[jwpjr]

I will trade her the $75 ticket she received for the $250 ticket I got last week for stopping in a handicapped parking space at 6:30 AM to use an ATM at my credit union. I had completed my transaction, gotten back into my car and was talking to my wife who had stayed in the car while I used the the ATM prior to going out of town for the day. As I put my car in reverse I glanced in the rear view mirror and discovered someone had pulled in directly behind me, blocking my abilitiy to back out of the parking space and the person had gotten out of the vehicle leaving the driver's door open. I was convinced I was about to be robbed. This CU is in a rather seedy part of town and there have been several robberies of ATM customers there. Imagine my surprise when I was confronted not by an armed robber but rather by a member of the volunteer parking enforcement brigade! When I took exception to him blocking me in and pointed out that the CU didn't open for 4 hours and we were the only people in the parking lot, leaving three other disabled spots available, he got really pissy and told me my attitude 'has just gotten you a $250 ticket.' To make matters worse, when he was through writing the ticket he had the gall to tell my wife that he wasn't going to give me a ticket but my attitude was deplorable and it left him no choice. My son is a deputy sheriff and tells me my best bet is to pay the $250 and chalk it up to experience. It never occurred to me that anyone would take exaction to me parking in one of four handicapped spaces four hours before the business opened. Live and learn. I am quite happy I am in the final third of my life! I don't like what this country has turned into of late.

[hadit2here]

I am quite happy I am in the final third of my life! I don't like what this country has turned into of late.

Amen! And well put! Can't add anything more to that, and I know it's becoming a much more prevalent attitude with those of us in the 'advancing' years.

[Howlin]

Why didn't you just NOT park in the handicapped parking space to begin with?

[Copernicus]

by a member of the volunteer parking enforcement brigade

I am unfamilar with concept of a "volunteer parking enforcement brigade" or their authority to issue any form of ticket or their jurisdiction on private property.

Should someone block or approach me in the fashion you described they would very quickly be distracted by the sight of a .357 in my hand.

They would also likely find themselves on the wrong end of a civil suit for illegal detention or possibly even criminal charges of kidnapping.

Best regards,