LETTERS: MUST HAVE HANDICAPPED-PARKING ID

To the editor:

Recently I provided transportation for a victim of multiple sclerosis to the dentist and to Wal-Mart in Cape Girardeau to do some Christmas shopping. I parked in a handicapped space, and Wal-Mart employees graciously helped by getting a mechanized cart for his use.

When we returned to the car, there was a parking ticket on the windshield. The young man was concerned about my getting a fine for parking there. I told him we would go to the police station, and they would surely understand we had a right to park in that space.

We went to the police station, took out his walker and crept up the ramp into the station. We waited our turn in line, and then Officer Davis read the ticket and told me it would have to be paid. I asked him if it were not obvious the young man was handicapped. He agreed the young man was handicapped, but said the law made no provision for a handicapping condition. The law is only concerned that a vehicle parked in a handicapped parking space has either a disabled license plate or a placard hanging on the rear-view mirror.

We further explained the young man has a handicapped placard in his family car, but that his wife had the car at work. We told the officer we had the placard number, and he said these numbers aren't recorded, and the placard had to be in the vehicle being used to be valid.

Only the people who need them should use handicapped parking spaces. Two handicapped placards are available to me for the transporting of handicapped schoolchildren. These placards were not issued for my personal use, and they have not been used for other than their original purpose.

Now that the law has been explained to me, I will not use a space again without a placard on my mirror. This letter is intended for the people who infrequently transport handicapped people. I hope it will save someone a $50 fine.

JEAN KURRE

Jackson