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I nominate Jacksonville, Florida the least handicapped-friendly city in America. Healthy people boldly and defiantly steal handicapped parking spaces throughout the city. The handicapped parking signs warn violators that they will be fined $250 for unlawfully parking in those spaces. (
If Jax police could ticket 250 to 500 violators per day, at $250 each, they could generate an easy $62,500 to $125,000 daily.) Selfish, inconsiderate people view handicapped parking as close, convenient spaces that they're entitled to use. They also like to park at curbs in front of businesses and block the wheelchair access ramps. This happens at public buildings, stores, malls, parking lots, and even at churches. Yes, I said churches, like the one I just left because deacons and other non-disabled VIP's have handicapped spaces reserved, and denied this wheelchair-using member access, while enabling church-members to break the law. Disabled people are not privileged, we are physically challenged, mobility impaired, etc. We'd love to be able to walk like everyone else. Of course many people have hidden-ailments that cause them to require handicapped tags and placards, so I'm not complaining about them. It's those folks out there using bogus placards, or who just back their vehicles into handicapped spaces with nothing legal. Out of six times that I called Jax police to report violators, they only responded twice, so I let them alone. This city is gripped with so much criminal activity, that Jax has made handicapped parking violations low-priority. I refuse to "stay home," like a rude woman suggested to another disabled person.
Jacksonville, Florida is forcing disabled people into situations where we have to fight for the right to use our handicapped parking spaces. That should never happen! Some of these people who park illegally, are dangerous, so don't dare say anything to them. It's more important to stay alive, than to use parking that the law is supposed to provide for the disabled.
