Last I checked, handicapped parking spaces don't magically turn into parking spaces for everyone...
Doing my grocery run last weekend, I noticed that out of 4 handicapped parking spaces in front of our local Safeway only one person parked in them actually had the appropriate placard to park in them. I couldn't help but notice that the other 3 vehicles didn't have any kind of marking that would allow them to park in these spaces. I kind of understand if you don't live here and it is your first time in this parking lot and parking in those spaces (which, in the winter when the ground markings are covered up by snow, there isn't a sign on a post to mark it as such in that situation) but people who do live here and parking in them is unacceptable.
I don't have any real need to be upset about this, but it does bother me when people park in these spaces when they clearly don't need to. These spaces are reserved for those who need them for whatever reason, not for your convenience so you don't have to park 5 spaces further in the parking lot when you're just waiting for someone or are too lazy to walk the extra 5 spaces. Pretty much every weekend I notice this occurance, but this winter it seems to be a more common occurance because of the snow covered markings. But just because you can't see the markings, doesn't mean they're no longer reserved for those who have an appropriate placard. The spaces closet to the doors are always for that purpose, it's never changed!
How would you feel if you needed that space but they were all taken by able bodied people???
