City Councilor Michael Flaherty (at large) says he has the solution to many of Boston's parking woes: No, not making people pay for residential parking permits, which he opposes with the blinding fury of 10,000 suns, but making people with handicap placards pay for metered spaces - and then ticketing them if they stay more than two hours.
Flaherty says abuse of the handicap placard system is rampant and too many perfectly able people get doctors who don't give a damn to sign off on prescriptions to get the placards, which currently let them park at metered spaces for free.
Flaherty has been on a tear about this, but at a hearing yesterday on the Boston Transportation Department's proposed budget for the coming fiscal year, he said he's grown tired of waiting for the state to do anything about the problem - especially when it comes to burly construction workers from out of state, "capable and able-bodied folks coming from New Hampshire and Rhode Island with their pickup trucks and all their heavy equipment and tools coming to a downtown area to work on a construction site and sit there for 12, 14, 16 hours a day" - and not just in prime downtown spaces, but all over the city, taking "a very precious parking spot for someone that has been waiting for it or someone that has legitimate disability or handicap that has to get in line behind someone that's a fraud, and that's pretty disgusting."
Making placard people pay - and worry about tickets - would end the problem just like that, he said. "Circling the block, double park waiting for spots, that's going to be eliminated," he predicted, because all those construction workers, "they'll take public transportation, they may car share, they most definitely won't be driving into Boston, slapping the placard on their windshield, and ignoring the parking laws and not paying the meters."
Flaherty discusses handicap-placard abuse:
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Comments
Remember when the wheelchair
By anon
Wed, 05/08/2019 - 10:39am
Remember when the wheelchair logo specifically meant people in actual wheelchairs?
That sounds pretty ableist
By spin_o_rama
Wed, 05/08/2019 - 11:15am
Are you implying those without wheelchairs are not truly handicapped? Might be a misunderstanding in your point, apologies if thats true.
No
By Kaz
Wed, 05/08/2019 - 11:27am
Because it never did.
Not all people with physical disabilities are in wheelchairs.
By mplo
Wed, 05/08/2019 - 11:49am
The wheelchair logo means that the placards are for anybody with physical disabilities, whether they use wheelchairs, walkers, or canes. Come on now!
As a matter of fact
By eeka
Wed, 05/08/2019 - 12:42pm
As a matter of fact, Miki, people can also get placards for vision disabilities, cardiopulmonary disabilities, and a number of other disabilities, to boot.
Um..
By Miaow
Wed, 05/08/2019 - 11:50am
I have a family member with MS. He's not in a wheelchair but has limited mobility and has to use a walker and/or a cane. Walking a small distance create enormous fatigue for him, and he has to move very slowly. He's got a disability parking permit, and he needs it, wheelchair or not.
When my father had his knee
By Matt Frank
Wed, 05/08/2019 - 1:08pm
When my father had his knee replaced he had a temporary placard for 6 months during his recovery. He had no wheelchair, he did not have a huge cast on but he moved slow and it was painful. The wheelchair logo is used because it is a convenient way of conveying a concept to people.
If you notice, some HC signs will say Wheelchair van with special lines drawn to ensure the van can be used in the spot.
I had an operation which
By anon
Wed, 05/08/2019 - 1:43pm
I had an operation which required me to be non-weight-bearing for a prolonged period of time. I had to use two crutches to get around. I am an otherwise healthy-looking, able-bodied young person, but I had a temporary handicap permit and it was a godsend. Crutches suck. Also, you can't carry anything in your hands and opening doors becomes a real bloody hassle. But from someone's point of view I may as well have been just a young person abusing a handicapped placard. Point being, you don't know how much something sucks until you walk a mile in someone's shoes; you can't even imagine how much things might suck for people who don't look like they need the placard.
I learned from a friend whose
By R Hookup
Thu, 05/09/2019 - 5:15pm
I learned from a friend whose daughter is a Little Person and eligible for a handicap sticker:
The handicapped person can be in the car when it arrives or when it departs. It doesn't require both. One might be dropping off or picking up your grandmother, which won't always be obvious to observers.
It's pretty much always meant
By Jack
Sat, 05/11/2019 - 12:09am
It's pretty much always meant disability in general. That said, the whole "invisible disability" crutch, pun intended, is the #1 reason for handicap parking fraud. Yes, I agree there are many legitimate invisible disabilities. But there is only one purpose for handicap parking, to provide barrier free access to goods and services. There needs to be space to get in/out of ones vehicle and an accessible route, that's it. Distance to/from said goods and services is not part of the requirement, never has been never will be, because distance is always different for every store, service, event, etc. Mobility aids such as wheelchairs, scooters, walkers, crutches, canes, etc. are what disabled people use to overcome distance, not handicap parking. If you have an invisible disability and you're worried about the distance you have to walk, then use the appropriate mobility aid to safely traverse the distance. Oh my god, that's so inconvenient to have to use a mobility aid, I just want the convenience of close parking. Well guess what, then you're not using any of the unique features provided handicapped parking and are just taking a spot from someone who does just so you won't be inconvenienced by using a mobility aid.
I can’t believe I’m saying this...
By AnonPEO
Wed, 05/08/2019 - 10:47am
but I absolutely agree with Flaherty on this one. I work at Parking Enforcement and the VAST MAJORITY of placard use is fraudulent. People using their relatives placards, dead peoples placards, placards where they’ve tried to alter the expiration date.
Take a walk around any construction site. Apparently the F250 extended cab full of tools is the vehicle of choice for Boston’s disabled population.
We’re not cops so there’s only so much we can do about it. I personally report every one I find to the RMV but I don’t have much faith in what happens when I do.
So...
By lbb
Wed, 05/08/2019 - 10:53am
...if we take your word for it, the VAST MAJORITY of placard use is fraudulent.
So you're gonna solve that by taking an action that's going to harm people who are actually disabled.
I'm sensing a failure of imagination.
Harm?
By Sock_Puppet
Wed, 05/08/2019 - 11:10am
Could you explain the harm a little better, please? I understand the theory behind handicapped spaces being in advantageous locations, such as closer to the door of a supermarket, but what's the harm in paying for meters on a standard space that is not in a special location?
The theory is:
By Pete Nice
Wed, 05/08/2019 - 11:31am
A. There are no "special" locations. If there is a meter, it means it is in a commercial district where people drive in, park and do things.
B. Those with legit HP issues shouldn't be put on time constraints because their disability may hinder them in getting back to a time restricted meter. (Someone with a mobility or heart issue may not know what kind of obstacles they may face in their journey, and this could affect their timing)
But I think there may be some middle ground here, especially with new smart meters. At the very least, the HP driver can pay some sort of fee, and that can of course be checked at the meter. The downside is the HP driver now gets to only pay 2 hours for a possible 10-12 hour meter. (or other times.
People will find a way to
By Refugee
Wed, 05/08/2019 - 11:42am
People will find a way to exploit any loophole to get free parking, because free parking is awesome.
exploit any loophole to get free parking
By spin_o_rama
Wed, 05/08/2019 - 12:10pm
....while also complaining about other parts of society that they don't like getting subsidized by taxpayers.
Because free parking is in
By tofu
Wed, 05/08/2019 - 1:45pm
Because free parking is in the bill of rights!
Close the loopholes
By SwirlyGrrl
Wed, 05/08/2019 - 7:46pm
And find better ways to prevent fraudulent use.
Don't ignore MA laws and harm people with real need.
MA does a lousy job of administering these placards - they make it very difficult for people who need them to get them, then they ignore some simple means of enforcement.
Case in point: when my father died, the state of Oregon demanded his placard within two weeks of issuing his death certificate. MA does not do this, and many of those "cheater" placards belong to people who are deceased.
Some states require yearly paperwork and color code them like inspection stickers. Your doctor has to send a boilerplate form and you have to renew them - which won't happen if you are dead or in a nursing home and little Joey decides to cheat with it.
Not that these are perfect answers, but they are a hell of a lot better than punishing people who actually NEED to use their cars because you think five cars makes you special.
But there are probably a few adjustments which could be made:
By ScottB
Wed, 05/08/2019 - 12:44pm
i.e.,
* Park up to two hours for free with placard.
* Charge for parking but allow legitimate placard users to extend for an extra two hours by app/text/web/phone; this would require submitting a non-expired placard number issued by RMV.
If you need to park for more than four hours perhaps you should consider a ride-share, cab, or paratransit service like The Ride.
But Flaherty isn't wrong about the rampant abuse of handicapped placards for all-day free parking in the City.
Numbers please
By spin_o_rama
Wed, 05/08/2019 - 1:03pm
Show us the receipts, where is the placard abuse? How many cars? Whats the impact on parking availability vs. the current free parking permit scheme? Whats the economic cost of it? What numbers does BPD (hahahahha) have in terms of enforcement and recidivism?
This just seems like a deflection from the discussion about charging market rate for parking permits and its honestly pretty sad to see actual handicap citizens are about to get tossed under the bus over this.
How do they get tossed under the bus?
By Pete Nice
Wed, 05/08/2019 - 1:11pm
Serious question.
Suggestions of charging and limiting parking time
By spin_o_rama
Wed, 05/08/2019 - 2:40pm
Because we can't seem to enforce placard abuse, there are suggestions being seen on this very thread that would make handicap parking harder, cost-prohibitive and time-constraining for citizens by asking them to pay and limit the time parked.
Actually handicapped citizens will be impacted by this. This is on par with the issues of improperly shoveled sidewalks keeping people with limited mobility from being able to leave their homes. It can be prohibitive enough that they won't even bother try to get/use the placard because of the hurdles we will put up to discourage abuse.
We've tried nothing and we're all out of ideas.
Oh on the thread yea.
By Pete Nice
Wed, 05/08/2019 - 3:30pm
But I think if HP users can pay $2 for the meter and it can provide more spaces for them because it cuts down on abuse, that is fair.
How you do that no one knows.
It's still a financial barrier in-place of real enforcement
By spin_o_rama
Wed, 05/08/2019 - 3:47pm
That'll impact people that cannot afford it, it forces further un-needed burden on them to feed the meter. In some cases they are new electronic ones further down the street, are those setup to accommodate those with mobility issues? How hard is it for them to use it? Are we ensuring that snow is cleared out so meters are easily accessible, beyond just the parking spot and space around it?
This isn't even beginning to touch on the subject of handicap spots being blocked by illegal parking, which charging for the spots will do nothing to fix. You're putting up barriers to those most vulnerable because we aren't willing to police the abusers.
The police need to do their jobs and actually enforce against handicap placard abuse vs. putting up barriers for law-abiding citizens with mobility issues. But we also know that placard abuse (anecdotally, I don't have numbers but dive down this rabbithole https://twitter.com/placardabuse) also comes from law enforcement, looking the other way for a buddy or handing out those PBA cards that people put on their windshields.
Again, this is a distraction from Flahrety and other entitled motorists that don't want to pay their far share for parking.
Serious question
By Waquiot
Wed, 05/08/2019 - 4:08pm
In Boston, is there really an issue with people parking willy-nilly and putting placards out saying that they are affiliated with the Boston Police Department, outside of a stretch of Tremont Street close to Schroeder Plaza? I mean, there isn't even a PBA in the city.
Should've clarified, good point
By spin_o_rama
Wed, 05/08/2019 - 4:19pm
Anecdotally, I had seen on that particular twitter account about PBA cards being a frequent occurrence and its in NYC that most of the post come from.
I've seen and opened my own 311 reports about State/DHS/BPD in the North Station/North End area parking illegally and putting up placards. There was a case I thought a few weeks back of some Staties parking on the sidewalk at the North End skating rink that was coming up a few times on my feed.
Seen a few instances of sidewalk parking near Jackson Mann during my commute. Again, anecdotal so I won't claim how often it happens but its certainly not zero.
But do you have ANY evidence
By anon
Wed, 05/08/2019 - 1:37pm
But do you have ANY evidence that placard abuse it NOT rampant? Unless you do, then defending the status quo is also completely anecdotal.
Nobody (except Flaherty) is claiming that handicap placard abuse and resident parking sticker fees are an either/or issue.
It doesn't work that way
By lbb
Thu, 05/09/2019 - 8:57am
It isn't possible to prove a negative. The burden of proof is on those who assert that it's "rampant".
No it's not.
By anon
Thu, 05/09/2019 - 10:17am
No it's not.
Proof by assertion
By lbb
Fri, 05/10/2019 - 10:16am
Are you going for the logical fallacy trifecta today?
Globe article
By JonT
Wed, 05/08/2019 - 2:40pm
Some of those numbers (as of three years ago) were reported on here: https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2016/02/24/abuse...
Found the problem
By spin_o_rama
Wed, 05/08/2019 - 2:51pm
The police DGAF.
Step up enforcement, actually make state and local police do their job vs. the suggestions in this thread to make it harder, cost and time prohibitive for people with actual disabilities.
It is complicated
By Lawrence C Lopez
Thu, 05/09/2019 - 4:28pm
There's a reason police find placards on cars that don't belong to the owner.
The placard that attaches to the rear-view window is for the individual,, not the vehicle. My wife has Alzheimer's and no longer is allowed to drive. She also has breast cancer that we recently discovered had metastasized to her spine.
I don't know whether is is the result of the dementia or the cancer, or both, but she has had three unattended falls at her memory unit in the last six months, one of which sent her to the ER for five or six stitches to the back of her head and an overnight blood transfusion.
Her neurologist and oncologist don't want her walking without assistance and they don't want her left by herself in some lobby while I feed the meter -- she is likely to wander away. I'm only allowed to use the placard for trips when she's in the car, Ditto the friend who borrows the placard when taking my wife to the museum in the friend's car.
I'm not sure why the state lets you cover up the person;s photo that is on the placard. Perhaps that would cut down on abuse. Like a lot of UHubbers I prefer to walk or cycle than drive, but I understand the frustration of those who try to park in the city, e.g, at her dentist's office, Where, by the way, we sometimes spends more than two hours, racking up a bill that would feed the meter thousands of times over,
You're accusing everyone else
By Refugee
Wed, 05/08/2019 - 5:08pm
You're accusing everyone else of not offering up statistical data, when you yourself are not presenting any statistical evidence to the contrary.
I've openly said its anecdotal
By spin_o_rama
Wed, 05/08/2019 - 5:15pm
And made no claims otherwise, try and keep up.
Flahrety is the one claiming (without data) that there is rampant abuse and we need to address, which is a distraction to the real issue of free parking that he directly benefits from. Which we are trying to properly manage and allocate here as we work to ease traffic congestion and fund better alternatives like bus/bike lanes and improved pedestrian infra.
But we can't be cause cars and baseless conjecture from Five Car Flahrety.
Several things have changed
By anon
Thu, 05/09/2019 - 10:36am
Several things have changed since this 1980s (or whenever the placard system started) that make it more sensible to ending the generous benefit (not "throwing anyone under the bus" as you put it). First, local government for whatever reason is unable to enforce it. Second, placards are issued by the state, while the city has no control over issuing them. Third, Uber/Lyft make getting around town easier than ever. Fourth, the T is somewhat more accessible today than it was in the 1980s. Fifth, Boston's supply/demand for parking spots is way more lopsided today than it used to be, exacerbating abuse.
numbers please
By Bob Sartini
Fri, 05/10/2019 - 2:51pm
1. Open your eyes , no need for research
2, bpd does nothing about it
3. Everyone with a placard is not to poor to pay the meter, if any are,
Leave time exemption, but require payment
By eeka
Wed, 05/08/2019 - 12:37pm
The ability to park for more than two hours is very much needed in many parts of town, because people with disabilities often can’t take the T but work at jobs that don’t have parking because they expect people to take the T. We should continue to allow unlimited parking, but require payment of the regular cheap meter rate.
Also, what proof do people have that physicians are filling out the form inappropriately? The form requires them to sign off which qualifying condition the person has. When I’ve gone to get applications singed (for placards or any disability service/designation), providers have always closely scrutinized it, and have often been reluctant to sign off on things.
If you know someone using someone else’s placard, report it.
Do not, under any circumstances, harass people who you think aren’t disabled or who are doing permissible drop-off pickup that you apparently don’t think is allowed.
Why can't these people take
By Kinopio
Wed, 05/08/2019 - 12:55pm
Why can't these people take the T? Stations have elevators. Wheelchairs can fit on the trains. Buses lower so that people can more easily get on and off. The Ride is a service available to them.
Probably the biggest reason......
By Pete Nice
Wed, 05/08/2019 - 12:59pm
The don't live or work near a station or can't access those stations adequately.
I say we just give them free cars and eliminate all bike lanes to make room for this new influx of cars. But that's just me.
You make everything sound so simple and easy
By Lmo
Wed, 05/08/2019 - 1:01pm
Not all stations have elevators, not all elevators work. I call ahead to make sure elevators are working at the station I plan to use. There is a process to apply for the Ride, it’s not automatic and The Ride only goes to certain areas, sometimes you’ll have to switch vans to get to your destination. The MBTA has a lot of work to do before the expect people to rely on them for transit, especially individuals with mobility issues.
The same reason anyone drives
By anon
Wed, 05/08/2019 - 1:28pm
The same reason anyone drives. The T isn't always a reasonable option, especially if you aren't going downtown.
A very simple reason
By Waquiot
Wed, 05/08/2019 - 2:08pm
For many commuters, the trip to the transit source is not a short one, but one that many able bodied persons can do. I am about a quarter mile from my bus stop, and is a nothing walk for me, but if I had a mobility issue, it could be a problem.
I don't know what my take on Flaherty's proposal is, but there are circumstances where a placard for an automobile and street parking is warranted.
Boston.com wrote a whole story yesterday...
By Amy D.
Wed, 05/08/2019 - 2:58pm
on how elevator closures in stations are making it impossible for disabled people to commute to school/work, So, I'd say no, they can't take the T.
Erin Murphy commutes 3 stops on the Red Line. Because an elevator is closed, it takes her ‘close to an hour.’
https://www.boston.com/news/commute/2019/05/07/mbt...
if you REALLY want to know
By SwirlyGrrl
Wed, 05/08/2019 - 8:00pm
Try it for yourself - get some "canadian crutches" and then do something to your legs that makes movement difficult, perhaps painful.
Then try a transit commute. See how easy it is.
Bonus points: attempt any/all of this in the snow.
Wow
By lbb
Thu, 05/09/2019 - 9:05am
Welp, we have just established that you never take the T.
Follow the link. You'll find it educational. Elevators and escalators out of service for MONTHS. The elevators at Central Square, for example, have been out of service for months and will continue until "Summer 2019". Their solution to someone who needs access at this station? SHUTTLE BUS to Kenmore or Harvard.
You really should be deeply ashamed of your ignorant "these people" statement, Kinopio.
"These People"
By Miaow
Thu, 05/09/2019 - 3:24pm
I already disliked you for your cyclist zealotry, but this really takes the cake.
Let's be fair, here
By Waquiot
Thu, 05/09/2019 - 5:38pm
He's never said anything nice about cyclists or cycling. Of course, he's never said anything bad. When it comes to transportation, he's pretty much a one trick pony- motor vehicles are bad, as are the people who use them.
Many reasons
By eeka
Fri, 05/10/2019 - 11:17am
Elevators and escalators in stations break, they don't live near a station, they get motion sickness from trains or buses, they have claustrophobia/panic attacks, they can't carry their oxygen and other disability equipment all over the stations during transfers but can have someone meet them at their car to help them into their office.
Or like one of my friends, their gait is such that people in places such as transit stations and vehicles routinely grab them to "help" them with turnstiles or shove them into a seat they don't wish to sit in, or grab them when the vehicle lurches, so they get dislocation injuries every time they take transit.
Or they have an assistance dog who doesn't deal well with transit vehicles because they were paired and trained when their lifestyle was such that transit wasn't something they did.
One Example- My mother in law
By hydeparkish
Wed, 05/08/2019 - 11:21pm
Has Arthritis in her knees and has used that to get a HC placard. Are there people that need the placards, yes! But there are also many others that don't and have them:(
yup,so many people using other's placards
By Shawn
Wed, 05/08/2019 - 11:26am
Work near Fenway and so many people commute to work and park using someone else's placard... Few who work at Harvard Vanguard... ditto on some of the construction vehicles around here too....
You confirmed this how
By spin_o_rama
Wed, 05/08/2019 - 1:05pm
You personally inspected the placard and drivers license? How are you so sure of this?
Look around when you pass by
By Lmo
Wed, 05/08/2019 - 8:46pm
Look around when you pass by job sites. You’ll see illegally parked vehicles with safety vests on the side view mirrors , some with handicap placards. Instead of increasing fares for all cars displaying a placard, maybe the BTD could start cracking down where this is rampant and see if that makes a difference. You can go to @311 and see all of the reports that don’t get addressed and ones that are “closed” without any action/ ticketing. Before making new policies, (that won’t be enforced) start enforcing what is already in place.
Harvard Vanguard
By SwirlyGrrl
Wed, 05/08/2019 - 8:55pm
They have patients who have placards and use street parking.
Along the back side of Mass General you will see a lot of placards in use - Chemo Center.
Sounds like the cure here is
By anon
Wed, 05/08/2019 - 12:16pm
Sounds like the cure here is the same as the other parking maladies of Boston, enforcement.
Thank you for your service.
By anon
Wed, 05/08/2019 - 2:46pm
Thank you for your service. The public gives you a lot of crap for just doing your job, just figured I'd say thanks.
Baloney, AnonPEO!
By mplo
Thu, 05/09/2019 - 4:38pm
This:
is totally untrue, and shows a clear bias against people who are disabled in some way or other.
lol okay
By SC from JP
Wed, 05/08/2019 - 10:47am
Flaherty does have a point that handicap placards (and police placards, and whatever other placards are out there) do get abused.
But his insistence that parking/traffic problems in Boston are all the work of some faceless blob of out-of-towners, and not the predictable consequence of policies that encourage the proliferation of households with, say, five cars, is so obviously self-serving and ridiculous.
Ummmmm.
By StillFromDorchester
Wed, 05/08/2019 - 10:47am
He is serious you guys.
Hello, Clueless, Party of 1..
By cybah
Wed, 05/08/2019 - 10:48am
Wow talk about Clueless.
First he's Five Car Flaherty, now he wants disabled people to pay for metered spots.
Hey Mr Five Cars, we get it, you don't want to pay for all those cars, but uh, while I agree placard abuse is rampant. Making some old lady who is in a walker get out over 2 hours to feed a meter is just cruel. And frankly, you'd open up the city for every G-d lawsuit out there against ADA laws.
Get a clue, and open your wallet and just pay for your damn cars.
Disabled
By BostonDog
Wed, 05/08/2019 - 11:09am
It must suck to be disabled only to find all the spots are used by people scamming the system. If you care about accommodating people who need close proximity to their destinations, enforcing a time limit is a good start.
No
By mg
Wed, 05/08/2019 - 11:56am
Those of us with disabilities might need 5 hours to do what you can do in 2 hours. Don't punish those of us with disabilities for the cheaters. Instead, find a way to crack down on the abusers.
^^ THIS
By cybah
Wed, 05/08/2019 - 2:30pm
1000000%
The problem isnt that people who are disabled using the cards to park longer than 2 hours. Its people who use the cards, and are not disabled using them to get free parking.
Fix the problem with the cards first.. it's the source of the problem.
Best thing I can see is require the photo to be shown and not be allowed to cover it (write a ticket!). You'd stop people like Junior, who's a banker at State Street, who parks at a meter all day with Ma's HC parking pass (with her picture) without paying. He just covers the picture up, and parks all day long because no one knows it isn't him. I bet after a few days of Ma's picture being there and him getting into the car, the embarrassment if seeing a young able bodied person get into a car with a HC placard.. the shame from others would be enough**
** I've done this. Some couple thought it was cute to park in a HC spot with their mothers car. I was a total dick and left daily notes that I've watching and reporting it. After the 3rd day, they no longer parked there. Its disgusting and people know it, but continue to do it because...
"but cars.. but parking"
I should also note that calling local PD, and the RMV did absolutely nothing.. I would have gotten better results writing Gov Baker (and getting a reply from his team).
You say "open your wallet"
By Kinopio
Wed, 05/08/2019 - 1:00pm
You say "open your wallet" but then you rail against him. He is saying everyone should "open their wallet" and pay for their spot, whether they are able bodied, handicapped and an asshole criminal who is illegally using a handicap placard. Fair is fair. As a Boston resident I am tired of people getting these handouts. These criminals are essentially stealing thousands of dollars worth of parking per year from the people of Boston. They should be jailed.
*smh*
By cybah
Wed, 05/08/2019 - 1:55pm
Yeah I did.. he's obviously coming up with every g-d excuse not to pay because he has five cars and doesn't want to pay.
Let's be serious here, he's being self serving.
Great, so when you're mobility impaired yourself in a few years you won't complain that you have to use your mobility aid to walk a few blocks to feed a meter because Flahterly a few years ago decided he didn't wanna pay for parking passes so he now makes HC holders do so. I hope you don't complain.. I don't want to hear a peep how it's unfair
Spend a week in a wheelchair or a walker (I have and did for six months), you have a very new found respect for people with mobility issues and how difficult it is to get around. If you have, you would NOT be saying crap like this.
Look I agree there's a ton of abuse with HC Placards, but lets FIX the problem with the cards. Charging for meters will solve nothing, except allow Flahtery to keep his 5 cars and not pay for them.
Five Car Flaherty
By spin_o_rama
Wed, 05/08/2019 - 10:51am
"Am I out of touch? No, its the handicap placard users who are wrong."
But in all seriousness if Flaherty wants to bemoan the issue of handicap placard abuse, show us the numbers, bring receipts and start talking about police placard abuse too. Talk about forcing BPD to actually do some traffic enforcement. But no, lets charge vulnerable people that will actually get hurt by this.
Otherwise its all speculation while he fights against paying for the on-street parking he and his family use.
Scapegoating
By anon
Wed, 05/08/2019 - 11:05am
He might as well put an (R) next to his name with this elitist bullying.
He has that now
By Will LaTulippe
Thu, 05/09/2019 - 5:01pm
But he writes it as a "D."
I do not support this
By Christa
Thu, 05/09/2019 - 8:47pm
I do not support this proposal of Flaherty's (the police should be ticketing any burly construction workers, from New Hampshire or from anywhere, who fraudulently use handicapped parking spaces near their jobsites) BUT didn't he say, during the initial hearing on parking permits, that the five cars his family of six adults use are all parked in the driveway of his home? Can anyone verify how many of said cars are usually parked in the driveway and how many are usually on the street? Gotta give even the devil his due....
Who cares? If they have
By Lmo
Fri, 05/10/2019 - 11:19am
Who cares? If they have permits, they can be parked in the yard or on the street.
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