Lot 17 and Handicap Parking

TheBigShaft

Redshirt
Jun 6, 2017
109
0
0
My group arrived unusually late to the game Saturday. We had an intentionally long lunch at Harvey's and showed up to the parking lot at 4:40. Upon arrival, the lot was clearly completely full. I asked the attendant, who is a huge LSU fan by the way, what is going on. He told me that this is also handicap parking and that they had an UNUSUAL number of visitor handicap vehicles parking in these spots. Because we didn't tailgate, we happened to be in a smaller car (pure luck) and I noticed someone from Rankin County (in their giant Ram) who had parked in two spaces. I asked if I could slip in the tiny spot instead of being redirected. We were able to park.

Now, the attendant was completely correct. As our group started to walk to the game, there were an incredible number of Bama trucks with handicap stickers. Large trucks of course. In fact, parked beside us was a Bama truck with the proper handicap plate and placards. Well, there was a boy, about 10, just sitting in the bed of the truck by himself. Out pops both of his parents, one from driver's seat and the other from the passenger seat. All three then proceed to walk briskly, without a limp, towards the Junction. How many Bama fans did the same thing as this fine family? And yes, I'm psycho. I even peaked in the truck to see if there was any type of handicap modification or evidence of a wheelchair. Guess what? None.

I think we have been in Lot 17 for about 5 years at this point and never ONCE have we been turned away. It was awfully close Saturday and I am SURE others were. I know others here park in Lot 17. We have spoken about it before.

On a side note, I have nothing against handicap parking or even reserving spaces for visitor handicap spots. However, I do think that long time season ticket holders who have had parking passes for at least thirty years, should be able to park without fighting visiting fans. Feigning handicapped or not. The solution is simple. Have a visitor handicap lot with an ADA compliant amount of spaces. And of course, charge 20 bucks for parking there like everyone else.
 

GoodPadLevel

Redshirt
Nov 1, 2013
38
12
8
We noticed the same thing. We park in Lot 17 and got there about 3:00. We sat in the car for a while before getting out and noticed there was a whole row of trucks with handicap stickers facing us across the entrance road into the lot. It looked like every one of them were Bama fans and none of them were handicapped.
 

Dawgbite

Heisman
Nov 1, 2011
9,483
10,488
113
Doctors hand out Handicapped stickers just about like they hand out Opioids. I had shoulder surgery a couple of years ago and was offered one by the Dr. I told him that my arm was in a sling not my leg, I could still walk into Wal Mart just fine.
 

johnson86-1

All-American
Aug 22, 2012
14,901
5,380
113
My group arrived unusually late to the game Saturday. We had an intentionally long lunch at Harvey's and showed up to the parking lot at 4:40. Upon arrival, the lot was clearly completely full. I asked the attendant, who is a huge LSU fan by the way, what is going on. He told me that this is also handicap parking and that they had an UNUSUAL number of visitor handicap vehicles parking in these spots. Because we didn't tailgate, we happened to be in a smaller car (pure luck) and I noticed someone from Rankin County (in their giant Ram) who had parked in two spaces. I asked if I could slip in the tiny spot instead of being redirected. We were able to park.

Now, the attendant was completely correct. As our group started to walk to the game, there were an incredible number of Bama trucks with handicap stickers. Large trucks of course. In fact, parked beside us was a Bama truck with the proper handicap plate and placards. Well, there was a boy, about 10, just sitting in the bed of the truck by himself. Out pops both of his parents, one from driver's seat and the other from the passenger seat. All three then proceed to walk briskly, without a limp, towards the Junction. How many Bama fans did the same thing as this fine family? And yes, I'm psycho. I even peaked in the truck to see if there was any type of handicap modification or evidence of a wheelchair. Guess what? None.

I think we have been in Lot 17 for about 5 years at this point and never ONCE have we been turned away. It was awfully close Saturday and I am SURE others were. I know others here park in Lot 17. We have spoken about it before.

On a side note, I have nothing against handicap parking or even reserving spaces for visitor handicap spots. However, I do think that long time season ticket holders who have had parking passes for at least thirty years, should be able to park without fighting visiting fans. Feigning handicapped or not. The solution is simple. Have a visitor handicap lot with an ADA compliant amount of spaces. And of course, charge 20 bucks for parking there like everyone else.

I don't have an opinion about the right way to handle handicap parking, but I thought the point of having parking passes was to actually have a spot. Is that not the way it works? Do we oversell parking passes for all our lots and it's just first come, first serve among the people with passes? I could see how that would work, as very few people probably make it to every single game, but I was just under the impression that a parking pass meant you would actually have a spot to park in.
 

TheBigShaft

Redshirt
Jun 6, 2017
109
0
0
I'm aware of this. But you shouldn't let non-parking pass folks that ARE

handicapped to park at the detriment of those who have paid for a season pass.

Hell, maybe we had an usual number of handicapped folks because it was Veterans day. However, that's not what I saw. I saw a ton of "handicapped" Bama fans. That's besides the point.

You should not oversell, but I get the profit motive. However, IF you are going to oversell, then do this: ADA compliance requires a certain amount of spots per venue/store/whatever. Whatever that number is, set those spots aside PER ADA compliant lot. Don't dump folks into Lot 17. We have a TON of ADA compliant lots. Lot 17 is on the other side of the tin gym, next to the dumpsters. Not super close to the stadium.
 

RocketDawg

All-Conference
Oct 21, 2011
19,405
2,334
113
Don't know about Lot 17, but there are several Bulldog Club Handicapped lots (Lots A, B, and C at least ... there may be a D). Those are reserved for handicapped folks with season tickets. There are a couple of lots that can handle handicapped visitors (as there should be). Not sure if 17 is one of those or not.

You can't always tell a handicapped person by just looking at them. They may get around pretty well for a short distance, but that doesn't mean they don't have a heart condition or some other disabling condition. And it's not necessarily age related.
 

RocketDawg

All-Conference
Oct 21, 2011
19,405
2,334
113
We noticed the same thing. We park in Lot 17 and got there about 3:00. We sat in the car for a while before getting out and noticed there was a whole row of trucks with handicap stickers facing us across the entrance road into the lot. It looked like every one of them were Bama fans and none of them were handicapped.

How could you tell? Are you a doctor? Did you go perform physical on them?

Sure, some people abuse the privilege ... they'll use the placards of someone else. That's a misdemeanor I believe, if they get caught. But just because someone is not handicapped in your eyes doesn't mean they're not handicapped.
 

RightOfCenter

Redshirt
Dec 5, 2015
1,135
0
0
Doctors hand out Handicapped stickers just about like they hand out Opioids. I had shoulder surgery a couple of years ago and was offered one by the Dr. I told him that my arm was in a sling not my leg, I could still walk into Wal Mart just fine.

It makes me mad to see someone perfectly healthy jump out of there car, knowing they are not handicapped. Especially if handicapped parking is limited. There is just no way to fix the problem of people being low down and sorry.
 

HotMop

All-American
May 8, 2006
8,308
6,878
113
If handicapped could get around this wouldn't be a problem. ***
 

HammerOfTheDogs

All-Conference
Jun 20, 2001
10,812
1,625
113
How could you tell? Are you a doctor? Did you go perform physical on them?

Sure, some people abuse the privilege ... they'll use the placards of someone else. That's a misdemeanor I believe, if they get caught. But just because someone is not handicapped in your eyes doesn't mean they're not handicapped.
Being a Bama fan IS a handicap.