Handicap Plates Don’t Mean “Park Wherever You Want”

I stopped at Harris Teeter to grab two items.

Literally, two items.

As I left the store and made my way toward my car—parked in an actual accessible parking space—I noticed a car sitting directly outside the entrance.

I looked inside.

No driver. No passenger. No one.

As I pulled away, I noticed the car had handicap license plates. As someone who relies on accessible parking, I understand why those spaces—and the shorter distance they provide—matter.

But handicap plates are not an all-access parking pass. They do not mean you can skip the designated spaces and create your own personal parking spot directly in front of the store.

I might—and this is a very soft might—understand the decision if every accessible parking space had been occupied.

They weren’t.

And before anyone reaches for the classic excuse, “I’m just running in, and I’ll be right out,” let’s review the timeline.

I had enough time to walk to my car, load my two items, get inside, buckle my seat belt, back out, take a picture, and drive away.

That took at least two minutes.

The driver still had not returned.

This is not about questioning whether someone has a disability. The handicap plates already answer that question. It is about recognizing that having those plates does not excuse blocking an entrance, a fire lane, or an area intended to remain clear.

Accessible parking exists to make life a little easier for people who need it. Use the designated space. If one is available, there is no excuse for parking directly in front of the store simply because it is more convenient.

Be better, people. Be better.

Another One Caught: Parking Like the Rules Don't Apply

I caught another one.


Today I was on my way to the local Harris Teeter to pick up additional lottery tickets for the pool I'm in (more about that over at NielFlamm.com/blog). Harris Teeter is only about a mile from my house, and to get there, I pass Rivertowne Public House—which, by the way, has a great Caesar salad and chicken nachos if you've never been.


As I approached Harris Teeter, just past the Pub House, I noticed a white BMW X3 with a South Carolina license plate WUP 290. The driver was inching his way into a parking space so slowly that he backed up traffic in both directions. It wasn't a particularly difficult parking job—it just seemed like everyone else had to wait while he perfected it.


I didn't have time to snap a photo on the way in because I was headed to buy those lottery tickets. But I secretly hoped the BMW would still be there when I came back out on my way to get a car wash.


It was.


One thing that crossed my mind: this happened before anyone at the nearby pub would reasonably have had a chance to enjoy a few adult beverages and make questionable decisions afterward. From what I observed, this appeared to be a sober driver making a deliberate choice to take as much time as needed, regardless of the line of cars waiting behind him.


That's one of the reasons I'm glad I have this blog. It gives me a place to document the little moments that make you shake your head.


One quick note before anyone points it out: yes, you'll notice a golf cart parked in a handicap space. It appears to be a legitimate designated spot, and I don’t have information on whether the owner has a disability. I'm not making any assumptions about that.


What I am commenting on is the behavior I personally witnessed. Taking your time is one thing. Holding up traffic in both directions because you're determined to execute the perfect parking maneuver is another. A little consideration for the people around you goes a long way.


As a BMW owner myself, I hate seeing behavior that reinforces the stereotype that BMW drivers are selfish or entitled. Most of us aren't. Unfortunately, it only takes a few memorable moments like this to give everyone else a bad reputation.


Let's all remember that parking lots work best when everyone shares them with a little patience, courtesy, and awareness.


Have you ever witnessed a parking lot moment that made you wonder what someone was thinking? Leave a comment and let me know.