I'm not sure what the ratio is for shopping areas but the ratio varies depending on type of businesses. A hospital, for example, has more h/c spaces than does a sporting goods store. If you were being driven, why not have your PCA let you out in the lot near the beauty parlor then park legally?
I'm not sure I can give any strong arguments for getting out of the ticket, but I wish you well. Bill age 56 C6 Incomplete since 7/20/68 Leesburg, FL Out of my mind. Back in five minutes. ----- Original Message ----- From: Jessica Ann Gordon To: [email protected] Sent: Wednesday, March 21, 2007 10:57 AM Subject: [QUAD-L] parking issue w/ local PD here's the scenario: it's a cold winter day in maine -- snow on the ground. i have a hair appointment about 20 miles from my home in a small city. the salon is located on main street which has ONE handicap parking space for a large downtown area. when i arrive, this spot is taken and i have my PCA drive around to search the area for another -- unsuccesful. after a few circles around the main street loop i am almost late for my appt so i tell her to just "invent a space" at the end of the diagonal parking row b/c i need space on the passenger side to get my bruno seat in and out. there was snow on the ground which covered the lines. if i had not been familiar with the area i wouldn't have known any different. i figured it was worth the risk of getting ticketed b/ c i would have a strong argument as to why i violated the parking laws. as luck would have it, i did get a ticket which i refuse to pay (it's only $20 but it's the principle). so now i have a court date and need to come up with some strong arguments. some other factoids to consider: even in the summer this downtown area is difficult to navigate in a manual chair -- there are brick sidewalks that need repair and the curb cuts are a joke after the abuse from many winters, there is no way i could get around this area without help in the winter especially with improper snow removal. also, i am not sure what the ratio for handicap spaces to regular spaces is, but it doesn't seem like this meets code. does anyone know that ratio? i wanna say 1/25 or around that. the one space that is there is on a severe slope which makes the transfer outside of the vehicle tricky. are accessible spaces supposed to be level? so basically i need some ammo and strong arguments so i can get my point across to an unsympathetic police dept. any suggestions on things to say to make them see it from my (and our) point of view? parking is such a struggle -- a battle we are always fighting -- and i'm fed up! =jessica
