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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
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    Default When Can You Park in Handicap Parking Without Getting a Ticket

    My question involves a traffic citation from the state of: Michigan

    Ok, so I was at work this morning for a meeting at 9:00 A.M.. I parked in a handicap spot because it was closest to the door. I only parked there because we were not open for business until 11:00 A.M. I would never park in a handicap space during regular business hours.

    Ok, here is my question. What is the law for parking in handicap spaces? I had a cop harass me this morning over my choice of parking. He told me I could not park there. Even after I explained to him the situation. I was only parked there for an hour and a half and we were not even open for business for 2 more hours. Which means that no body and I mean NO ONE should even be parked in the lot until we are open for business at 11:00 A.M..

    Normally I wouldn't care about something like this. But because of my position on law-enforcement abusing their power, I always like to make sure I have the right to tell then to go fly a kite before I actually do so.

    Anyone chime in here with some input? I looked up the laws on this, but there isn't anything saying if the law does or does not change when a business is or isn't open for business.

    Thanks.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
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    Default Re: Handicap Parking

    If you don't have a licence plate or hang tag authorizing you to park in handicapped spaces, you don't get to park in them. It's that simple.

  3. #3
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    Mar 2007
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    Default Re: Handicap Parking

    Quote Quoting 4BangN
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    Anyone chime in here with some input? I looked up the laws on this, but there isn't anything saying if the law does or does not change when a business is or isn't open for business.

    Thanks.
    That's because it doesn't change.

    A handicapped spot is always a handicapped spot. Even if the business itself is closed. This prevent people parking in said spots and then fighting the ticket on the basis of when they parked there.

    If you didn't have a sign or placard, you should never park there.

    So, law enforcement DIDN'T abuse his/her power and, in fact, cut you a bunch of slack by not giving you a ticket. Wasn't that nice?

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
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    5

    Default Re: Handicap Parking

    Thanks for information so far. I had a feeling that was going to be the case, but I was interested in actually knowing the law. I have done this in the past at a different location and was never harassed about it. In fact, there used to be several of us in our last location that did this in the early mornings for meetings. This is why I found it weird to have a problem.

    And CYJeff, I never said that specific law enforcement officer was abusing any power. I have been harassed before by local P.D. for the most ridiculous things. And only enforcing laws on the days you feel like enforcing them on is most definitely an abuse of power.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
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    8,006

    Default Re: Handicap Parking

    Quote Quoting 4BangN
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    And only enforcing laws on the days you feel like enforcing them on is most definitely an abuse of power.

    If that's the way you feel, any time any officer wants to cut you a break insist that they do their job and ticket/arrest you as appropriate.

  6. #6
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    Mar 2007
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    9,096

    Default Re: Handicap Parking

    Quote Quoting 4BangN
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    And only enforcing laws on the days you feel like enforcing them on is most definitely an abuse of power.
    You are actually complaining that you DIDN'T get a ticket? May I also assume you would have complained if you HAD gotten a ticket?

    Basically, you are saying you will complain anytime you interact with law enforcement. That situation may be beyond the capabilities of this board.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
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    5

    Default Re: Handicap Parking

    Holy crap, I can't believe the responses I am getting. All I am trying to say with the comment "And only enforcing laws on the days you feel like enforcing them on is most definitely an abuse of power." is that I feel police need to be more consistent.

    Example: Pulling me over in my civic for a loud exhaust (which has a 48 state legal exhaust, MI being 1 of the 48) and letting the heavily modified truck drive past with open headers is ridiculous. This has actually happened to me before.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Posts
    9,096

    Default Re: Handicap Parking

    Quote Quoting 4BangN
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    Holy crap, I can't believe the responses I am getting. All I am trying to say with the comment "And only enforcing laws on the days you feel like enforcing them on is most definitely an abuse of power." is that I feel police need to be more consistent.

    Example: Pulling me over in my civic for a loud exhaust (which has a 48 state legal exhaust, MI being 1 of the 48) and letting the heavily modified truck drive past with open headers is ridiculous. This has actually happened to me before.
    Fine.

    Call the officer's superior. Tell that superior that you demand that laws be applied more consistently and that you demand a $150 ticket immediately for parking illegally in a handicapped spot.

    That supervisor will be happy to oblige.

    The responses you are getting are because you seem upset with law enforcement no matter what they do. We can't do much with that. I sounds like a personal choice that is outside the capabilities of this board. Nothing we say or do will change that.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
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    38,867

    Default Re: Handicap Parking

    Quote Quoting 4BangN
    View Post
    Holy crap, I can't believe the responses I am getting. All I am trying to say with the comment "And only enforcing laws on the days you feel like enforcing them on is most definitely an abuse of power." is that I feel police need to be more consistent.

    Example: Pulling me over in my civic for a loud exhaust (which has a 48 state legal exhaust, MI being 1 of the 48) and letting the heavily modified truck drive past with open headers is ridiculous. This has actually happened to me before.
    first, what if somebody that worked at your business required the HC parking spot? but beyond that, the HC designation does not change when the business closes. As to not being harassed at some other incident similar; so the cop didn't perform his duties as he should have.

    What I see is not that the cop abused his power or there is spotty enforcement, it is simply that you got away with breaking the law previously and seem to think you should always get away with it. When you don't, you complain.

    to the loud exhaust: if he had you stopped, just how do you propose he chase down the loud truck? He can't be everywhere.

    as to being legal (I'll cut out impertinent sections):

    257.707c Noise limitations; prohibitions.Sec. 707c.
    (1) After April 1, 1978, a motor vehicle shall not be operated or driven on a highway or street if the motor vehicle produces total noise exceeding 1 of the following limits at a distance of 50 feet except as provided in subdivisions (b)(iii) and (c)(iii):


    (2) A dealer shall not sell or offer for sale for use upon a street or highway in this state a new motor vehicle manufactured after April 1, 1978, which produces a maximum noise exceeding the following limits:




    (c) A motor vehicle not covered in subdivision (a) or (b)—80 DBA.
    (3) A person shall not operate a vehicle on a highway or street if the vehicle has a defect in the exhaust system which affects sound reduction, is not equipped with a muffler or other noise dissipative device, or is equipped with a cutout, bypass, amplifier, or a similar device.
    (4) A person, either acting for himself or herself or as the agent or employee of another, shall not sell, install, or replace a muffler or exhaust part that causes the motor vehicle to which the muffler or exhaust part is attached to exceed the noise limits established by this act or a rule promulgated under this act.
    (5) A person shall not modify, repair, replace, or remove a part of an exhaust system causing the motor vehicle to which the system is attached to produce noise in excess of the levels established by this act, or operate a motor vehicle so altered on a street or highway.
    (6) A dealer shall not sell a used or secondhand motor vehicle for use upon a street or highway which is not in compliance with this act.
    So, what is the sound level of your vehicle at 50 feet?

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
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    Default Re: Handicap Parking

    Next time explain to the officer that you park in them all the time with out a permit. I am sure he will treat you fairly.

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