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Monday’s Morals – Episode 3

This week’s question involves one of everyone’s favorite pet peeves: handicapped parking spaces! How far would you go to make sure they live up to their full potential?

First to play last week: Jeff of ..by Jeff Tompkins. Congratulations!

(According to the rules, “First to Play” requires you to be the first to include the link to the specific entry in which you answered the questions, not just the general link to your blog.)

Here is this week’s “Monday’s Morals” question. Either answer the questions in a comment here, or put the answers in an entry on your blog…but either way, leave a link to your site so that everyone else can visit! If you repost the questions on your site, you must link back to this site as the source.

THIS WEEK’S QUESTION:
You see someone park in a handicapped parking space, pull a handicapped parking permit from their glove compartment and hang it on the rear-view mirror, and then walk — without any difficulty — inside a store. If you see that the person is alone and therefore doesn’t need the handicapped space, and you then see that someone who is legitimately handicapped is forced to park several spaces away, how likely are you to report the first motorist to a passing police officer? Why or why not?

If you have a Reader’s Choice question you’d like to see asked (and answered), send me an email! I’d love to be able to include it in a future edition of the Saturday Six.

I have a handicapped placard due to degenerative disc disease in my back - but there can be days when the pain is at a much lower level than others. Having the handicapped placard proved a godsend when I was going through radiation for breast cancer. Towards the end of my treatments and for months thereafter, it was a struggle sometimes to walk for any distance, I was that run-down. Whenever I see others with a handicapped placard who perhaps do not seem truly handicapped, I simply recall my own experience.

Cat.

I got burned doing this once, so I'm with the rest of the responders now: not all disabilities are immediately apparent. And, frankly, I sorta feel like those people who misuse those spaces are damaged far more critically than someone who has trouble walking.

(I love this new meme too, Patrick! Very interesting murky ethical waters.)

Patrick

Wow. I must admit that I'm really enjoying this new meme...especially this edition, because so far, not one person has responded the way I expected. Very interesting answers. You guys are making me think!

otowi

No. I know people who legitimately have these permits but their disabilities are not immediately detectable to a stranger. They do need them, even if you can't tell.

Chuck Boyd

I would be impressed that the handicapped placard was NOT already hanging on the mirror.
It says on the card to remove it while driving yet...I see many are in place as I drive along.
Uh, people, it's not safe, It's a distraction.
Be careful out there.

Jeff Tompkins

I wouldn't report it. Not all disabilities are immediately detectable just by looking at someone. People with disabilities have to contend with a social stigma every day of their lives, so as Rick says above, I'd give the person the benefit of the doubt.

Rick

Not. There's no way to tell if the "walking without difficulty" is part of the person's problem or not. Perhaps it's short term, needs to park close because he/she shouldn't walk long distances on bum foot? Or a breathing problem, bad asthma? For whatever reason, a person can have a legit tag, and I'd rather err on that side of the equation.

Monday’s Morals – Episode 3

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