"We just want everyone to know who the handicapped ones are."

[SmileyRose]

So I guess it's not already hard enough going to through life with serious mobility issues.

I'm parked at the post office this morning and had the following glorious exchange with one of Atlanta's finest.

Cop - comes out of the post office toward the front of my car as I'm getting in it. Very aggressive like.
"Ma'am - do you have a handicapped tag for that thing?"

Me - complete blank look of confusion.

Cop - "Do you know understand plain English? Where's your hang tag?"

Me - trying to comprehend why this idiot is all worked up - more blank stare.

Cop - clearly agitated - "Ma'am I'm going to save you $150 ticket - from now on stay out of the handicapped spots if you don't have a hang tag for this car."

Me - Still a blank look.

Cop - really worked up at this point. "Do have a hearing problem or are you just stupid? Just tell me you won't be parking in handicapped spots anymore or I have no choice but to give you a $150 ticket."

Me - finally comprehending this guy is an idiot. "Officer, I have a handicapped license plate, not a hang tag."

He walks around the car, sees the plate and looks even more agitated.
Cop - (with his hand on the taser at his hip) "Why didn't you tell me that when I first asked you?" (Starts looking in my car windows.) "Are you trying to hide something? You seem awfully nervous."

Me - Looking at his hand on the taser - "I'm sorry officer, you kindof startled me. I have a lot of trouble getting in and out of the car so was paying attention to that and next thing I know some man is yelling at me about me being handicapped. Took me a minute to figure out what you were yelling at me about."

Cop - "Anyone using these spaces had to display the handicapped hang tag and you don't have one. The fine for that is $150 so instead of being upset about being asked for your hang tag why didn't you just tell me you have the plate? That would have saved us both a lot of time. You understand we just want to know who the handicapped ones are."

And he swaggered away.


WE JUST WANT TO KNOW WHO THE HANDICAPPED ONES ARE.

Honestly, how do these idiots get to be cops? The guy was actually considering tasing me over handicapped parking......

I have so few interactions with the police and in all my life not one has been positive.

[chrisa]

1. lol The stupid burns

[trumad]

2. Lazy Bully cop...

All he had to do is walk to the rear of the car....

[hlthe2b]

3. While he was an idiot--and a very crude one at that...

the one time I was on crutches and had to make use of handicapped spots (with a legal, temporary hang-tag) for about three months, I'd have given just about anything to see a cop policing use of these spots. Early on, I had so little upper body strength that it was excruciating to have to go even a few yards out of my way--especially uphill. Yet, many times the one or two spots available were consumed by those fully "able-bodied" who were "just in a hurry" and who justified their arrogance by "only planning to be there a few minutes."

I'd have heartily thanked that grotesque cop for "giving a damn", frankly. Just my opinion.

[SmileyRose]

5. This is a point well taken though I'm obviously not able bodied

I get where I need to go but it's not pretty.

Still, your point is well taken and I have to agree with you on that point.

[peace13]

6. I don't think that there is ever an excuse for a cop being rude.

Are you deaf or stupid....really? We pay this folks and I know they have forgotten it!

[dmallind]

8. I agree with this one - am in same boat - WANT the cops to watch this - politely. nt

[The Backlash Cometh]

4. Were you parked near a government building?

I could understand his overreaction if there was some kind of terrorist alert.

[peace13]

7. Terrorists rule!

How many years are we going to accept abuse in the name of terrorists? Are you suggesting that the handicap spots being close to the buildings attract terrorists? Hmmm maybe we should move them to the far side of the lot just to be safe!

[The Backlash Cometh]

13. I don't support it at all.

I'm just trying to get in his head. That's the only excuse that makes sense.

[Javaman]

9. There is no excuse for stupidity and being rude. nt

[The Backlash Cometh]

14. Probably not.

Too bad she didn't get his badge number and report it. That would put an end to the speculation.

[dawg]

10. I'm gonna show my backwards "Southern" streak here ...

Very unmanly of him to treat a lady like that. That guy does not need to be wearing a uniform.

[Chan790]

11. I'd have asked him for his badge number...

I've never seen a police department where they're allowed to refuse that information to you under any circumstance...then I'd have called the community relations office. He'd have been on desk duty while they retrained him to not be an aggressive moron for weeks. It takes an aggressive breed of idiot to harass the visibly handicapped over hanging permits.

[trof]

12. And about those mirror tags...

I have one.
It CLEARLY says on the tag "REMOVE BEFORE DRIVING."
How many idiots do you see driving with the damned tag blocking a good part of their vision?
It's like some kind of badge of honor or something.
"Hey! Look at me! I'M SPECIAL!"
:grr:

[Chan790]

15. In CT it's a fine to drive with *anything* hanging from the mirror.

I don't know how much it is now but when I was a kid, no older than 6 or 7 (so ~25 years ago), my father got a $50 ticket for having a garter belt hung from his mirror coming home from fishing. The cop (actually the Resident State Trooper) kindly explained as my father screamed obscenities at him that it was illegal to operate a moving vehicle with anything hanging from the mirror including garter-belts, air-fresheners, handicapped placards, parking permits and anything else.

Dipshit Daddy not able to leave sanity alone took the ticket, hung it from the garter with a fishing hook, and rehung the garter from the rear-view mirror...the four hours I had to wait for my mother to get out of work and come fetch me from the lobby of the state police barracks were long. It wasn't just the garter belt and the smartassed-ness or the obscenities...Dad was also drunk as a skunk and could get out of the car to even take a sobriety test.

[JHB]

16. I'm sorry, officer. I failed mind-reading back in high school.

[LynneSin]

17. I would have gotten his plate number and reported him to the authorities

Or better yet take it to the paper.

It is inexcusable to treat you that way.

[lumberjack_jeff]

18. If the reason for your slow reaction had been a developmental disability, he would have tased you.

The cops in this country need some serious training in asshole deemphasis.