Editor:
I would like to draw attention to the lack of disabled parking places in downtown Edmonds, and the almost daily abuse of them by thoughtless motorists.
Twice in the last two days I have seen non-disabled people parking in front of the bakery, in the disabled spot. I am disabled, and both times had to walk several blocks on my brace and with a cane when I badly needed the disabled spot!
In the first case two people were simply parked there in a BMW sports car, engine running (thanks – we enjoy your exhaust!), talking or waiting for a good 20 minutes. No one got out of the car or got into it. Today the same spot was again taken, and as I hobbled by, a woman, walking perfectly well, came out of the bakery and got in her red SUV and drove off. This is thoughtless, illegal and discourteous.
And please: if your car has a disabled permit, only use it when the disabled person has to get out of the car and walk: I often see the disabled person sitting in the car while someone else shops for them. Disabled parking spaces are for the disabled, NOT for friends or relatives who can walk perfectly well!
Nathaniel Brown
Well said, Nathaniel. When I see parking and traffic abuses I make certain, when possible, that the party committing the mis-deed knows that what they’ve done has not gone unnoticed. Most times it probably doesn’t do much good, but at least I feel better for having gotten it off of my chest.
Not saying this is the case here, but in some cases people who have a disability may be able to walk just fine.
John I agree with you. We cannot judge a person’s disability on their ability to walk.
It is difficult for everyone to find parking in Edmonds; not friendly when trying to shop or eat there but looking for the few spots that are for disabled is always difficult.
Yes, but in that case they might yield the spot to someone who literally can’t walk at all or only with pain or inconvenience.
From the DOL page:
“Types of conditions that qualify
You may receive disabled parking privileges if you have a disability that meets at least 1 of the following criteria:
•You can’t walk 200 feet without stopping to rest.
•Your ability to walk is severely limited due to an arthritic, neurological, or orthopedic condition.
•You’re so severely disabled that you can’t walk without the use of or assistance from a brace, cane, another person, prosthetic device, wheelchair, or other assistive device.
•You use portable oxygen.
•You’re restricted by lung disease to such an extent that forced expiratory respiratory volume when measured by spirometry is less than 1 liter/second or the arterial oxygen tension is less than 60 mm/hg on room air at rest.
•You’re impaired by cardiovascular disease or cardiac condition to the extent that your functional limitations are classified as Class III or IV under standards accepted by the American Heart Association.
•You have a disability resulting from an acute sensitivity to automobile emissions which limits or impairs your ability to walk. Your physician, physician assistant, or advanced registered nurse practitioner must document that the disability is comparable in severity to the others listed above.
•You’re legally blind and have limited mobility.
•You have acute sensitivity to light associated with a form of porphyria that would significantly benefit from a decrease in exposure to light. Porphyria refers to a group of inheritable metabolic disorders in which exposure to light can result in burning, blistering, swelling, and scarring of the skin.”
https://www.dol.wa.gov/vehicleregistration/parkingreqs.html
Here is the RCW section relating to special parking privileges:
https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=46.19&full=true
Am so glad to see this article and I totally agree. No one should ever use one of the disabled parking spaces without a permit. Also, people who do not have a permit should not borrow one in order to take advantage of closer parking. One time I challenged a driver without a permit who pulled into a disabled parking space and his response was that he would move if someone with a permit arrived – which made no sense at all since of course the driver with the permit would simply go on by and look for another parking space.
I hope the Edmonds police will be able to increase their emphasis on checking for this offense and ticket those who commit it.
John Rumpelin and Melissa Weissman, as someone with what are called invisible disabilities, thank you. One day I asked my son if I looked as if I walked normally. He said, no. To a judgmental person I probably look as if I am walking just fine. I have a team of specialists who keep me alive. I have had judgmental people accost me when using the disabled spot. I get remarks made, in a sarcastic tone, such as “You don’t look disabled!” I reply, “Thank you. My doctors work hard.” On my really bad days I can’t leave the house. Needless to say, this letter to the editor hits home with me. Just because a person’s disability isn’t obvious to your eye doesn’t mean they aren’t disabled.
I am in complete agreement that better enforcement is needed. However, ” I often see the disabled person sitting in the car while someone else shops for them.” can be a justifiable action. When my late mother-in-law was in her 90s and quite fragile, sometimes when taking her home I would stop by the store to pick up some items she wanted. I would use the parking permit because I had no intention of leaving her somewhere “hidden” in the parking lot (especially at night) where she might easily become a crime victim. I wanted to be sure she was in a well-lighted, frequently-traveled parking area for her safety. I believe that was a good use of the disabled parking permit, as she was in the car and did not have the ability to care for herself had an emergency occurred while I was shopping on her behalf.
I thank those who spoke up for “invisible disabilities.” One of the good things about my disability – temporary, thank goodness! – is how it has opened my eyes to what it is like to deal with life while somehow impaired.
That said, when someone walks briskly out of a store carrying a bag or two and pops into an SUV, suspicion is raised. In the end though, all I am asking is that people who don”t need reserved parking spots, or don’t have permits: PLEASE leave them for those of us who do need them!
I’ve been involved in running a support forum for heart patients, and you would not believe the range of problems that people are forced to live with on a daily basis. That person you see walking normally from your car into the store might be one flight of stairs away from a trip to the hospital. You just can’t know, unfortunately.
Not all people with disabilities have issues walking, and it is not required for them to explain themselves and their disability. I personally have a disabled placard because of walking issues, but because of my age, people usually assume my problem is less severe than theirs. If they have a placard that is not expired, leave them alone.