams are an exception to that but the OP's photo did not come from such a municipally sanctioned recorder." Actually, the traffic cam is no exception. It is not a peace officer. The note you get in the mail to pay a fine is not a ticket. If and when the police show up at your door and serve you with a real ticket, you will have to pay or fight it in court.
LUCKY 777	2012-09-11 11:06 AM
I had a disabled client who showed me stickers she had made up that said "This A..hole disobeys the ADA" that she would place over the keyhole on the driver's door of cars blocking handicapped parking spaces. The stickers removed the car's paint when they were removed.
COMMENT 318584	2012-09-11 10:56 AM
I empathize with the OP. I frequently transport elderly parents to appointments. It takes space to effectively and safely remove these individuals from a vehicle; often all handicapped spaces are taken. That said, we don’t know the circumstances that caused the person to park there and it seems a little “iffy” going so far as to post a photo in a public forum when the intent is to out someone for illegal parking. And, how do we know the vehicle parked in the handicapped space is legit? There is no specialized handicapped plate on the vehicle, and I don’t see a handicapped placard hanging from the rear view mirror. And BTW, does it strike anyone else as more than coincidental that the OP knows exactly what the yellow sticker on the Honda says and that it is “easy to remove?” Hmmm…but, I digress. The bottom line is that only those with legit need and authorization for those spaces should be using them—there are already too few of them available, as anyone who needs them already knows.
COMMENT 318574	2012-09-11 10:17 AM
They might as well have had a placard inviting people to slash their tires.
COMMENT 318573	2012-09-11 10:03 AM
I truly believe that people who illegally park in handicap parking spaces will someday get their wish granted and really need it. This is the height of rudeness and self centered behavior. To the rude responders....remember your rude remarks when you or a loved one need a handicap space and can't find one, that day will come.
SBROCKS	2012-09-11 09:43 AM
I drive a Miata and was trapped in a parking spot because of a large SUV parked at an angle. Their rear had me blocked in. I called the parking people. They would do nothing. It is private property, not under the PD's jurisdicition. I had to sit and wait for someone to move their poorly parked car so I could back out. I now do not pull in all the way to avoid this happening again. I think the handicap spaces are more so the lot meets the state requirements. Try getting someone to enforce the law on private property is hard, unless they make money from the ticket they can't be bothered. Some people I know with handicap parking will park in the middle of the space so this does not happen. This gives them the room they need to get in and out with their wheel chair.
COMMENT 318565	2012-09-11 09:35 AM
562 - If you can see it on or from a public location you can photograph it.
COMMENT 318564	2012-09-11 09:32 AM
Definitely not legal. Why do you think Google Earth blurs license plate numbers? Good way to garner a lawsuit by the owner.
COMMENT 318562	2012-09-11 09:12 AM
Dear edhat I don't think its legal for you to post up pictures of peoples license plate #'s. Just an FYI
COMMENT 318561	2012-09-11 09:11 AM
554, you are right. It's so easy to judge and have a knee-jerk reaction. We do not know exactly which disability a person has when they get out of a car cane-free and seemingly whole. Perhaps that person has disabling ms or some other ailment that makes it difficult for them to walk very far. To the OP: I am so sorry that happened to you. I cared for my mom who had a myriad of health problems before she died requiring her to be in a wheelchair sometimes. It was hell. I feel for those who are caretakers. A pox on those insensitive clods who use the handicapped spaces for thier own selfish wants.
COMMENT 318555	2012-09-11 09:02 AM
At the entrance to the parking lot, there should be a sign that says the phone number to call to have the car cited (ADA mandatory) - so sad that this is a re-occuring problem!
COMMENT 318554	2012-09-11 08:59 AM
How many people have the placards, 551? How many people have cars in CA? What percentage of those drivers have placards? What percentage of those placards are used by folks driving around disabled people (and my understanding is the placard is held by the disabled person, not the vehicle owner). What have we become as a society when we are so concerned about the little benefits given to those who have difficulties? What a simple and helpful thing these placards are to those who have them. Their cost is minimal and they make a huge lifestyle impact. Fantastic bang-for-the-buck and STILL there's wankers. smh
COMMENT 318553	2012-09-11 08:51 AM
A traffic infraction or misdemeanor has to be witnessed by a peace officer for a citation to be issued. Yeah, I know.... traffic light cams are an exception to that but the OP's photo did not come from such a municipally sanctioned recorder. Best bet would've been to contact parking attendant to call the police for the citation or tow. The citation and tow could've cost one selfishly inconsiderate deviant $1000 to get their car back. Sweet justice!!
COMMENT 318551	2012-09-11 08:50 AM
The number of people who have disability placards is ridiculous. Many of these people are not as disabled as they portray themselves to be. Each placard is very valuable since they don't have to abide by the same rules as everyone else such as being limited to 15, 75, or 90 minutes. While in L.A. or San Luis Obispo, they don't have to feed the parking meters, either. Getting a doctor to verify your disability isn't any harder than getting the doctor to write you a recommendation for medical marijuana.
COMMENT 318550	2012-09-11 08:44 AM
534 - I'm on your side. The person who wants to enforce the law has no idea of the identity of the person nor the circumstances surrounding the 'illegally parked car'. OP has visions of a wanna be traffic patrol officer but would never make a judge. Any mention of an emblem hanging from the mirror? So much is wrong with this post; spare time? volunteer. So many places in town for the busybodies to occupy their time constructively and not piteously.
COMMENT 318529	2012-09-11 07:41 AM
This does bring up a very interesting question. Walking around our town and witnessing many vehicles running stop lights, stop signs and occupied cross walks, I recently started thinking about our new technologies. Why not have a cadre of folks around town, deputized, to carry go pro videos, documenting incidents around town. IF the police own the recorders and it is designed to be tamper proof except by the cops.. then WHY NOT? What a great way to multiply the size of the force and shut down some of the violators around town! What fun.
COMMENT 318528P	2012-09-11 07:34 AM
suggestion: zoom on the plate and post it. A little public humiliation might do the trick.
COMMENT 319030	2012-09-11 07:33 AM
The illegally parked car that blocked wheelchair access for us a few days ago was a different vehicle than the one pictured here. That day I had taken my disabled, 92-year-old mom to visit my dad in Hospice care. When we returned to the car we discovered some fool had blocked our access. I could not wait for police to respond as my mom is quite frail. Yesterday, when I saw another car parked in the same spot, I became infuriated and used my mobile phone to email my question to Edhat. There is no excuse for this behavior and I wish these thoughtless oafs could be slapped with the $250 fine as the sign warns. BTW, the yellow sticker says, "I park like an idiot" and is easy to remove.
FLICKA	2012-09-11 07:04 AM
298, What a crude remark. Have you ever tried helping anyone in a wheelchair? I'm sure the person parking illegally was an insensitive clod. When the handicap spaces were 1st made people paid no attention, used them anyway. Adding a heafty fine cured most problems.
COMMENT 318517	2012-09-11 06:59 AM
@503 it most likely has Calvary cummunity on that bumper sticker. Seems to me thrones with the bumper stickers are often caught doing cloddish moves!
COMMENT 318516	2012-09-11 06:58 AM
It doesn't hurt to call and let them know. My girlfriend had an incident with an aggressive driver while riding her bike. He felt that it was her fault that a car veered over into his lane to give her more room so he veered across the double yellow coming threateningly close to her. She saw the same car the next day, noted the license number and called the police. The police actually went out to his house and talked with him about it. He ignored her in future passes by her at rush hour. If you call they might at least talk with the driver and put a scare into him or her
COMMENT 318515	2012-09-11 06:56 AM
mind your own business
COMMENT 318512P	2012-09-11 06:30 AM
Use your cellphone to call the towing company and get them to hook'r up!
COMMENT 318503P	2012-09-10 10:48 PM
501P maybe that's what it says on the yellow sticker.
PURPLERIDER	2012-09-10 10:03 PM
Roger, I would hope they'd get far more then that. Like, say, towed, arrested, and fined an hefty amount. Ok, maybe not arrested but at least towed and a big fine.
COMMENT 318489P	2012-09-10 09:47 PM
Fight for what is supposed to make lives of the disabled easier. Not too long ago a truck parked too close to me and I had to crawl into my car thru the passenger side of the car, back out, and collect my mother and her wheelchair. I know there were people waiting, but what else could I do? Obviously no one had gotten out of the passenger side because there was no room there for the big SUV's doors to open. I almost left a note on their windshield, but figured it wasn't worth the time and trouble it would take and it was very hot in the underground parking garage.
COMMENT 318478	2012-09-10 08:42 PM
I'd call the SBPD or walk into the station on Figueroa. Departmental numbers are listed at the City of SB website (look under the Police Department page). Parking Enforcement: 897-3726 Loading and unloading a disabled person can take quite a bit of time depending on infirmity of the passenger and the strength/size/dexterity of the helper.
COMMENT 318474	2012-09-10 08:35 PM
You should have called the police when the car was there if you wanted it cited. To prove your photo is legitimate would waiste too much time of investigation, considering you could have acted at the appropriate time. Of course that was a selfish, rude, SOB. This sort of thing happens to me when another car parks within inches of my passenger side and I can't get the baby into the carseat.
COMMENT 318468	2012-09-10 08:17 PM
Is it ok to suggest if someone has a lot of free time on their hands to do some volunteer work?
ROGER DODGER	2012-09-10 08:03 PM
At least if nothing else they might get a warning..
CAPTAIN HALEY	2012-09-10 07:59 PM
Worth a try. I imagine you backed the car up and blocked the lot for a few minutes while she got in.
COMMENT 318454	2012-09-10 07:43 PM
You gotta try.

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