My wife and I were shopping over the holidays at No Frills in the plaza on Dundas across from the White Oaks apartments. I was dropped off at Shoppers Drug Mart while my wife ventured into No Frills to do some grocery shopping.
My wife noticed a man in what she thought was an SUV (actually was a Dodge Nitro) pull into an Expecting Mothers parking spot. He was alone and appeared to be in his mid 30's to early 40's. He wore a baseball cap and looked like he could have been a local soccer or hockey coach.
As he pulled into the spot and got out of his vehicle and elderly man with a cane said something to him sarcastically like: "You don't look like an expectant mother". The jerk actually laced the old guy with a verbal tirade filled with profanity warning the old man to mind his own f-ing business. My wife said it was a disgusting display. The old man just kind of looked at my wife stunned.
I asked my wife to point him out to me but we couldn't see him. Is this what society has come to? Just disgusting behaviour.
BuNdO
I have also been the victim of some nasty comments when I have done the exact same thing (mentioned to someone that they were not pregnant, nor with young children, nor elderly, giving them no reason to be in that spot).
It seems as though Whitby (like all other cities) has it's fair share of people that think that their time is so much more important than everyone elses.
I noticed someone walking to a handicap parking spot a couple days ago...perfectly able and with no one who required the spot. Luckily this guy went into another store after dropping his purchases off. I reported him to one of the store staff and 10 minutes later i noticed a police officer waiting by the car....LMAO
I am terrible aren't I?
I hate those jerk people....
I noticed someone walking to a handicap parking spot a couple days ago...perfectly able and with no one who required the spot. Luckily this guy went into another store after dropping his purchases off. I reported him to one of the store staff and 10 minutes later i noticed a police officer waiting by the car....LMAO
I am terrible aren't I?
I hate those jerk people....
Let me say, as someone who unfortunately has a disabled parking pass (believe me, I don't want it) you can't always immediately see whether someone "qualifies" to use the spot or not.
I had a pretty bad accident a couple of years ago where I spent months in a wheelchair ... affected both knees, pelvis and back. I've improved significantly since then but still deal with challenges on a daily basis. I might "look" fine to an unknowing observer. For example when I go to the mall I might look quite fine going in and significantly different coming out. Or if I have a lot of running around to do at different places I'll use it each place I go (if I can't find close parking) to make sure I'm able to finish my errands. Most times I can feel there's going to be a problem before I outwardly show any signs of pain. I've also gotten quite good at masking any outward signs of pain.
I do my best not to use/abuse the privilege, especially when spots are limited. I don't want to take a spot from someone who needs it when I'm feeling good and don't need it. I hate the glares/comments I get from people who, in their ignorance, judge me for using it because I'm young and don't appear to need it (i.e. no cane or wheelchair). Primarily I try not to use it because, due to someone's stupid mistake while driving, I deeply resent that I now have a need to use it sometimes.
I'm certainly not saying there aren't people who abuse the handicapped spots. I'm simply asking you to think of what you don't know about someone's situation before you go judging all "able bodied" people parking in the handicapped spot. While I'm sure you're not saying I'm one of those "jerk" people, out on the street I have personally experienced occasions where people have mistaken me for one of those "jerks" you're referring to.
BTW: I don't have a problem with the police asking me to verify the pass is mine, I can easily do that. So it's not you reporting this person that I am commenting on. It's the assumption this person is a jerk that I'm commenting on.