From time to time, disabled individuals find themselves in the challenging situation of finding someone misusing an accessible parking spot. There are specific ways to handle these situations, but do not confront the misuser. This can be a challenge as you may need to use the taken spot and feel the need to solve the issue immediately.
First: Assess
Maybe they forgot to display their placard, and you assume they are not qualified when they could be disabled. This does happen and can often lead to fines. So politely mention that they forgot their placard, which could spur their car’s movement. This is usually a subtle way of letting someone know they may be wrong.
Second: Report
Some cities recommend calling the authorities to report the event if there is apparent misuse or illegal parking. This may sort out the issue as they can determine if the car is registered to someone with a handicap placard. If you want to stay and think the person may be leaving, you can take pictures of the offense and await the police to explain the report. Without photographic evidence, if the individual leaves, the police cannot fine their misuse or illegal parking.
Third: Relax
While this can be a challenging and sometimes irritating experience, remember that there are many reasons why people may feel the need to misuse accessible parking spots. Enjoy the rest of your day and try to ignore parking challenges.
If you find yourself wanting some justice if none was given, there are websites to log complaints/report illegal parkers: https://www.myparkingsign.com/handicapped-fraud/ is one.
