Man Arrogantly Parks His Brand-New Corvette In A Disabled Spot, So A Father Comes Up With A Brilliant Act Of Petty Revenge Interview
When grocery shopping, most of us do everything in our power to get in and out of the store as quickly as possible. We have our trusty route down, and we know which cashiers to avoid to expedite our check-out experience. But when it comes to time-saving tricks, parking 50 feet closer to the store’s entrance doesn’t really make that big of a difference. In fact, parking too close might just make you a jerk.
Below, you’ll find the story of how one father expertly enacted petty revenge against a man who decided to arrogantly park his new car in a disabled spot purely for convenience.
Just because there are accessible parking spots available doesn’t mean anyone is allowed to use them
Image credits: Meruyert Gonullu (not the actual photo)
So after one man felt entitled to steal one simply for convenience, a frustrated father decided to teach him a lesson
Image credits: Timeo Buehrer (not the actual photo)
Image credits: James Lee (not the actual photo)
Image credits: dogswelcomenopeople
“On top of all the pain and suffering people with disabilities have, these people are just adding onto this by their actions”
To learn more about this situation, we reached out to the father on Reddit, Dogswelcomenopeople, and he was kind enough to have a chat with us. We wanted to know how often he sees drivers inappropriately steal these parking spots, and unfortunately, he says it happens all the time. But he usually decides to bite his tongue. “I never say anything unless there’s no handicap license plate or HC placard,” the father told Bored Panda. “If I say anything, it’s only, ‘Do you have a placard’?”
This is not the only time Dogswelcomenopeople has enacted petty revenge in these situations though. “Several times, I’ve just parked behind them,” he shared. “When I’m told, ‘I’ll only be a minute!’ by someone illegally parking in a HC space, I’ll just pull in blocking them in. When they have the inevitable meltdown, I just cheerfully say, ‘I’ll only be a minute!’”
Sadly, many people who don’t have disabilities have no idea how privileged they are. “People have said to me that at least I have parking at stores around holidays,” the father went on to note. “I remind them, A) WHY I have the placard (accessibility), and B) that the spaces are usually taken up by people parking illegally. I’d like for people to understand that when they’ve parked illegally, it deprives someone of the right to have access, whether they’re in a parking space or blocking a ramp.” The father’s wife also chimed in, adding that, “On top of all the pain and suffering people with disabilities have, these people are just adding onto this by their actions. They are just being selfish pigs, and that’s an insult to pigs.”
Image credits: Ivan Samkov (not the actual photo)
Over 30 million Americans have mobility issues that require them to use accessibility parking
The man in this story might have wrongly assumed that there are very few people who actually need those spots, but according to the CDC, up to 26% of adults in the United States have a disability. Not all disabilities present themselves physically, but more than 30 million Americans have mobility disabilities, meaning they do need those accessibility parking spots. And it isn’t always easy to find those spaces, as a study from the Accessible Parking Coalition found that 62% of people with disabilities in the US would be “more likely to drive or ride if more parking was available” and 52% have opted out of making a trip altogether due to concerns about finding accessible parking. Businesses are required to provide at least one disabled parking spot per every 25 parking spaces their lot houses, but that can make spaces fill up incredibly fast in small lots. Parking can also become more complicated for businesses that only provide street parking or no spaces at all.
In most countries, individuals can receive a placard for their car to signal to others that the driver, or a passenger in their vehicle, requires mobility assistance. But according to BraunAbility, drivers who have these permits must always have them clearly displayed and may not utilize them if no one in the vehicle at that time has a disability. “Never park in a handicap parking space if you or your passenger do not hold a permit,” BraunAbility notes. “If parking adjacent to a handicap space, be sure you do not obstruct the striped aisles. Otherwise, those requiring side-entry or exit cannot use the space.”
Now, when it comes to intervening as a bystander, it can be tricky to determine whether or not someone “deserves” to park in a disabled space. It’s impossible to know simply by looking at someone whether or not they struggle with a disability, so it’s best to keep an open mind and not judge others. “There are often instances where individuals with valid parking permits have disabilities that are hidden or invisible to those around them,” the Disability Foundation explains on their site. “In these cases, permit holders have reported being confronted in parking lots from those questioning their need for accessible parking. These negative experiences can be uncomfortable or even traumatic, lending to many in need of accommodation not using the designated spaces out of fear.”
Image credits: Jakub Pabis (not the actual photo)
Stealing these spaces is not only disrespectful, but is likely to result in hefty fines as well
The father who shared this story online noted that the petty revenge took place in Texas many years ago, so we cannot be sure of the exact laws and regulations in his city and county at the time. But according to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, “People who misuse disabled parking placards are subject to fines of up to $1,250 and/or up to 50 hours of community service.” And while the cost of a ticket for illegally parking in a disabled spot will vary depending on the location where the driver was ticketed, there’s no question that it will be hefty.
Aside from the fact that it’s illegal, stealing accessibility parking when you could easily walk a few extra feet is simply disrespectful, so I hope the driver in this story learned his lesson after his encounter with this concerned father. We would love to hear your thoughts on this beautiful petty revenge in the comments down below, pandas, and if you’re interested in checking out another Bored Panda article discussing why we should never confront people about their disabilities if they are displaying a placard in their car, check out this story next.
Image credits: Kindel Media (not the actual photo)
Many readers applauded the father for his brilliant revenge, with some even sharing stories of similar, personal experiences
Please remember that not all disabilities are visible. A person might appear to be healthy, have the usual number of limbs, etc, but they might have a condition or illness that means they can't walk far. If you are going to challenge someone about where they are parking, be gentle and kind. If they show themselves to be abusing the parking space, then do what you think best. ;o)
I would believe that in most countries, you have to formally qualify as a disabled person to get a permit to use the disabled parking spot. This permit comes with a parking notice or sticker that you have to put visibly in/on your front window. No visible permit, no parking rights. This would the also cover people with invisible disabilities.
Yes, it does. However, it doesn't stop people from jumping to conclusions. When a friend was in her 20s she was unable to walk far. She had all the necessary paperwork etc, but because she was young, and didn't look disabled she was harangued so many times. People assumed she was lazy and parking where she shouldn't. They also assumed she had stolen/borrowed her grandmother's parking badge.
When we would take my disabled father-in-law to dinner in our car, we had a placard to only use when he was with us (his car had the plates), I've had people give us the side eye...he walked with a cane too.
You're absolutely right but I know of people who have said stickers and still occasionally get challenged.
A real problem, for sure. And, the main reason that I myself haven't applied for such a permit. I would not handle such confrontation well (even if the probability were small)
I have a special placard from the govt issues with Dr permissions. I have been questioned 3 times since the start of march, because I am young. normally I can take it, but sometimes I get so mad or sad. I proved myself to the govt and dr, I'm in pain, breathing is hard, and these tw@ts questioning me despite my placard is just horrible. They think they are doing a good deeds policing parks but not when they antagonise actual cardholders.
indeed in my country, a person must be certified as disabled. it gives some compensations in various ways (free public transport, discount in some public places like museums, etc). regarding parking, disabled are given 2 disabled parking plastic plates that must be shown inside of the vehicle. no need to have that speciffic vehicle, can be used in any vehicle that transports disabled people. the biggest confusion with other citizens, is when the person that drives the car (without the disabled init) parks at the reserved parking spot, because comes to pick up the beneficiary, yet some regular folk starts an argument about the abuse of the right of parking. with a little reasoning, they end up understanding that the benefit is that at the moment of exiting said building (or viceversa) the disabled will in fact use the benefit of parking at an easy access area, with enough room to get in/out of the car. yet, the plate must be vissible all times when parked there.
Yep! My stepmother was a jerk and made an assumption about a guy who had no visible disability who was walking to his pickup truck in a handicap spot. She yelled at him and he said hold on a minute and proceeded to balance himself on his truck while he rolled up his pant leg and took off his prosthetic leg. He did it so fast, that she just stood there in confusion. Then he took his prosthetic leg and started waving it in the air and yelled "Is this disabled ENOUGH for you?!" Never assume someone doesn't have a problem just because you can't see it.
Oh my gosh - that must have been mortifying! Talk about showing her!
Yup. I have arthritis, but I’m young and in remission so people usually bother me about disability stuff… yeah I spent a month unable to move due to pain so severe I had s**cidal ideation… shut the f**k up.
I have arthritis too. It’s awful and many people don’t believe you because “arthritis is an old person thing”
Too many people don't understand probabilities. Just because statistically an illness is most often seen in older people doesn't mean it can't happen in younger people. Case in point: Recently the media has been reporting about the youngest person ever diagnosed with Alzhiemer's disease. He is 17 years old, not even legally an adult.
To add to my comment: Watch out people because even doctors can make the mistake of thinking a patient is "too young" for a certain disease (and they should know better). I have read about too many cases of young people diagnosed with stage 4 cancer because their doctors didn't test for cancer earlier on because they were "too young." While I get that it makes sense to look at other things first, this dismissive attitude has literally killed people!
I love people who promote unconditional kindness, thanks for that LK:)
on the other side of things my mom had a bad knee injury and was on crutches for what felt like a few months and sometime she would park in the handicapped spot even though she technically didn’t have a sticker since it would only be for a few months so just because someone doesn’t have a sticker don’t immediately get mad at them since sometimes people are only mobility impaired for a short period of time
And then there’s my elderly parents. My mom absolutely needs the placard, uses a walker, obvious disabilities. My dad, however, is fit as a fiddle, so he won’t take a disabled spot. He uses the spot to help my mom out of the car, get her walker set up, & her sitting on it on the sidewalk, then moves the car to a regular spot. Repeats in reverse when they are ready to leave. Seriously.
I came here to say this. Thank you
If the placard and or handicapped plate is visible, I would say the motorist is entitled to use the spot. Most of us are not MDs and aren't qualified to judge if someone is disabled or not. Don't judge outside your medical expertise and work from the obvious facts (no handicapped plate or placard then motorist is probably not legally entitled to use the spot.) Most DMV licensing agencies require a letter from a qualified, licensed physician before these plates and placards are issued.
So you get a handicap parking sticker that's what they are for....
I only it were that simple! People can and do have the necessary badges, permits, stickers, but when others can't see the disability they jump to conclusions. They decided they 'know best', and berate the disabled person.
As a carer with a disabled tag I use when transporting my mum, yeh I get that. She needs a walker, before I can get it out of the car and her too there are dirty looks at my able bodied movement to and from the boot and to the passenger door when I help her. I return said looks happily and then move on. If anything is said I respond then move on. The trick is who cares? They are idiots who cross your path for minutes at most, stupid is as stupid does just shrug and forget the Karen etc of the world. Keep focussed on what does matter you and those you love.
It’s true! Being a douchey corvette owner is a recognized disorder!
except if you had a disability, you would have the plaque that hangs from the rear view mirror. You can only legally park in those spots with the plaque or special plates
I'm fully able-bodied, but have used a badge and space to collect my significantly *not* able-bodied grandparent (years ago, they've since passed) because I was their carer. The amount of evil looks I received collecting said grandparent from hospital appointments, the respite centre, etc.
I appear able bodied, but have multiple health issues. Have handicap placard. I don't park in handicap frequently, but sometimes when I have I get glares from idiots! I like how they think they can judge. Pretty sure I had to go through my doctor and the dmv to get the placard jackwad..
My mum went through the same thing when she was chauffeuring my grandma in her latter years.
I had a ute steal a wheelchair parking spot off me whilst trying to park, ended up having to park 3 minute walk away if your able bodied and young etc. long 20 minute walk with an elderly lady in a walking frame and the person was a random tradie guy, I got inside and made a polite point of showing him the 92yr old woman (who when he looked over was struggling to just stand) explained that his actions had made us walk from the back of the carpark and asked how he would like that done to his mum or grandmother, and he just hit a realisation, I gathered from his reaction and answer he’s never done it again. Some people don’t think, they are easy to deal with thankfully compared to this egomaniac
Please remember that not all disabilities are visible. A person might appear to be healthy, have the usual number of limbs, etc, but they might have a condition or illness that means they can't walk far. If you are going to challenge someone about where they are parking, be gentle and kind. If they show themselves to be abusing the parking space, then do what you think best. ;o)
I would believe that in most countries, you have to formally qualify as a disabled person to get a permit to use the disabled parking spot. This permit comes with a parking notice or sticker that you have to put visibly in/on your front window. No visible permit, no parking rights. This would the also cover people with invisible disabilities.
Yes, it does. However, it doesn't stop people from jumping to conclusions. When a friend was in her 20s she was unable to walk far. She had all the necessary paperwork etc, but because she was young, and didn't look disabled she was harangued so many times. People assumed she was lazy and parking where she shouldn't. They also assumed she had stolen/borrowed her grandmother's parking badge.
When we would take my disabled father-in-law to dinner in our car, we had a placard to only use when he was with us (his car had the plates), I've had people give us the side eye...he walked with a cane too.
You're absolutely right but I know of people who have said stickers and still occasionally get challenged.
A real problem, for sure. And, the main reason that I myself haven't applied for such a permit. I would not handle such confrontation well (even if the probability were small)
I have a special placard from the govt issues with Dr permissions. I have been questioned 3 times since the start of march, because I am young. normally I can take it, but sometimes I get so mad or sad. I proved myself to the govt and dr, I'm in pain, breathing is hard, and these tw@ts questioning me despite my placard is just horrible. They think they are doing a good deeds policing parks but not when they antagonise actual cardholders.
indeed in my country, a person must be certified as disabled. it gives some compensations in various ways (free public transport, discount in some public places like museums, etc). regarding parking, disabled are given 2 disabled parking plastic plates that must be shown inside of the vehicle. no need to have that speciffic vehicle, can be used in any vehicle that transports disabled people. the biggest confusion with other citizens, is when the person that drives the car (without the disabled init) parks at the reserved parking spot, because comes to pick up the beneficiary, yet some regular folk starts an argument about the abuse of the right of parking. with a little reasoning, they end up understanding that the benefit is that at the moment of exiting said building (or viceversa) the disabled will in fact use the benefit of parking at an easy access area, with enough room to get in/out of the car. yet, the plate must be vissible all times when parked there.
Yep! My stepmother was a jerk and made an assumption about a guy who had no visible disability who was walking to his pickup truck in a handicap spot. She yelled at him and he said hold on a minute and proceeded to balance himself on his truck while he rolled up his pant leg and took off his prosthetic leg. He did it so fast, that she just stood there in confusion. Then he took his prosthetic leg and started waving it in the air and yelled "Is this disabled ENOUGH for you?!" Never assume someone doesn't have a problem just because you can't see it.
Oh my gosh - that must have been mortifying! Talk about showing her!
Yup. I have arthritis, but I’m young and in remission so people usually bother me about disability stuff… yeah I spent a month unable to move due to pain so severe I had s**cidal ideation… shut the f**k up.
I have arthritis too. It’s awful and many people don’t believe you because “arthritis is an old person thing”
Too many people don't understand probabilities. Just because statistically an illness is most often seen in older people doesn't mean it can't happen in younger people. Case in point: Recently the media has been reporting about the youngest person ever diagnosed with Alzhiemer's disease. He is 17 years old, not even legally an adult.
To add to my comment: Watch out people because even doctors can make the mistake of thinking a patient is "too young" for a certain disease (and they should know better). I have read about too many cases of young people diagnosed with stage 4 cancer because their doctors didn't test for cancer earlier on because they were "too young." While I get that it makes sense to look at other things first, this dismissive attitude has literally killed people!
I love people who promote unconditional kindness, thanks for that LK:)
on the other side of things my mom had a bad knee injury and was on crutches for what felt like a few months and sometime she would park in the handicapped spot even though she technically didn’t have a sticker since it would only be for a few months so just because someone doesn’t have a sticker don’t immediately get mad at them since sometimes people are only mobility impaired for a short period of time
And then there’s my elderly parents. My mom absolutely needs the placard, uses a walker, obvious disabilities. My dad, however, is fit as a fiddle, so he won’t take a disabled spot. He uses the spot to help my mom out of the car, get her walker set up, & her sitting on it on the sidewalk, then moves the car to a regular spot. Repeats in reverse when they are ready to leave. Seriously.
I came here to say this. Thank you
If the placard and or handicapped plate is visible, I would say the motorist is entitled to use the spot. Most of us are not MDs and aren't qualified to judge if someone is disabled or not. Don't judge outside your medical expertise and work from the obvious facts (no handicapped plate or placard then motorist is probably not legally entitled to use the spot.) Most DMV licensing agencies require a letter from a qualified, licensed physician before these plates and placards are issued.
So you get a handicap parking sticker that's what they are for....
I only it were that simple! People can and do have the necessary badges, permits, stickers, but when others can't see the disability they jump to conclusions. They decided they 'know best', and berate the disabled person.
As a carer with a disabled tag I use when transporting my mum, yeh I get that. She needs a walker, before I can get it out of the car and her too there are dirty looks at my able bodied movement to and from the boot and to the passenger door when I help her. I return said looks happily and then move on. If anything is said I respond then move on. The trick is who cares? They are idiots who cross your path for minutes at most, stupid is as stupid does just shrug and forget the Karen etc of the world. Keep focussed on what does matter you and those you love.
It’s true! Being a douchey corvette owner is a recognized disorder!
except if you had a disability, you would have the plaque that hangs from the rear view mirror. You can only legally park in those spots with the plaque or special plates
I'm fully able-bodied, but have used a badge and space to collect my significantly *not* able-bodied grandparent (years ago, they've since passed) because I was their carer. The amount of evil looks I received collecting said grandparent from hospital appointments, the respite centre, etc.
I appear able bodied, but have multiple health issues. Have handicap placard. I don't park in handicap frequently, but sometimes when I have I get glares from idiots! I like how they think they can judge. Pretty sure I had to go through my doctor and the dmv to get the placard jackwad..
My mum went through the same thing when she was chauffeuring my grandma in her latter years.
I had a ute steal a wheelchair parking spot off me whilst trying to park, ended up having to park 3 minute walk away if your able bodied and young etc. long 20 minute walk with an elderly lady in a walking frame and the person was a random tradie guy, I got inside and made a polite point of showing him the 92yr old woman (who when he looked over was struggling to just stand) explained that his actions had made us walk from the back of the carpark and asked how he would like that done to his mum or grandmother, and he just hit a realisation, I gathered from his reaction and answer he’s never done it again. Some people don’t think, they are easy to deal with thankfully compared to this egomaniac