The diagonal lines next to handicapped parking spots in a parking lot… let’s talk about them.

I will admit that I have left a shopping cart in the lines from time to time, making sure it’s up against the post and never when it’s windy outside. But that’s wrong, and I’m truly sorry for those times. As a recovering shopping cart abandon-er, I haven’t done it in a long time. However, it is one of my pet peeves seeing people park their vehicles ON those diagonal lines, so much so that I want to carry post-it notes and leave neighborly reminders that THOSE spots are NOT legal parking spots, nor are they “waiting” spots. Like you’re waiting for someone to just drop off that rental movie in the drop-box. It’s not necessarily a pet peeve just because my husband is disabled, though it might fuel the fire. I have never in my driving career parked on the lines, in those spots. It’s respect, it’s the law.

I apologize for this eensy, teensy photo that I took with my mobile phone. We were out tonight grocery shopping and look at what happened. Those carts weren’t there when we got there.

Those lines are there not as mere or more spot holders for disabled drivers or those driving with disabled passengers. People are not supposed to park their cars or motorcycles there so that those disabled people have room to maneuver their car, wheelchair, equipment and/or themselves. The space is there for everyone’s safety. You might see an elderly person with a walker – they need room. Maybe you’ve seen a full-size van in the handicap spots – they might have a wheelchair lift inside and if you park right up next to them in the lines, you’ll be blocking their equipment. Your car could incur damage, or maybe their equipment might get damaged if they try to operate it. Either way it’s not a great situation.

How about someone in a wheelchair, paralyzed or not? Some people out there may not realize that the disabled person is actually the driver. They’re not always the passenger. So, don’t assume that just because there’s a spot on either side of that car in the handicap parking spot, you could possibly park next to the driver’s side. You can’t maneuver a wheelchair in a space that’s three feet or less. My husband’s chair is a smaller width, and sometimes he can shimmy by, but it’s tough. It’s even tougher if he’s by himself and has no room to take apart his chair as he usually does. We definitely don’t like to run the risk of dinging someone’s car.

And, you know where I find it most surprising where line parking occurs? At our church! And, on occasion, I have seen our fellow parishioners enter their non-disabled license plated cars (or sans handicap placard) after services while we’re also at our car loading up. They will not make eye contact with us whatsoever. They will not look up, they will not acknowledge, etc. Okay, maybe they’re busy, running to the Sunday pancake breakfast with the family, or getting ready to sit down for football, but I do hope that they think twice about parking on the lines.

Sometimes, people look at me and even approach me like I’m the one robbing the handicap spot and I have to explain, “My husband uses a wheelchair, he just went in ahead of me.” Then I get a “Oh, I’m sorry.” S’okay, folks, I appreciate you policing the parking lot! I wish more of you did! On the other hand, it’s a tough, tough call when I see handicap license plates or placards up in a car that’s parked on the lines. Lots of times it’s during the holidays when parking lots are packed. In those situations, I let it go, and usually, I end up seeing those people getting in or out of their car, and I nod in understanding.

So, please, friends, when you see those diagonal lines, remember those spots are already taken. Don’t risk getting that $250 to $500 fine. There’ll probably be more open spots in the next aisle or just around the corner.