Is This Able-Bodied Woman Entitled to Handicapped Parking?

Janice Eberle, feeling put-upon over a $300 fine for parking in a handicapped parking space, is suing the town that issued the ticket.

It’s not that she wasn’t parked in a handicapped parking space — she admits she was.

It’s not that she actually did possess a handicapped parking placard — she admits she did not.

It’s not that she has a disability — no, not that either.

So what is her defense? Well, her arm was in a sling from recent surgery; she was on medication; she has a huge scar; it was raining; she was only going to be there for a few minutes; and it was unavoidable.

Now she’s complaining that the fine is too high. And I’m guessing the dog ate her homework, too.

The woman was obviously having a very bad day. That’s about as much empathy I can muster up; I suspect she is a bit empathy-deficient herself.

Where to begin…

Handicapped parking spaces provide access for people with impaired mobility or a condition that creates a safety concern. We don’t get to diagnose this ourselves; a doctor must attest to the disability.

Having had shoulder surgery myself — twice — I can confirm the level of pain and discomfort she must have been in, but neither the surgery nor the sling impact mobility.

Her complaint about being on medication leads one to wonder if she should have been driving at all. The scar… well, that’s just silly.

I’m sure the rain was inconvenient and she only intended to be there for a few minutes, but her assertion that it was “unavoidable” is preposterous. It was entirely avoidable.

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
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Jennifer P.

7:41AM PDT on Apr 25, 2012

I am sorry she had a bad day, but she has no excuse. She probably should have been driving while on medication, or if one of her arms was out of use, I really believe you need 2 hands for driving.

I hope to never need a placard, temporary or otherwise. My dad was injured falling off a roof, and I'm glad they had a temporary card, because the injury was sensitive to cold (metal plates in both arms get chilled fast) and in winter, in Alaska, it was sometimes a blessing to have it, when his wrists and hands were too swollen to wear mittens or gloves.

I appreciate your self-imposed rule to always take the card down when driving. It is really not much of an effort to reach up and remove a large obstuction from your field of view.

send a green star

Linda C.

4:36PM PST on Mar 4, 2012

She was wrong she should pay her fine and not was court time!!!

Michele W.

9:57AM PST on Mar 4, 2012

Thank you

Sue H.

11:07PM PST on Mar 3, 2012

Nothing irks me more to see some able bodied jerk pull into a disabled spot. How callous.

carol l.

6:05AM PST on Feb 14, 2012

I smetimes question too whn I see people boppig around getting in and ou of a car w9ith usually the placard, not the license plate. That is the downside of the placard, you are supposed to prove you arein the car registered to the pacard but I sincerely doubt that hapens often, if at all. That being said I do not look handicapped but I am. I am sure some people look at me askance and I have been talked to in a very naty way by someo who decided because I don;t have cane or walker I have no handicap. We do have toi be careful inremember tha some people ave heart, lung, etc issues that have caused their handicap and the need for the parking space and placard.

Carol Jay Levy
author A PAINED LIFE, a chronic pain journey
Women In Pain Awareness Group
https://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/groups/111961795481256/
The Pained Life, 30 years, and counting.http://apainedlife.blogspot.com/
accredited to the U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities member U.N. NGO group, Persons With Disabilities
(I post my signature so you see my bona fides for handicapped issues)

Donna P.

6:59PM PST on Feb 13, 2012

My husband has been disabled all his life, born with it and we do not park in a handicap spot, even though we should get the placard and do it.I personally question a lot of these people I see in these spots.And no I don't think just because you're elderly you deserve to park there either.

Lynn C.

2:45PM PST on Feb 13, 2012

Elaine A.

12:36PM PST on Feb 13, 2012

If you are truly disabled and have the proper placard, then you deserve that spot. If you are found to not have proof of a handicap nor a placard then you in no uncertain terms better not be in that spot unless you are willing to pay a sever fine...And rightfully so!

Carol W.

5:06PM PDT on Aug 31, 2011

I have MS, and I have a placard. I wish I could get a reverse placard. I would promise to park at the furthest away spot everytime if I could only count on the fact that I would always be able to walk. My 75 year old mother walks better than I do at 44. I am grateful for the grocery store because carts work like walkers without the stigma. Just the fact that I don't have to worry about parking helps my condition, as I live alone, work full time and pay all my bills. The day my neurologist told me to get a cane and signed the papers and made me get a placard was one of the worst days of my life. I am that person on the placard, and I don't want to be, so I fight it everyday. I have empathy for that woman's bad day, and hey she might have gotten away with it, but sometimes the bad thing happens to us, we get MS or ALS or diabetes or cancer and we can't pay a fine and make it go away.