Rant on Handicapped Parking Spaces

I'm sure we've all seen these, and I'm doubly sure we all know what they mean and who they're intended for. So, my basic question is: Do these signs mean *ANYTHING* to any decent-mannered, able-bodied person?!

Okay, okay let's backtrack a little bit. The Minnesota State Fair is occurring right now and, for as long as I can remember, it's been a family tradition to go every year, forgo any dietary restrictions and pig out on foods that we later regret eating. Now, over the last few years, the Fair has lost a bit of its luster. Maybe it's because I'm older now, but rather than enjoying myself and gorging on food like I used to; I'm now annoyed by the (usually) sweltering heat, the unbelievable amount of pricks that don't have the decency to move even one damn inch for the wheelchair lady, but this year I was actually really looking forward to going. So we packed up, sat in traffic for close to 2 hours, only to be told that the handicapped lot was completely full.

That's the first time that's ever happened.

So again. this brings me to that simple little question:

Why don't perfectly able-bodied people know how to correctly use a HANDICAPPED parking sign?

This has pissed me off for years on end because the people I refer to are often: A) Fat or B) Too lazy to park in a regular spot. I mean no offense to people that are a little heavy or overweight, but seriously; you don't need a handicapped parking spot. Being fat is not a disability. The people that really piss me off are the perfectly able-bodied/Temp sticker users that get a permit for a family member or a broken leg and then use it simply because they're too lazy; or they use their temp sticker four weeks after they've recovered from their injuries only to sprint into a shopping mall for a sale.

So, to all you that have done this before: Please be considerate. These spaces are reserved for people that really do need them, not people who just "don't feel like walking."

Of course, if a handicapped person is riding with you, tell them to bring their place card and milk the space for all it's worth :).

Till next time!