How often have you heard:
“I didn’t know I couldn’t park there.
I’m so sorry.” I’m willing to bet
you hear it more than once a week if you have a disability and use accessible
parking.
Not only do people not seem to recognize the meaning of the
little blue sign with the international symbol for accessibility but they also
seem to suddenly not know that the diagonal lines in the access aisle mean no
parking. So, let’s review the use of diagonal
lines in all areas.
Diagonal lines in front of a fire hydrant mean: No Parking.
Diagonal lines in and near a crosswalk mean: No Parking.
Diagonal lines in a fire lane mean: No Parking.
Diagonal lines near a corner mean: No Parking.
Diagonal lines between accessible parking spaces mean: No Parking.
See? There is
consistency. In every single case,
diagonal lines mean No Parking. So, how
can a person claim to not know the meaning of the lines when they are in the
access aisles of accessible parking?
Seriously, if they don’t know, they should have their license suspended
until they go to driving school for a refresher. Or, are they just making an excuse?
That’s one of the main reasons I no longer accept their
apologies. They don’t mean anything. They are not sorry that I had to sit out in
the rain for an hour and miss an important appointment because they were too
lazy to walk a few steps. It’s just another way of trying to say they thought
they could get away with it and they are sorry they got caught.
It seems that people pick and choose which laws they will
obey. Most of the time, accessible
parking and anything under the Americans with Disabilities Act fall on the side
of laws that won’t be obeyed. Sadly,
they also fall on the side of laws that are rarely enforced.
If someone parks in a fire lane, a parking ticket will be
issued. If someone parks in a crosswalk,
a parking ticket will be issued. If
someone parks in the access aisle – with the same diagonal lines – it becomes
“a teachable moment”. Frankly, I feel I
have been the teacher for far too many teachable moments. Graduate them or fail them, but stop asking
me to allow this to happen again and again and again, etc.
If accessibility laws were enforced across the board, I
sincerely believe they would have the effect they were meant to have – to level
the playing field so that persons with disabilities can live, go about their
business, recreate and otherwise live full and independent lives.
These laws have been in effect long enough for people to
know about them unless they have been living under a rock. Who really doesn’t know about parking under
the little blue sign? Who really doesn’t
know what the diagonal lines mean? Who
really doesn’t know that the Americans with Disabilities Act exists for the
purpose of allowing persons with disabilities to live full and productive lives
on an equal basis with other citizens?
Stop saying you’re sorry when you really mean you don’t
care. I know you will do it again first
chance you get. And this sorry state of
affairs will continue until the laws are enforced and you feel the pinch.
Police please take notice.
