Edward Gobel
Observations, Opinions, and InsightsToo many handicap parking permits, too few parking spots
My favorite pastime is walking and a big part of it is from growing up in the Bronx. My earliest memories were of me walking with my father to his shop. At 6’9″, my father could easily clear a city block in fifteen steps. No exaggeration. He died when I was eleven so those memories were few and far between. I also played minor league hockey not skating but rather walking with skates. Then there’s Army boot camp and a couple of war campaigns later and I can safely say that I am a permanent pass on the Nike Express except my social security number is 10 so I’ve been around before Nike has even started – ha!
I’ve been in a wheelchair for fourteen years . It’s not a choice. I woke up with a jarring pain in my left knee so bad that I actually elected to use crutches. This from a hockey player who would pull out his head stitches just to get a five-minute major if the other team drew blood. The pain did not go away so I had to wear leg braces then on to a manual wheelchair. Eventually, I got an electrical wheelchair but an electrical wheelchair needs to be transported to places so I had to get a van. with a wheelchair lift You get the picture. What’s worse is having to rely on a full-time attendant and did I ever tell you how horrible it is to have an attendant regardless if it’s full or part-time? She It kills the soul. Worse still, Being afraid to go over people’s home for fear of ruining their carpet with tire marks or cracking that marble tile imported from Brazil, and/or dinging walls with the leg lifts. We have a “gang-style” initiation in the family,wherein, new member’s feet are unwittingly run over by the wheelchair. My grandkids are taught from the moment they start walking to stay clear of the wheelchair’s wheels. If anyone is taking this too seriously, I’m joking of course.
So rather than Kvetch and yell at kids to “get off my lawn!”, I made a request for Senator Mike McGinness (R-Fallon) to sponsor SB303, a bill that would require doctors to provide medical evidence for a person’s permanent disability when submitting for a handicap placard the gist of which can be found here. Luckily, were were able to get attention on the plight of disabled Nevadans. Read the bill in the news here.
Anyone ever notice how someone parks in a handicap space and sprints into the grocery store? Do you ever go somewhere and notice that handicap parking spaces have become VIP parking for luxury cars?
Associated Press. “Bill Fights Proliferation of Handicap Placards.” The Las Vegas Sun. 4 April 2011.
Gist SB303 – Fighting the proliferation of Handicap Placard
SB 303 is a relatively uncomplicated piece of legislation regarding restoring freedom to all citizens of the Great State of Nevada who actually believe in her motto of “All For Our Country” which appears on the seal of the Great State of Nevada.
1. SB 303 restores freedom to those who qualify for handicapped plates, placards, or stickers to utilize existing handicapped parking spaces while maintaining their independence
2. SB 303 saves Nevada between $55 to 128 million dollars which would be required to meet current ADA by either providing attendants or paratransit
3. Reduces DMV workload caused by deluge of applications (SP27) which have resulted in the equivalent of 150% of total number of parking spaces (both handicapped & non-handicapped)
4. Too many handicap parking permits, too few parking spots? History shows approximately six handicapped plates, placards, etc. issued for each person actually disabled
5. Establishes clear guidelines for licensed medical physicians to follow while establishing meaningful education and penalties for non- adherence to those guidelines
6. Will now require physician to supply positive scientific medical evidence as proof of meeting Nevada’s “best in the nation” objective criteria to qualify for handicapped parking permits
7. Will correct error on DMV Form SP27 that does not comply with current Nevada statute NRS 482.3835
8. Totally destroys myth that if someone runs from their vehicle parked in a handicapped parking space, no one is permitted to question their status or they have an invisible disabling condition
