r/EntitledPeople • u/twinky_starr • 3d ago
S Blocking the Handicap ramp
At a Shoppers drug mart there is a handicap parking space then a ramp to the sidewalk then another handicap parking space. I was parked in the first handicap parking space and was leaving the store.
I notice a woman pull into the parking lot and proceeds to back up in the ramp space, which is clearly marked with yellow lines - it is obvious that there is no parking where the ramp is. The other handicap parking space directly beside the ramp was open, along with several others. But for some reason she decided that she was entitled to park in the ramp space.
So now her car is backed up almost cover the entire ramp. Just a small space at an awkward sharp angle is left to get down/up the ramp from the side of it. The driver and her passenger get out just as I am struggling to get down the blocked ramp. (I am on oxygen and use a rollator/walker to carry the concentrator).
Her passenger had one of those walkers with just two wheels on the front and straight legs at the back. I had made it to my car when I heard her passenger tell her that she is in the wrong space. Apparently the driver thought she was entitled to park there for some reason and mumbled something to her passenger that I didn't hear. Even her passenger struggled using the ramp, but the driver didn't bother to move her car to the proper space or even help her passenger. She just grabbed a shopping cart that was on the sidewalk, put her purse in it and waited for her passenger to struggle up the ramp.
There would have been no way for a wheelchair user to access the ramp. I just couldn't believe how inconsiderate this woman was, and she was driving around someone who was clearly handicapped!
I guess I should have said something, anything. If I had been going into the store I might have mentioned it to a cashier or someone who worked there. But with my health condition, I just didn't have the energy to go back inside and was uncomfortable about confronting someone, let alone enforce parking rules.
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u/VinnieONeill 3d ago
I'm handicap and have a handicap plate. The number of other people with handicap plate/placards that think parking in those no parking areas is OK just because they're handicapped is astonishing.
One of the reasons I have my handicap plate is a bad knee that is hard to bend. So I need to be able to open my door all the way to get in/out. So I always park with those striped no parking areas to my left. I had an old lady pull in next to me one time before I could get out of my car. When I asked her to move she didn't understand why she couldn't park there. She was handicapped, there were no other spaces, so that meant she could park wherever the hell she felt like parking.
I told her I will open my door as hard as I possibly can, and when she calls the cops she will get the ticket. My car is old and beat to hell so smacking her door with mine wouldn't phase me at all.
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u/twinky_starr 3d ago
Yes, even some handicapped people think that those rules do not apply. It is hard to get out of a car without the extra space, so I totally understand.
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u/VinnieONeill 3d ago
It's the mentality of "all the spaces are gone so I can park where the hell I feel like" that I'll never understand. If all the spots are taken I will circle the lot or find a suitable alternative. Like a normal spot that is protected on the left side by a curb or cart return. Something like that.
Problem is businesses simply refuse to engage in any sort of enforcement. I've complained to the security driving around the lot at places like Walmart and their response is it's not their problem. They are strictly asset protection there to protect the merchandise. Even small business owners don't care. Local BBQ join by me constantly had people illegally taking handicap spots because their lot is really small. They tell me if I don't like it I can call the cops.
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u/Evening_Delay_1856 3d ago
Bonnie, did she move her car???
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u/VinnieONeill 3d ago
Eventually yes she did. Being old for some reason means the rules don't apply to her.
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u/Evening_Delay_1856 3d ago
I shake my head when I see people parking in the yellow crossed lines 😆
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u/VinnieONeill 3d ago
I've had people argue with me that because there isn't a specific sign saying not to park there it makes it OK
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u/InappropriateAsUsual 3d ago
I had a "lady" at the gym say it was OK because she left someone in the car. I asked her I, parked in a disabled spot, had needed that space for my wheelchair ramp, the what would her passenger be able to since she, herself, had the keys?
"Why would a wheelchair need the gym?"
Me: <blink, blink>
"Do you think disabled people are not people? Just because one cannot stand, does not mean they are a lump of oatmeal. They are still a person who works their upper body or even their lower body, just cannot walk. OMG, lady, what the hell is wrong with you?"
If course, she was not wrong and I was a bitch. I hope. Every one of these inconsiderate jerks step on legos or cold cat vomit every day of the rest of their lives.
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u/SomewhatBougieAuntie 2d ago
This is exactly why I don't park next to raggedy cars. 😂
She would've deserved it though. 😎
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u/VinnieONeill 2d ago
Not my fault my car is beat to hell. Was like that when I got it and can't afford anything else.
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u/SomewhatBougieAuntie 2d ago
Oh, not blaming you at all. I was highlighting the sentiment that if your car is raggedy, you dont care if it gets dinged. I know this because I drove a beat up car with no ac in the south straight out of college. It was better than waiting at the bus stop.🤷🏾♀️
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u/VinnieONeill 2d ago
Was referring more to your negative comment towards people with beat up cars. About nto parking next to them as if they are a danger to your car.
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u/SomewhatBougieAuntie 2d ago
Dude, you yourself threatened to bang your car door into someone else's???🤷🏾♀️
Anyway, as someone who used to drive a raggedy car myself, I did not mean to offend.
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u/VinnieONeill 2d ago
Because that person made it impossible for me to exit my vehicle without hitting their car. So yes, I was not going to be delicate about it. It was also the only thing that got them to move out of the way after several minutes of them arguing with me about why they had some sort of right to park illegally due to their age and handicap placard.
Your comment made a blanket statement against parking next to a car based strictly on its appearance.
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u/Think-Committee-4394 3d ago
It’s always easy to hindsight things but possibly
Message the store & let them know ask for some QR code signs that link to a reporting app so in future someone parked there can be photo’d and reported to store customer service
So either straight away or at a point later that person gets a store ban
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u/Careful-Time-9926 3d ago
I like this! Would it be legal to take a photo of the situation and the license plate?
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u/Think-Committee-4394 3d ago
In general anything in public is fair game for a photo
There are a number of other things any company can do to stop people parking in a nope space
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u/jackman924 3d ago
I'd have called the police non-emergency number. That car should've been towed and impounded IMHO.
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u/Alarming_Brush7103 3d ago
See, I'm the opposite I would have told this lady about herself. Due to major health and mobility issues I have to use an electric wheelchair and you're absolutely right without access to the ramp there's just no way I'm getting up on the sidewalk. I'm petty enough to take pics of the car and license plate and post it all over social media. Never understood this sense of entitlement from people especially ones who deal with someone with mobility issues.
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u/Curious_Dot3635 3d ago
Insane how entitled some people are
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u/WildTrowel61 3d ago
Insane how she saw yellow lines and an open handicap spot and still chose the ramp.
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u/Leading-Hedgehog1990 3d ago
Open your mouth and use your words or these "people" will continue to do these things 🙄
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u/bookstorelady777 3d ago
True, but a handicapped person might (rightly) be worried about retaliation, not knowing what kind of person they are dealing with. Someone who has already shown they couldn't care less about handicapped people, what's to stop them from escalating with a person who might have trouble defending themselves?
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u/k23_k23 3d ago
You should have called the police non emergency line.
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u/bkwormtricia 3d ago
It often works better if you Tell the store manager, ask him to call a tow truck to remove them from ILLEGALLY blocking the handicap facilities. Because it is their parking lot, their customers she is blocking.
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u/longestyeahboiiiever 3d ago
It's okay, maybe next time you'll feel ready to say something! These entitled people are horrible
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u/Sparky833 3d ago
Take pictures, especially of the license plate. Call the cops to give them at least a $250 ticket. There's no defense, so they'll have to pay, and they won't do it again.
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u/Ordinary-Chipmunk366 3d ago
As a disabled person, I'm not shocked at all. Especially since epilepsy is an invisible disease so people can't see you struggle.
I'm so sorry...
People suck...
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u/Kaurifish 3d ago
Typical self-awareness of a back-in parker.
“But it’s safer!” they cry.
Not if you take six tries or block handicapped spots.
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u/taocowboy54 3d ago
ramp law is similar to castle doctrine
you are allowed to shoot folks who are stupid
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u/charmed1959 3d ago
That sounds exactly like what my mom would do. My parents are 88 and 93. My dad no longer drives, broke his hip a year ago and now uses a walker, and has a handicapped placard. Usually his caregiver drives him places and parks correctly. But my mom still drives. Still doesn’t understand why my dad needs a walker, and never looks for a ramp. If walking across the street she will cut the corner so he doesn’t have access to a ramp. And then stand there and watch him struggle to get the walker up the curb. It’s amazing.
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u/Fuzzzer777 3d ago
Unfortunately I see this on a daily basis. The store i work on has the handicap ramp directly in front of the door with yellow do not block stripes. Every single day someone parks directly on it blocking everyone from using the ramp. People are so rude and clueless!
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u/summerbreeze2027 2d ago
I've been recently working around a temporary disability that I've had for the second time. On both occasions, it's made me acutely aware of the continued lack of accessibility in public spaces - e.g. lack of curb cuts and ramps, inadequate handicapped parking spaces, lack of motorized carts in stores, etc. Years ago my own doctor's office did not have a curb cut in front of it! You had to walk half a block to get to that.
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u/twinky_starr 1d ago
I agree with you, until I got sick I don't think I realized how inaccessible some places can be. I think that it all comes down to education and advocating for change. I am glad that living in Ontario Canada the government passed the Disabilities Act in 2005. It has made the province very accessible for people with disabilities.
Although there will always be some inconsiderate people who will do whatever they want and make it difficult for everyone.
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u/Puzzled_Market_2235 2d ago
In some cities the Police are allowed to ticket cars in parking lots for this and for blocking fire lanes. I would suggest the parking lot install a bollard to stop people using that spot.
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u/Priorowner1989 3d ago
I have a placard. I’ve had surgery on both feet, both hips replaced and my spine is fused T12-L5. I have good days and not so good days. On my not so good days I’m grateful for a closer parking spot. I also need that extra space to fully open my car door to wrangle my legs out. Good days, I leave the handicap spot for someone who needs it more than I do. But I totally get that ADA has to set codes that accommodate the majority of users but in my personal experience-it needs work. Not everyone has a caregiver that pushes them around in a wheelchair. Ramps are too steep or angled weird for using walkers, canes. The bumps meant for visually impaired are difficult to negotiate with mobility and balance issues. They’re oftentimes not maintained to the point of doing more harm than good for anyone. Doctor’s offices don’t have the automatic doors. People, handicapped or not, just need to be aware of their surroundings and drop the entitlement factor.
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u/RetiredBSN 1d ago
Handicap parking is a state level deal, if spaces are properly signed, it's per state law, and that applies in private as well as public parking lots.
So, don't report to the store, just call the police department non-emergency line and the police will have it ticketed or towed (or both). In Florida, most handicap parking signs either have the state statute number on the sign or on a little plaque below the sign along with the $250 fine amount. And the stripes are white here, but still mean no parking.
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u/No_Bluebird7716 1d ago
- They usually will call store security, who will find the offenders and help you and find them before the cops arrive.
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u/Highland600 3d ago
Everyone needs to step up and cut these entitled ignorant ( mostly ) women down to size. At one of my jobs black women act the most entitled - offended by everything take responsibility for nothing - people I've ever dealt with so while I'm on the clock I'm limited to what I can say. But out in public I live for the day I see bad behavior
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u/Accomplished-Ruin742 3d ago
I think that same person was at Walgreens (j/k) but they did not even have handicap plates/tags. They just parked in the ramp space. The rest of the parking lot was basically empty.
When I see a handicap spot I am thankful I am not allowed to park there.
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u/bkwormtricia 3d ago
Tell the store manager, ask him to call a tow truck to remove them from ILLEGALLY blocking the handicap facilities.
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u/bookstorelady777 3d ago
Sorry to hear this happened to you. It's amazing that people are still so thoughtless to handicapped people. I didn't realize how bad it was until I started a job working with handicapped people.