Handicapped parking (Page 2): The challenge does not originate from the law enforcement, but from a aggrieved private citizen like you. Just call the attention of the security guard at...

Bill Emmett Loc: Bow, New Hampshire

The challenge does not originate from the law enforcement, but from a aggrieved private citizen like you. Just call the attention of the security guard at the store. Those guards are off duty police, and can check the legitimacy of the tag. My tag in New Hampshire has my drivers license number printed on the tag. When I lived in Louisiana, I actually had a handicapped ID, with picture. The type of handicap may not be as visible as a missing leg, foot, but could be a heart condition, lung problem, or other problem which may hinder a persons mobility over a distance or exertion limit, and possible sight problem. Remember, when you make a complaint, you'll have to give you name and other identifying information. Should the officer apply your complaint to give a ticket, you'll be called to court.

warrenm

In this case there was no car in the space, just a cart blocking its availability. Have no idea who left it there. I’m surprised at the amount of feedback this subject has generated.

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

Bigmike1 wrote:

You know, in Germany we had to place a 50 cent piece in a slot to remove a shopping cart to go shopping. Then we had to return the cart and re-attach the chain to get our 50 cent piece back. Sometimes I wonder why businesses here don't begin doing this same thing with their carts.

Many businesses in the USA did do that for a long time, and some still do, albeit for a quarter. But most have discontinued the practice. I personally was never fond of having to rent a shopping cart in order to shop in a store.

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

warrenm wrote:

Spotted this shopping cart this morning blocking a handicapped parking spot. As my father would have observed
“Why are there more horses asses than there are horses?” Being a good guys as are all photographers , I pushed it back to the store.

I've seen this exact same thing numerous times in numerous places. Both my wife and I are legally handicapped. Generally, I only park in a blue spot when my wife is with me. I can walk and get around much better than she can.
One thing I have seen several times, that no one who's reply I've read has mentioned, shopping carts are on wheels and they can roll down hill all by themselves. As the OP stated, he didn't see anyone actually leave the cart in the handicap spot. When I'm going into the store and I see a shopping cart in the blue spot, I take that shopping cart into the store with me. By the way, not to pop anyone's bubble but, not all "photographers" are good guys.
Did your father ever tell you the definition of a horse show? A bunch of horses asses showing horses asses to horses asses showing horses. I apologize to any horse people I may have offended; I didn't make up the definition, just repeated it.

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

warrenm wrote:

In this case there was no car in the space, just a cart blocking its availability. Have no idea who left it there. I’m surprised at the amount of feedback this subject has generated.

It's not the 1st time it's been discussed and it usually makes for an interesting, and sometimes heated, discussion. The misuse or abuse of handicap parking spots is unfortunately quite common, especially in areas where many of the local residents consider themselves entitled...! One of the most common abuses I see often is people who have no disability at all who use a handicap placard to park, simply because they are too lazy to walk an extra 30 feet; or the people who park in a blue spot, who have a handicapped person in the vehicle, but the handicapped person never leaves the vehicle to go into the store.

warrenm

Hadn’t heard that but I like it🐎

warrenm

We are in a Philadelphia suburb and rarely have a problem finding a handicapped spot but when we’ve visited Florida the blue spots are the first ones filled. And a friend of mine learned the hard way using a blue meter. $300.00 fine. Ouch. Maybe we could have a photo essay of photographing shopping carts where they should not be

therwol Loc: USA

Bill Emmett wrote:

T The type of handicap may not be as visible as a missing leg, foot, but could be a heart condition, lung problem, or other problem which may hinder a persons mobility over a distance or exertion limit, and possible sight problem.

I recognize that this is true, however you can often tell that the person driving the car has none of that as you observe them tooling around a store without stopping to catch their breath. I just had surgery on my back. I got a temporary placard for 6 months. Anyone observing me might think there is no problem when I step out of the car, but if they followed me around, they'd see that I have to stop frequently because of pain. I have the registration for the placard in my car, and I can verify my identity and that it matches what's on the registration if asked.

therwol Loc: USA

rmorrison1116 wrote:

Many businesses in the USA did do that for a long time, and some still do, albeit for a quarter. But most have discontinued the practice. I personally was never fond of having to rent a shopping cart in order to shop in a store.

You aren't really renting the shopping cart. You get your coin back when you return it. I suppose this is supposed to be incentive to return the cart. Let's see, if you don't return it, you get a shopping cart worth hundreds of dollars for a quarter. I think it's a worthless idea.

dancers Loc: melbourne.victoria, australia

Bigmike1 wrote:

You know, in Germany we had to place a 50 cent piece in a slot to remove a shopping cart to go shopping. Then we had to return the cart and re-attach the chain to get our 50 cent piece back. Sometimes I wonder why businesses here don't begin doing this same thing with their carts.

we do that here.Either 1 or 2 dollars in the trolley. I bought a key to use in case I do not have a coin.

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

therwol wrote:

You aren't really renting the shopping cart. You get your coin back when you return it. I suppose this is supposed to be incentive to return the cart. Let's see, if you don't return it, you get a shopping cart worth hundreds of dollars for a quarter. I think it's a worthless idea.

Yes, I know you're not really "renting" it because you do get the quarter back. I was simply making a point.

therwol Loc: USA

dancers wrote:

we do that here.Either 1 or 2 dollars in the trolley. I bought a key to use in case I do not have a coin.

I took frequent trips to the UK over a 10 year period, halted only by Covid. I too bought a key for the trolleys that was attached to a key chain. Then they changed the pound coins, and the dimensions were slightly different. I couldn't get the key to work. Oh well. And I should mention that they use the term trolley for a shopping cart over there, just as you did.

Bret Perry

therwol wrote:

... if you don't return it, you get a shopping cart worth hundreds of dollars for a quarter.

The quarter is to get you to take the cart back to the cart-storage area, usually at the front of the store, not to keep you from stealing it.

Quarter or no quarter, newer carts these days have an interlock that locks the wheels if you try to leave the lot, so you are not getting a cart without a struggle.

Problem with quarters is handicapped folks will need to walk all the way back or loose a quarter!
Plus it annoys everyone else, and what if you don't have a quarter in your pocket?

DIRTY HARRY Loc: Hartland, Michigan

Bill Emmett wrote:

Being a handicapped parker myself, with a sometime... (show quote)

Even so, they could have left the cart off to one side or the other of the parking spot and left the spot accessable and the next handicaped person could use the cart to go into the store. Puttig it right in the muddle of the parking spot is rude.

Dannj

warrenm wrote:

In this case there was no car in the space, just a cart blocking its availability. Have no idea who left it there. I’m surprised at the amount of feedback this subject has generated.

Well, I think people are concerned that the cart means the handicapped parker now has the additional issue of moving the cart before they can park. It’s just a simple courtesy to not leave carts in parking spaces, handicapped or not.