First of all, the disclaimer: Our anonymous submitter in Houston lives in an apartment complex with very limited parking for residents. “When I come home from work late at night,” she explains, “the handicapped parking spot is typically the only one available.” That excuse, however, doesn’t seem to cut it for one of her neighbors.
As you’ll see from the note left on our submitter’s windshield, this eagle-eyed neighbor perhaps isn’t what you’d call “book-smart,” but — gosh darn it — what she lacks in basic spelling and grammar skills she more than makes up for with raw gumption and a steely sense of self-righteousness!
[Rough translation, from our anonymous submitter: "I see that you are not handicapped, but you park in the handicapped parking spot in our apartment complex. I am not handicapped, and I don't know anyone in the complex who is, but I feel entitled to tell you to stop parking there. Furthermore, I feel entitled enough to have your car towed if you park there again."]
related: Mahvelous, just mahvelous
342 responses so far ↓
#1
littleo
The PA note-writer is illiterate and self-righteous, but she is also right. The submitter is a law breaker and also lazy.
Feb 17, 2009 at 11:30 pm rating: +183
#2
Destiny
Well, the car really shouldn’t be parked there. But that’s no excuse for such terrible grammar!
Feb 17, 2009 at 11:30 pm rating: +44
#3
Julia
What’s this about a locked gate being annoying?
Anyway, the submitter is a douche and should be ashamed of herself. Calling this note writer entitled is a laugh. Projecting much?
Feb 17, 2009 at 11:37 pm rating: +71
#4
nighttime
It was like reading the lyrics of a Led Zeppelin record (played backwards)
what the fuck?
Feb 17, 2009 at 11:42 pm rating: +14
#5
Joshua
Seriously, the submitter is totally wrong on this one. Wrongy McWrongerson would be a good alias.
Yes, the note-writer is “entitled” to call the police, because you’re breaking the law. Calling the police is what people do when they catch someone breaking the law. If they can’t find non-handicapped parking, take it up with building management. Clearly, they just don’t have enough spots available for the number of cars at the building.
(Granted, building management would probably just laugh at you, but that’s still the right way to handle the situation. Blatantly ignoring parking laws and being an inconsiderate jerk isn’t.)
Feb 17, 2009 at 11:42 pm rating: +118
#6
tmeunier
Submitter’s car should be towed. No pseudopolite note should be provided as warning, just tow the farking thing. Tow it every.single.time.
Feb 17, 2009 at 11:44 pm rating: +83
#7
Amused
Note = awesomely bad grammar and spelling. Submitter = lame self-absorbed person with an overabundant sense of entitlement.
Feb 17, 2009 at 11:44 pm rating: +86
#8
RunBarbara
the note writer is just bitter because passive-aggressive-retardation doesn’t qualify you for a placard…..yet.
Feb 17, 2009 at 11:52 pm rating: +32
#9
Mark F
Succinctly: Tow the bitch!
Feb 17, 2009 at 11:53 pm rating: +27
#10
sarah
team note writer. seriously, anyone who parks in a handicapped spot deserves to be towed right away.
Feb 17, 2009 at 11:56 pm rating: +41
#11
Canthz_B
Translation: I had a really bad day and you parked in the handicapped spot. Should I ever have a crappy day again and find you parked there, I will take my crap out on you and have your car towed.
I’d be much happier if you’d take the spot I pay for.
Feb 17, 2009 at 11:57 pm rating: +11
#12
warinthepocket
Dear McWrongerson,
I park over two spaces just for you. Al Gore would be proud to know that you will be switching to mass-transit after your car is towed.
Green
P.S. Give my best regards to the crazy lady on the subway.
Feb 17, 2009 at 11:59 pm rating: +13
#13
Buzz
submitter is obv pathetic for parking in disabled parking, and he/she knows it, thus the reason for submitting anonymously (another reason he/she is pathetic).
Feb 18, 2009 at 12:09 am rating: +19
#14
Callisto
The poor note-writer seems to be trying to overcome a language barrier to try to save the submitter from the fate of a towed car. It’s almost kind of sweet…
Feb 18, 2009 at 12:35 am rating: +17
#15
aobobo
man. i bet you’re glad you submitted that anonymously.
Feb 18, 2009 at 12:39 am rating: +28
#16
Emily
I think this could be the first time I have disagreed with a submission.
The car is parked in an illegal spot and doesn’t have a licence plate!
I don’t think Judge Judy would take too long to close this case….
Feb 18, 2009 at 12:49 am rating: +21
#17
leftfoot
I wonder how long ago the note was written and if the submitter has had their car towed yet. If they’re calling the note-writer entitled, I’m sure they continued to park there.
I will say this, though. In the last apartment complex I lived at, we didn’t have any handicapped people near the building and all of the tenants would park in it. The only thing I left notes about was the people who lived in the back of the building and wouldn’t realize their alarms were going off for 4-5 hours directly in front of my unit. Oh and the asswipes that would take up 2+ spots with limited space. (Really, the jackass with the trailer on his huge pick up would take up 4 spaces. It was out of control.)
Feb 18, 2009 at 1:01 am rating: +5
#18
aaa
Well, at least the note-writer got the who/whom thing right.
Feb 18, 2009 at 2:11 am rating: +7
#19
aaa
Am I the only one waiting for the submitter to come on here and try to defend herself and claim how we’re evil, entitled dicks for thinking she’s in the wrong?
Feb 18, 2009 at 2:19 am rating: +12
#20
Lara
I didn’t think people would be so bitter and angry about this, lol. The funny part is this note-writer really just wanted to take out her nasty emotions on me. It had nothing to do with any concern for physically disabled folks.
Oh, and I forgot to add that she never left a note on anyone else’s car who parked in that spot repeatedly. I do happen to have an Egyptian flag hanging from my rearview mirror. It’s probably not just a coincidence she decided to leave that nasty (and hilarious) note on my car….
Feb 18, 2009 at 2:21 am rating: +2
#21
mamason
It looks to me like this note was written by a socially conscientious 10 year old.
Feb 18, 2009 at 3:13 am rating: +4
#22
TheOldSchool
Once again, it’s one rule for the handicapped, and another for the rest of us.
(It’s a well-known fact that when the disabled get together they are laughing at us and high-fiving* one another. They can’t believe that they’re still getting away with all the shit that “Ably” lets them get away with.)
*That’s a bit unfair. Not all of them are high-fiving. It’s usually just the ones who have moveable arms and hands.
And the wheelchair sex!
Feb 18, 2009 at 3:32 am rating: +22
#23
alapickles
I love how self-righteous some people get. Because when the supermarket’s car park is too full and busy, none of you have ever parked in a parent and child spot when you’ve got no kids, or even a disabled spot, when you’ve got no limp. Clearly.
You people need cookies. Only the one’s who are getting their head stuck up their own arse’s and making people sad with how serious you’re being. The rest of you are fine. <3
Feb 18, 2009 at 4:04 am rating: +7
#24
Wade
This is the perfect PA thread.
The notewriter is correct, but laughably incapable of expressing it.
The object of the note is incorrect, thus allowing the indignant to (humorlessly) vent about the act (and those who joke about it) and not the note itself.
And getting off scot free are the designers and builders of the apartment complex, whose decision to attach inadequate parking created this situation in the first place.
It is a thing of beauty.
Feb 18, 2009 at 6:42 am rating: +46
#25
Elaine
Funny note. “The occurance occured to me” is fucking priceless. And then again, the smiley face at the end.
The submitter is wrong, though.
Feb 18, 2009 at 6:58 am rating: +10
#26
Vic Torey-Paughn (nsfw)
The note’s hilarious. If she’d written “dude, srsly. parking in disabled space when you’re not disabled = uncool”, then fair enough, it wouldn’t be for PANotes. But that “all these occuances occurred to me due to necessary caution…” – what language *is* that?
Feb 18, 2009 at 7:03 am rating: +9
#27
T.U.M.
That note makes me want to go back to school and get that Parker Penmanship certificate I never earned.
Feb 18, 2009 at 8:23 am rating: +1
#28
A
“I avoid parking in that handicapped spot at all costs.”
Really? Then why did you get the note, Lara? Maybe you should have said “I avoid parking in that handicapped spot unless it’s the only spot left. Then I take it, because I, like everyone else in the apartment complex, feels it is my God-given right to drive a car instead of taking public transportation.” (Yes, I know the US as a whole doesn’t have good public transport. We’ll skip talking about the sense of entitlement there. But apartment complexes in rural areas tend to have a lot of parking spaces, whereas those in urban areas skimp on parking and generally charge residents extra for it. The fact that there aren’t enough parking spaces suggests that the designers were expecting some of the residents not to be asses.)
At what cost do you avoid the parking spot? My guess would be about the cost of a the towing ticket you so richly deserve.
Ps. Trying to work in the race card is so pre-2009.
Feb 18, 2009 at 8:28 am rating: +55
#29
Girl Friday
Does the note writer know how hard it is to remember to fake a limp every time you walk to/from your car?
Feb 18, 2009 at 9:34 am rating: +24
#30
Annalee Flower Horne
Yeah, that note’s atrociously-written, but the submitter is totally wrong here. The handicapped space cannot be “the only one available” because it’s not available to the able-bodied. Personally, I wouldn’t have bothered leaving a note–I’d have just called the tow truck. Every time I saw their car there. The submitter uses the word “entitled,” but I don’t think it means what they think it means. It means “having grounds to claim something.” When one is a part of a community that has agreed to a set of rules, and someone else has decided that those rules don’t apply to them, one does, in fact, have the grounds to call them on it.
But since the signs over handicapped spaces read “for handicapped persons only,” not “for handicapped persons only, unless you can’t find another space and have decided you’re more worthy than all the other people who parked on the street because they couldn’t find another space either,” an able-bodied person does not actually have grounds to claim that space. In doing so, they’re acting entitled to something they aren’t actually entitled to.
Feb 18, 2009 at 9:47 am rating: +39
#31
Heather
LOL! It reminds me of my neighbor across the hall that routinely calls the cops on people parking in the handicapped parking spot that he has claimed as his own despite him not having tags either. =)
Feb 18, 2009 at 10:01 am rating: +3
#32
lauren
Wow, just wow, on both parties. I tend to agree that the extreme language abuse here is phony – from the three Es in seeen to the snarky “hope this helps” at the end, and also the bubble-like writing. I have a feeling someone that is learning English would have much better spelling and grammar than that (albeit much more limited).
Fwiw, there is one designated handicap space where I live, and while it doesn’t have extra room on the side (for a van to unload a chair, etc.) it is next to the only ramp to the curb. The driver of the vehicle that always parks there is not handicapped, though – her son is, and she has to have some way to get him in and out of his wheelchair and in to the car.
Feb 18, 2009 at 10:07 am rating: +1
#33
Andy
There’s this truly awesome “handicapped” guy that lives in my building. He has one of those handicapped signs hanging from his rear view mirror so he must be actually disabled, right? At the least I’m sure him parking there has nothing to do with the fact the spot is extra-wide making it much less likely that someone would open up their car door into his pimped out yet ultra handicap friendly Cadillac Escalade. I mean, don’t handicapped people normally want to climb up into high vehicles? Yeah, I thought so, too.
I just love reliving the moment when I was crutching my ass into the building as he strolled along pointing out to his no more than 11 year old son a Mercedes parked next to him that “could really get you a lot of pussy.” Then, he turns to me to ask what happened to my foot to then quickly move onto the more important question of what pain killers I was prescribed and whether he could score some. When I asked him to hold the elevator door for me I was graciously presented with a compromise to hold said door in exchange for some codeine. At least he told me to enjoy my pain-killer filled evening while laughing and reiterating he’d be back for his share.
I really hate that guy.
Feb 18, 2009 at 10:11 am rating: +16
#34
ian in hamburg
And I hope to hell they do tow the guy’s car away and hand it back to him as a crushed-up cube with a bill for the service. Then send in a photo to peoplewhodeserveit.com
Feb 18, 2009 at 10:23 am rating: +3
#35
Frankie
Whoa Bitch Face.
Feb 18, 2009 at 10:31 am rating: 0
#36
TPS
You ain’t got no limp, you ain’t no gimp.
Feb 18, 2009 at 11:13 am rating: +4
#37
mish
I would take a red pen to that letter, correct all of the spelling/grammar/syntax errors and post it in the lobby of the building. I’d also stop parking in the the handicap spot. (but I’d feel intellectually superior…)
Feb 18, 2009 at 11:41 am rating: +3
#38
SanFran
The woman I lease an office from does the same thing: only she does have a placard hung from her mirror. I think her handicap is not wanting to scuff up her expensive shoes with excess walking. I called and reported her offense to the DPT and I think they investigated and fined her, because it doesn’t happen now. Also, there is a housing place for the elderly nearby, and parking for them is very limited as it is, so she’s extra-bitch for that.
Feb 18, 2009 at 11:57 am rating: +4
#39
Kate
Since when do you need a limp to be disabled?
I do understand the frustration with people illegally parking in handicapped spots. It’s pretty lazy.
Feb 18, 2009 at 12:16 pm rating: +4
#40
Josh D
I regularly park in a handicap spot while i get my cigarrettes and coffee before work.
It is only 1 of 6 spots at a Tobacco Shop and Wine/Spirits State Store. It also is pretty much common practice in my suburbia town.
Also IDK why they have the family spots at Wal*Mart. During a tour of duty there, I watched on three different occasions as parents let their infants fall face first to the concrete. They all were in those car seats that pop out and attach to the shopping carts. That should instantly negate any family parking privileges.
Cheers!
Feb 18, 2009 at 12:30 pm rating: +1
#41
secondsout
Lara’s lucky that this note wasn’t found wrapped around a brick thrown through the windshield.
Feb 18, 2009 at 12:31 pm rating: +9
#42
secondsout
This happened at my brother’s dorm when he was in college. There was one handicapped spot for the dorm, and two people trying to use it. One was a girl with cerebral palsy. The other was some stoner who had injured her foot a while back, but was more or less recovered. Said stoner chick would continue to park in the handicapped spot, despite the girl with CP’s greater need. My brother, never shy with passive aggression, left a PA note that read, “marijuana addiction is not a handicap.” She got all huffy; he didn’t give a shit.
Feb 18, 2009 at 12:34 pm rating: +16
#43
Liz
The note writer has poor writing skills, but the courtesy of leaving a note instead of just calling the cops to have the car ticketed or towed is WAY above and beyond what I would’ve done. The recipient of the note should be grateful for the notice instead of a couple hundred dollar ticket and/or a car in the pokey.
Feb 18, 2009 at 1:33 pm rating: +10
#44
anglophile
Why bother writing the note at all? Just key the car. Much higher satisfaction rate.
Feb 18, 2009 at 1:49 pm rating: +7
#45
Jinxy
This is a very rare FAIL for the normally awesome PAN. No matter how P or A the note, the serial offender who is parking in the handicapped spot is always going to be in the wrong. You just can’t have sypathy for someone who whines abotu being called out for breaking the law. As noted above, we all break the law by speeding so no glass houses here, but if you continually break the law because it’s more convenient for you than obeying the law, have the grace not to piss and moan about getting snagged for it. The note writer could have had the submitter’s car towed many times and didn’t so, shut up and park farther away is my response.
Feb 18, 2009 at 2:08 pm rating: +11
#46
Phalange
Maybe the submitter just thought that spot was parking for people with big asses?
Feb 18, 2009 at 2:31 pm rating: +4
#47
jess
my fave… “occurrences occurred” hahah
Feb 18, 2009 at 3:21 pm rating: +2
#48
MW
I fucking hate those occuring occurences! Verry annoying.
Feb 18, 2009 at 3:29 pm rating: +2
#49
RP
If I were disabled I’d just park right behind anyone who’s in a handicapped spot without the decal.
Feb 18, 2009 at 3:46 pm rating: +11
#50
floof
The note writer is obviously mentally handicapped. She should get that spot!
…Actually, judging from the degree of retardedness apparent in this note, she probably shouldn’t be operating a vehicle to begin with & should just stick to the special olympics training.
Feb 18, 2009 at 4:27 pm rating: +1
#51
Frustrated
What a cock.
Don’t use the excuse that there’s no other spots to cover up for your laziness. No wonder you Yanks are such lard arses. Walk a block.
Be thankful you and your car are still in one piece.
Feb 18, 2009 at 6:46 pm rating: +4
#52
Basiorana
My building is impossible to enter if you are handicapped; there is a steep flight of stairs and you have to be able to hold a door open in each hand before walking up there. So there’s no way a handicapped person could ever even visit, unless they’re “handicapped” like secondsout’s stoner chick, and should be investigated. In fact, when my elderly aunt wanted to visit, I had to apologize and say she wouldn’t be able to get her walker up the stairs.
And you know, despite this, and despite the COMPLETELY USELESS handicapped parking space, I have never seen anyone park in the handicapped parking. Because it’s wrong. And yes, there are nights when our lot is 100% full, and the overflow spots along the road are full, and people get towed for parking at the nearby Margarita’s. You know what? The handicapped spots are still open.
So if we can put up with getting towed and/or walking through a neighborhood filled with crackheads and homeless people who are too violent to get into the homeless shelter across the street but still camp out nearby to visit their soup kitchen rather than parking in the useless, unneeded handicap parking, I really think the submitter has absolutely zero excuse here.
Feb 18, 2009 at 6:56 pm rating: +21
#53
Ken
People… listen to me. I am a 42 year old healthy looking guy. I park in the handicapped stall because I had a massive heart attack 10 months ago and do not have the strength to walk from A to B. I get the worst looks all the time… yes I have a placard. Not everyone who is handicapped is in a wheeelchair/limps/is 80 years old.
Feb 18, 2009 at 7:57 pm rating: +25
#54
Souls Were Fireflies
The submitter is a d-bag and shouldn’t park in that spot. Maybe someone who is actually disabled will want to visit a friend in the apartment building. What then? What a selfish person.
(I say this as a disabled person: you suck, anon submitter!)
Feb 18, 2009 at 8:55 pm rating: +6
#55
darunter
i don’t drive, but i have used a wheelchair-accessible toilet when the queue outside the women’s was too long… until i started dating a man in a wheelchair, and realised how often he has to park in a really inaccessible spot, or wait too long to use the bathroom, because someone else thought ‘ahh, what are the chances of a handicapped person really needing it now…’. it sucks that people (yes, including me, once) are so selfish. so despite the appalling grammar, i’m with the note-writer on this one….
Feb 18, 2009 at 9:38 pm rating: +3