I'm trying to work up the nerve to park illegally in a parking garage. Now that I've imagined how to do it, I'm really curious what would happen. Let me explain.
We have a disability permit that we hang, when appropriate, in our car. In New Jersey, this permit takes into account all of the inconveniences that normal parking spaces visit upon the disabled, by allowing us to park illegally. I believe we can even ignore parking meters (but I have been careful never to do this).
Now, what does it mean to park illegally in a parking garage? I would never park there in a non-space. Travel lanes in a parking garage are dangerously narrow and full of blind turns. It would be foolish and dangerous to "make up" a parking space in a garage.
So here's my idea: I enter the garage, taking the automatic parking ticket as usual. When I leave the garage, I will drive up to the attendant with the disability permit clearly displayed. I will hand him the automatic ticket, and I will explain that I am not going to pay anything, because I was parked illegally.
I have a funny feeling that it's just not going to fly.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
Your theory interested me, so I did some research. A pdf "HC Parking Guide" is on the DMV site, last bullet point in the box on the right hand side. http://www.state.nj.us/mvc/Vehicle/HandicappedPlates.htm.
Parking meters: As I understand it, you have to pay but if you're going to be longer than the maximum time you're supposed to put in the maximum $$ and then you can park for 24 hours without paying more.
I'm confused by your use of "illegally" though. There are benefits above and beyond the ones listed in the pdf? (I didn't see that you could park anywhere you felt necessary to accommodate the disability. Which, to me anyway, negates your parking garage scenario, and you'd face the same costs/consequences as anyone without a HC card.)
Of course, enforcement in the field might be different than what's written, or maybe I didn't find the most comprehensive manual.
Anonymous,
I'd say you're right, and you have spoiled my whimsy. (That's okay.)
Since we're obligated to fill a parking meter to the max, we must be obligated to pay a parking garage to the max.
Thanks, and thanks for linking to that excellent guide on the use disability permits.
- PB
Post a Comment