Letter: Please don't misuse handicapped parking spaces

Recently, I had to park in the last space of the farthest row because all of the handicapped spaces were full. This space at least had yellow stripes at the end - enough to allow my wife's wheelchair ramp to be lowered. By the way, it is extremely scary to wheel down a parking lot as drivers are not able to see the wheelchair.

When I returned, someone had parked in the striped area thus blocking the ramp from being lowered. This lack of wheelchair accessible parking is the norm. It is very common to see someone sitting in a handicapped space; most probably waiting for someone they had dropped off to run an errand.

Doctors: please stop issuing handicap placards merely to cover an "inconvenience" or temporary situation as it seems that folks abuse them.

Placard owners: please use these spaces only if you truly need them as there are many folks in wheelchairs who require the extra space for a ramp.

As the saying goes - "I'd gladly trade spaces if we could trade places."

Randall Slaboch

Naperville