Here we go again. AB booking HC cabins.

[Harleycat]

Handicap placards here in the US are assigned to the *person*, not the vehicle. I have them, and can take them (I have 2 -- we have 2 cars) with me when I travel in someone else's car. So long as I am a passenger and get out of the car when parked, whoever is driving is able to park in a handicap stall, hang (or place) the placard in the proper place, and we're on our way. But if I stay in the car -- even my own car -- we technically are not supposed to be parking in a handicap stall. I often drive, drop off my husband (who is not disabled), then park elsewhere in the parking lot and wait for him, then drive up and pick him up -- not parking in a handicap stall.

 

Handicap plates are assigned to the vehicle, and are not transferrable to another vehicle, so the handicapped person has to be riding in that vehicle in order for it to be parked in a handicap stall.

 

A distinction there that not everyone catches -- "not transferrable"...where the placards are.

 

I love that you do that. Although legally entitled (with placard), I hate when people take up a HC spot while waiting for someone in the store. Drop the person off, take a regular spot and pull back up to the store when they are ready and it leaves a spot available for someone who needs it.

 

In NYS, the placards have the last 3 numbers of your driver's license on it. You must either be the driver or be in the vehicle. In NYS, you can get a non-driver's ID so even if you can't drive, you can get a permit.

 

I also have a NYC dashboard placard which is much harder to get. I have to get a physical every two years. That lists the plate numbers of the vehicles permitted to use it.

[uppitycats]

I love that you do that. Although legally entitled (with placard), I hate when people take up a HC spot while waiting for someone in the store. Drop the person off, take a regular spot and pull back up to the store when they are ready and it leaves a spot available for someone who needs it.

 

In NYS, the placards have the last 3 numbers of your driver's license on it. You must either be the driver or be in the vehicle. In NYS, you can get a non-driver's ID so even if you can't drive, you can get a permit.

 

I also have a NYC dashboard placard which is much harder to get. I have to get a physical every two years. That lists the plate numbers of the vehicles permitted to use it.

 

Well of course the "drop the person off, take a regular spot" only works if the disabled person can drive. Not all disabled people can, of course!

[Harleycat]

Well of course the "drop the person off, take a regular spot" only works if the disabled person can drive. Not all disabled people can, of course!

 

Of course..I'm talking about when I see the person (disabled or not) behind the wheel. It's pretty safe to assume they are the driver. My absolute pet peeve is when the disabled person is the driver and parks there and lets a completely able bodied person run into the store while they wait. There is a lady who does this at my local market. She is disabled but stays in the car while her teenaged daughter runs into the store.

[Arwenmark]

I am from MA and they DO have the picture on the placard. The one tricky situation with me is once in a while my husband will stop and unload me or if it is a good day he drops me at the door and then he goes to another store and comes back for me. Well usually he will park in a handicapped spot if there is one and come in to find me, then I have less far to go to return to the car.

 

Now technically I guess he should not park there if I am not in the car when he parks even though I have to return to the car that he has just parked. Gray area for me, but that is what I do.

 

If I am using my scooter then he will park in a regular spot since the distance is not much of an issue.

[wizard-of-roz]

So, I travel with a Service Dog wherever I go......[70lb pure Black Lab], while I was on Interstate 10, in Los Angeles and because I forget that she's a "dog" and not a "person", I drove in the "diamond lane or carpool lane", which is for two or more person's, a $401 fine if anything less than 2 are in the car.

Well, you guessed it......I drove in this lane with absolutely no regard or thought that she wasn't a "person!" She acts like one; she behaves better than one and she's been by my side, as my partner, when I go to work every single day. She's never late; she never talks back; she's always ready to serve.......I just think of her as an equal!

When I was pulled over and you guessed it.....I was......The CHP Officer said, "you are alone", it was then that I realized, "oh, my gosh, she's not human!" :eek:

After much explanation of where my head was at......he totally understood and let me go without writing a ticket but, did reiterate....."she's not considered another person, please don't do it again!"

True story.....I've never done it again!

[Jesscap5]

I am from MA and they DO have the picture on the placard. The one tricky situation with me is once in a while my husband will stop and unload me or if it is a good day he drops me at the door and then he goes to another store and comes back for me. Well usually he will park in a handicapped spot if there is one and come in to find me, then I have less far to go to return to the car.

 

Now technically I guess he should not park there if I am not in the car when he parks even though I have to return to the car that he has just parked. Gray area for me, but that is what I do.

 

If I am using my scooter then he will park in a regular spot since the distance is not much of an issue.

 

 

See I don't think that's a big deal.

 

To me it's a big deal when an AB person parks there and doesn't have any kind of notice in or on their car stating someone is disabled...when people just park there for convience and think only about themselves and not others.

 

and why risk getting a ticket? :rolleyes:

[Quampapetet]

I have both.. I have the handicapped plate and a hang tag for when we travel. It's the best of both worlds. I started with the hang tag but then flying out to my parents was such a hassle as I couldn't park in accessible parking as the tag went with me. So now I can park in the accessible parking at the airport and still have accessible parking at my destination.

 

But be warned.. at least in Florida we paid for the full price of a new plate despite still having time on the registration so get one when you are up for renewal!

 

In some states you cannot get both, you can only get one or the other. I guess it is so they can't be both used at the same time or something? I don't know, but I remember reading the rules of my late grandfather's hang tag renewal form and that is what it said.

[Quampapetet]

Handicap placards in any state are coded with the information identifying who the permit is resigistered. DOn't know of any that have pictures .

 

Yes, some states do have the person's photograph on the hang tag. (They do come with a piece of paper or plastic that slides onto the tag so you can cover it up for privacy's sake, but if a police officer asks to see the tag, you are required to take off the privacy cover and show the photo and info. that is on the tag.)

[Quampapetet]

Then she pulls out her wallet and starts counting her money (I was at a casino). I timed her and she was in there for 6 minutes. Finally, I knocked on the door and said "Why are you in the ONLY handicapped stall, and I'm sitting here waiting to use it?". Finally, she decides to move her butt and leave the stall. She just looked at me and grinned. What a pain in the behind she was.

 

Oh my gosh!! That is just so rude, especially to look at you and GRIN after?!?! She should have been profusely apologizing and unable to look you in the eye! :mad:

[Quampapetet]

Now technically I guess he should not park there if I am not in the car when he parks even though I have to return to the car that he has just parked. Gray area for me, but that is what I do.

 

That is allowed, don't worry. Don't feel like you are in a gray area! :)

[Harleycat]

I had an incident the other day in a public bathroom. There were 14 stalls in this bathroom and the only handicappped accesible stall was at the very back of the bathroom. I tooled on down to that stall, with EVERY single one of the regular stalls being empty. All of a sudden, a woman rushes past me and goes into the handicapped stall. Now, I really have to go, if you get my meaning, and I'm sitting there, on my scooter, waiting for this woman to finish up her business. Well, I could see a bit inside that stall and I see her pull out her makeup bag, and start messing with her makeup. Then she pulls out her wallet and starts counting her money (I was at a casino). I timed her and she was in there for 6 minutes. Finally, I knocked on the door and said "Why are you in the ONLY handicapped stall, and I'm sitting here waiting to use it?". Finally, she decides to move her butt and leave the stall. She just looked at me and grinned. What a pain in the behind she was.

 

Two more of my pet peeves:

1) Why do they put the baby changing station in the HC stall? It's not like the baby needs privacy and it ties up the stall.

2) Mothers who insist on using that stall when bringing their toddler into the bathroom. There is enough room in a standard stall for mother and child, my mother did it for years. What usually happens is that the toddler starts singing or fooling around and not "doing their business" and when they are finally done, Mom decides she needs to go.

[uppitycats]

Two more of my pet peeves:

1) Why do they put the baby changing station in the HC stall? It's not like the baby needs privacy and it ties up the stall.

2) Mothers who insist on using that stall when bringing their toddler into the bathroom. There is enough room in a standard stall for mother and child, my mother did it for years. What usually happens is that the toddler starts singing or fooling around and not "doing their business" and when they are finally done, Mom decides she needs to go.

 

I waited once for nearly 20 minutes while Mom and 3 toddlers "did their business". "Honey, you gotta go now, we'll not be near another bathroom for awhile.." "But Mommy, I don't HAFTA go!!", "but dear, you really gotta go now.." and on and on, while I waited, increasingly impatiently..

 

and then when she and brood finally DID leave, not so much as an apology, or acknowledgement that I was even there.

 

I often also encounter folks using the handicap stall as a "changing room" for themselves -- restaurant staff changing from street clothes to restaurant uniform (or the reverse). More than once I've charged out of there, demanded to see the manager, and blasted him (her) for either not having an employee changing room, or not making it clear to employees that the handicap stall was not their changing room!

 

Don't know if it made a difference, but I felt better.. :o (Still hadda go back in to the bathroom to "do my business", though...)

[Arwenmark]

Unfortunately there is no requirement that HC stall in bathrooms be ONLY for HC people. further more many places designate them as family or other purpose stalls not just accessible.

Now usually if there is a bathroom attendent it is a different story normally they will take you past the line to the HC stall or keep anyone else out of it till you are done.

[gerif]

I have both.. I have the handicapped plate and a hang tag for when we travel. It's the best of both worlds. I started with the hang tag but then flying out to my parents was such a hassle as I couldn't park in accessible parking as the tag went with me. So now I can park in the accessible parking at the airport and still have accessible parking at my destination.

 

Interesting as in our state you can have one or the other - special license plate OR hangtag. We have the hangtag as DH and I each have a car, so we can transfer the tag. His is a disability that is not evident (emphysema). We have a friend who is quite young (OK, to us anything under 50 is young) who has had two heart attacks this year and has 14 stents (it's a congenital problem). He's slim and buff and looks the picture of health so no one would ever imagine that just walking a few feet can make him out of breath - so you just never know.

 

One day I stopped at the post office on my lunch hour. There was a car pulling out, so I waited for the last spot as the car behind me was beeping impatiently. I then saw that car pull into the one handicapped spot - no HC license or hangtag. We reached the door at the same time and I said "you know, that's a HC spot." Well, she just grabbed the door and pushed past me. There was a short line and she got through first. When I went outside, there was a policeman calmly writing her a ticket. Couldn't resist saying "I told you it was a HC spot!" Made my day.

[FrancescaH]

It seems silly to me that all states don't allow both plates and placards to someone eligible... it's not as if the plates go to anyone but those with permanent disabilities. To only allow one doesn't really recognize that those with disabilities travel just like everyone else and might need accessible parking on each end. My placard usually is buried in my backpack I use as a carry on as I really never ride in any other car than my own minivan when at home.

 

As for using the spots, if my husband and I are out together, he will often park in regular parking so long as he can find an area relatively barren where I can easily get in and out and shift to my powerchair. Those non accessible spots can be so narrow in some lots!

[GRBlizz]

DH and I had to move into an apartment for a couple months during a recent move before our house was ready. We specifically chose a first-floor apartment with a handicap space directly next to the entrance to our apartment. At the time, DH was walking very painfully with a cane due to MS (he is now in a wheelchair).

 

When we arrive to move in, the space was occupied by a car with a placard, and we noticed it was almost always occupied by that same car. After a couple days, we saw the young men (20s) living above us hopping in and out of the car. So I took a closer look at the placard: it was a homemade fake.

 

We debated what to do, but eventually decided to see if we could work it out. Next time we saw them, I mentioned pretty nicely that my DH really needed that spot, and would they please not use it? They reacted very nicely, and after that, they were always rushing to carry my groceries and help DH.

 

In that one case, I'm glad we didn't call the police, because I believe these kids learned something - and we did have to live below them, after all - but I do think it's appalling that they were doing it in the first place.

[Jesscap5]

I know the general public "shouldn't" use the HC stall's in bathrooms but what about obese people? Some people cannot fit or have a hard time going, getting in and out of those regular stalls.

[uppitycats]

I know the general public "shouldn't" use the HC stall's in bathrooms but what about obese people? Some people cannot fit or have a hard time going, getting in and out of those regular stalls.

 

Morbid obesity can be considered a handicapping condition, and such people would find the HC stalls useful. We're not talking here about people who should use these stalls...we're talking about people who use them when there is a whole bank of other stalls empty that they could use, just less conveniently.

[Jesscap5]

Morbid obesity can be considered a handicapping condition, and such people would find the HC stalls useful.

We're not talking here about people who should use these stalls...we're talking about people who use them when there is a whole bank of other stalls empty that they could use, just less conveniently.

 

 

I know what we are talking about. The question I asked did contribute to the discussion which pertained to people with disabilites.

 

Thanks for your answer.

[xxoocruiser]

Two more of my pet peeves:

1) Why do they put the baby changing station in the HC stall? It's not like the baby needs privacy and it ties up the stall.

2) Mothers who insist on using that stall when bringing their toddler into the bathroom. There is enough room in a standard stall for mother and child, my mother did it for years. What usually happens is that the toddler starts singing or fooling around and not "doing their business" and when they are finally done, Mom decides she needs to go.

 

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 requires that any building built new or remodeled after 1990 provide at least 1 washroom stall that is wheelchair accessible. The ADA Act does not require it to be for the sole use of the HC. Anyone can use these stalls. In recent years Children safety organizations have lobbied for family stalls as many regular stalls are too small to fit multiple people. To avoid the cost of remodeling , by removing the HC insignia on the HC stall lnow serves a duel purpose. Next time you're in public washroom check to see how many stalls actually have a HC insignia posted on the stall door anymore. Most don't. At least where I live.

 

Human Nature is a funny thing, one would think AB people would be sensitive to those that needs these stalls, being disabled myself, I would hope those who are HC would also be sensitive to the needs of mother shopping with children.

[Harleycat]

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 requires that any building built new or remodeled after 1990 provide at least 1 washroom stall that is wheelchair accessible. The ADA Act does not require it to be for the sole use of the HC. Anyone can use these stalls. In recent years Children safety organizations have lobbied for family stalls as many regular stalls are too small to fit multiple people. To avoid the cost of remodeling , by removing the HC insignia on the HC stall lnow serves a duel purpose. Next time you're in public washroom check to see how many stalls actually have a HC insignia posted on the stall door anymore. Most don't. At least where I live.

 

Human Nature is a funny thing, one would think AB people would be sensitive to those that needs these stalls, being disabled myself, I would hope those who are HC would also be sensitive to the needs of mother shopping with children.

 

Most of the ones I've seen lately still have the HC insignia. I understand that anyone can use them but there are people that use them when they don't have to. A mother with a single child can easily use a regular stall. As I said, my mother was able to with no problem.

 

I am sensitive to a mother shopping with children but people shopped with children long before the availability of family bathrooms and changing tables. Disabled people often were not able to shop until the advent of accessible facilities.

[enyliram]

have very recently booked with HAL,NCL and ROYAL. all are now requiring a form to be completed or questions re necessitity to book HC before confirming release of an HC cabin. about time and definitely in the right direction.

[lgeisz]

have very recently booked with HAL,NCL and ROYAL. all are now requiring a form to be completed or questions re necessitity to book HC before confirming release of an HC cabin. about time and definitely in the right direction.

 

This is not necessarily true for RCI as friends of mine have just booked a HC room (they need it) and were not asked for any documentation or had requested of them to provide any...

[enyliram]

i booked yesterday on the oasis and have to complete a form for the HC info, booked directly with ROYAL

[mdvlprof]

had to fill out a form for Carnival.

 

i booked yesterday on the oasis and have to complete a form for the HC info, booked directly with ROYAL