Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

California bill would give free parking to moms-to-be
Sacramento Bee ^ | 3/20/8 | Jim Sanders

Posted on 03/20/2008 1:15:04 PM PDT by SmithL

Give birth, get a parking pass?

California lawmakers are considering granting special parking privileges to women in the final three months of pregnancy and the first two months after birth.

The legislation would apply to more than a half-million women who give birth every year in California.

Assemblyman Chuck DeVore's bill would qualify pregnant women for "temporarily disabled" parking placards from the Department of Motor Vehicles.

"Let's be reasonable here: There are challenges, physical challenges, that arise as a natural part of life," DeVore said of pregnancy.

The Irvine Republican said it makes little sense to force a pregnant woman who has trouble getting out of her car, and might have a toddler in tow, to park in the outer reaches of a parking lot.

"It certainly makes you realize that for that very short period of time in their pregnancy, they are certainly by any practical definition (impaired)," he said.

DeVore is wading into a thicket abandoned four years ago by a colleague, then-Assemblyman Tony Strickland, R-Thousand Oaks, who proposed similar legislation, then shelved it amid a hail of controversy.

Opponents of the new proposal, Assembly Bill 1940, say pregnant women should be exercising as much as possible and that the legislation could reduce parking for motorists with more serious disabilities.

"We really want pregnant women to be active, to be moving, to be walking," said Shannon Smith-Crowley of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists' California chapter, which opposes AB 1940.

A woman with complications from pregnancy that severely impair walking, or cause other serious health problems, can qualify for a temporary parking placard under existing law, she said.

(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...


TOPICS: Government; Politics/Elections; US: California
KEYWORDS: callegislation; disability; freeparking; preggers
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-30 last
To: NEMDF
Grateful for being healthy and able-bodied... I get kind of fed up with the many, usually empty, parking places - I always wonder why the need to park up close, when they do get out and go walking/shopping for 1 hour.
21 posted on 03/20/2008 1:46:07 PM PDT by SF Republican (Conservatives wanted all or nothing, and they got it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: SmithL

Wouldn’t our grandmothers be amused — the ones who worked the fields with their husbands?


22 posted on 03/20/2008 1:46:52 PM PDT by MayflowerMadam
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: gunservative
So what happens when you go to Planned Parenthood to get an abortion? Is it free on the way in, but costs money on the way out?

KA-BLAM! Nice one.
23 posted on 03/20/2008 1:51:57 PM PDT by mmichaels1970
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Gabz

another “good grief”. that’s twice in one day
... and both out of california too! sheesh!


24 posted on 03/20/2008 1:56:19 PM PDT by leda (don't forget the baby shoes)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SmithL

Many pioneer women who were pregnant walked over half a continent to get to their new home. Women today are even healthier and stronger by comparison. You would think they could walk 20 feet.


25 posted on 03/20/2008 2:26:25 PM PDT by Kirkwood
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SmithL

I don’t know if they still have this, but the Toys R Us where I live has special parking for expectant moms. But I always wondered, what about the preggies who were in the early stages and weren’t showing? I can only imagine the dirty looks that they would probably get.


26 posted on 03/20/2008 2:35:05 PM PDT by murron (Proud Marine Mom)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SmithL
How about the government justing letting business decide how to operate? Companies could park the truly handicapped out in the no ding zones. All they would have to do, would be to pull up and honk. Valets would park for them, free, if they had a customer card.

The handicapped spaces would then go to the "Spenders of the month".

27 posted on 03/20/2008 2:40:16 PM PDT by CindyDawg
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: murron

The Westfield Mall here in Palm Desert, CA has set aside spaces for expectant mothers. They also set aside full sized spaces for motorcycles. Now, this is a center which frequently has a shortage of parking spaces on the front side of the center. Told my wife, if the preggers space was the only one open, I would take it.

Next we will see spaces for senior citizens. Hey, that is me next month. Sounds like a great idea.


28 posted on 03/20/2008 2:47:10 PM PDT by CdMGuy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: CdMGuy
Next we will see spaces for senior citizens.

I have seen these. I park in them anyway, as my taxes pay for their social security and Medicare.

29 posted on 03/20/2008 3:10:07 PM PDT by pnh102
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: SmithL
"Assemblyman Chuck DeVore's bill would qualify pregnant women for "temporarily disabled" parking placards from the Department of Motor Vehicles.

If they're going to do this,they should at least extend the courtesy to men recovering from their vasectomies.

30 posted on 03/20/2008 3:13:40 PM PDT by Joe 6-pack (Que me amat, amet et canem meum)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-30 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson