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My Vent Valve
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More New Hangers coming to the Clarksville Airport.
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I do not intend this to be a Political Plug for any individual, Just the Message. |
It’s the LAW, Act 1503 of 1999
What You Should Know About the Handicap Tag
Courtesy of the Arkansas Governor’s Commission on People with Disabilities.
TO ALL THE KIDS WHO SURVIVED THE
First, we survived being born to mothers who smoked and/or drank while they were pregnant.
They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing, tuna from a can, and didn't get tested for diabetes.
Then after that trauma, we were put to sleep on our tummies in baby cribs covered with bright colored lead-base paints.
We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, locks on doors, or cabinets, and when we rode our bikes, we had baseball caps not helmets on our heads.
As infants & children, we would ride in cars with no car seats, no booster seats, no seat belts, no air bags, bald tires, and sometimes no brakes.
Riding in the back of a pick-up truck on a warm day was always a special treat.
We drank water from the garden hose and not from a bottle.
We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and no one actually died from this.
We ate cupcakes, white bread, real butter, and bacon. We drank Kool-Aid made with real white sugar. And, we weren't overweight. WHY?
Because we were always outside playing...that's why!
We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on.
No one was able to reach us all day. And, we were O.K.
We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then ride them down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem.
We did not have Playstations, Nintendo's and X-boxes. There were no video games, no 150 channels on cable, no video movies or DVD's, no surround-sound or CD's, no cell phones, no personal computers, no Internet, and no chat rooms.
WE HAD FRIENDS, and we went outside and found them!
We played in the street, fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth, and there were NO lawsuits from these ACCIDENTS. YES real ACCIDENTS.
We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever.
We were given BB guns for our 10th birthdays, made up games with sticks and tennis balls and, although we were told it would happen, we did not put out very many eyes.
We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just walked in and talked to them.
Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment.
Imagine that!!
The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law!
These generations have produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever.
The past 50 years has been an explosion of innovation and new ideas.
We had freedom, failure, success, and responsibility, and we learned how to deal with it all.
If YOU are one of them? CONGRATULATIONS!
You might want to share this with others who have had the luck to grow up as kids--before the lawyers and the government regulated so much of our lives for our own good.
While you are at it, forward it to your kids so they will know how brave and lucky their parents were.
Kind of makes you want to run through the house with scissors, doesn't it?
~
The quote of the month is: 'With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?'
Author Unknown.
By: Robert A. Hall
*I'm 63*. Except for one semester in college when jobs were scarce and a six-month period when I was between jobs, but job-hunting every day, I've worked, hard, since I was 18. Despite some health challenges, I still put in 50-hour weeks, and haven't called in sick in seven or eight years. I make a good salary, but I didn't inherit my job or my income, and I worked to get where I am. Given the economy, there's no retirement in sight, and I'm tired. Very tired.
*I'm tired* of being told that I have to "spread the wealth" to people who don't have my work ethic. I'm tired of being told the government will take the money I earned, by force if necessary, and give it to people too lazy to earn it.
*I'm tired* of being told that I have to pay more taxes to "keep people in their homes." Sure, if they lost their jobs or got sick, I'm willing to help. But if they bought McMansions at three times the price of our
paid-off, $250,000 condo, on one-third of my salary, then let the left-wing Congress-critters who passed Fannie and Freddie and the Community Reinvestment Act that created the bubble help them with their own money.
*I'm tired* of being told how bad America is by left-wing millionaires like Michael Moore, George Soros and Hollywood Entertainers who live in luxury because of the opportunities America offers. In thirty years, if
they get their way, the United States will have the economy of Zimbabwe , the freedom of the press of China , the crime and violence of Mexico , the tolerance for Christian people of Iran , and the freedom of speech
of Venezuela .
*I'm tired* of being told that Islam is a "Religion of Peace," when every day I can read dozens of stories of Muslim men killing their sisters, wives and daughters for their family "honor"; of Muslims rioting over some slight offense; of Muslims murdering Christian and Jews because they aren't "believers"; of Muslims burning schools for girls; of Muslims stoning teenage rape victims to death for "adultery"; of Muslims mutilating the genitals of little girls; all in the name of Allah, because the Qur'an and Shari'a law tells them to.
*I'm tired* of being told that "race doesn't matter" in the post-racial world of Obama, when it's all that matters in affirmative action jobs, lower college admission and graduation standards for minorities (harming them the most), government contract set-asides, tolerance for the ghetto culture of violence and fatherless children that hurts minorities more than anyone, and in the appointment of U.S. Senators from Illinois.
*I think* it's very cool that we have a black president and that a black child is doing her homework at the desk where Lincoln wrote the Emancipation Proclamation. I just wish the black president was Condi Rice, or someone who believes more in freedom and the individual and less arrogantly of an all-knowing government.
*I'm tired* of a news media that thinks Bush's fundraising and inaugural expenses were obscene, but that think Obama's, at triple the cost, were wonderful; that thinks Bush exercising daily was a waste of presidential
time, but Obama exercising is a great example for the public to control weight and stress; that picked over every line of Bush's military records, but never demanded that Kerry release his; that slammed Palin, with two years as governor, for being too inexperienced for VP, but touted Obama with three years as senator as potentially the best president ever. Wonder why people are dropping their subscriptions or switching to Fox News? Get a clue. I didn't vote for Bush in 2000, but the media and Kerry drove me to his camp in 2004.
*I'm tired* of being told that out of "tolerance for other cultures" we must let Saudi Arabia use our oil money to fund mosques and madrassa Islamic schools to preach hate in America , while no American group is allowed to fund a church, synagogue or religious school in Saudi Arabia to teach love and tolerance.
*I'm tired* of being told I must lower my living standard to fight global warming, which no one is allowed to debate. My wife and I live in a two-bedroom apartment and carpool together five miles to our jobs. We also own a three-bedroom condo where our daughter and granddaughter live. Our carbon footprint is about 5% of Al Gore's, and if you're greener than Gore, you're green enough.
*I'm tired* of being told that drug addicts have a disease, and I must help support and treat them, and pay for the damage they do. Did a giant germ rush out of a dark alley, grab them, and stuff white powder up their noses while they tried to fight it off? I don't think Gay people choose to be Gay, but I damn sure think druggies chose to take drugs. And I'm tired of harassment from cool people treating me like a freak when I tell them I never tried marijuana.
*I'm tired* of illegal aliens being called "undocumented workers," especially the ones who aren't working, but are living on welfare or crime. What's next? Calling drug dealers, "Undocumented Pharmacists"? And, no, I'm not against Hispanics. Most of them are Catholic, and it's been a few hundred years since Catholics wanted to kill me for my religion. I'm willing to fast track for citizenship any Hispanic person, who can speak English, doesn't have a criminal record and who is self-supporting without family on welfare, or who serves honorably for three years in our military.... Those are the citizens we need.
*I'm tired* of latte liberals and journalists, who would never wear the uniform of the Republic themselves, or let their entitlement-handicapped kids near a recruiting station, trashing our military. They and their kids can sit at home, never having to make split-second decisions under life and death circumstances, and bad mouth better people than themselves. Do bad things happen in war? You bet. Do our troops sometimes misbehave? Sure. Does this compare with the atrocities that were the policy of our enemies for the last fifty years and still are?
Not even close. So here's the deal. I'll let myself be subjected to all the humiliation and abuse that was heaped on terrorists at Abu Ghraib or Gitmo, and the critics can let themselves be subject to captivity by the Muslims, who tortured and beheaded Daniel Pearl in Pakistan, or the Muslims who tortured and murdered Marine Lt. Col. William Higgins in Lebanon, or the Muslims who ran the blood-spattered Al Qaeda torture rooms our troops found in Iraq, or the Muslims who cut off the heads of schoolgirls in Indonesia, because the girls were Christian. Then we'll compare notes. British and American soldiers are the only troops in history that civilians came to for help and handouts, instead of hiding from in fear.
*I'm tired* of people telling me that their party has a corner on virtue and the other party has a corner on corruption. Read the papers; bums are bipartisan. And I'm tired of people telling me we need bipartisanship. I live in Illinois , where the "Illinois Combine" of Democrats has worked to loot the public for years. Not to mention the tax cheats in Obama's cabinet.
*I'm tired* of hearing wealthy athletes, entertainers and politicians of both parties talking about innocent mistakes, stupid mistakes or youthful mistakes, when we all know they think their only mistake was
getting caught. I'm tired of people with a sense of entitlement, rich or poor.
*Speaking of poor, I'm tired *of hearing people with air-conditioned homes, color TVs and two cars called poor. The majority of Americans didn't have that in 1970, but we didn't know we were "poor." The poverty pimps have to keep changing the definition of poor to keep the dollars flowing.
*I'm real tired* of people who don't take responsibility for their lives and actions. I'm tired of hearing them blame the government, or discrimination or big-whatever for their problems.
*Yes, I'm damn tired*. But I'm also glad to be 63. Because, mostly, I'm not going to have to see the world these people are making. I'm just sorry for my granddaughter.
Robert A. Hall is a Marine Vietnam veteran who served five terms in the Massachusetts State Senate.
Those Blue Handicap Parking Signs
And their meaning.
Q&A’s on Accessible Parking
Q: Is anyone able to obtain a special license or permit?
A: No, only people who are qualified according to “27-15-350 as defined to be a
person with disability. “Any individual who provides false information in order
to acquire the special plates or the special certificate, and any person who
abuses the privileges granted by subchapter 27-15-302 shall be deemed guilty of
a Class A misdemeanor.” This includes physicians certifying patients whom don’t
truly qualify.
Q: Who is authorized to use my special certificate (permit) (hang-tag)?
A: ONLY YOU. You must be the driver or passenger of the vehicle requiring the
handicap space for your accessibility to use the special permit. If an unauthorized person is caught using your permit without your presence, the vehicle will be impounded by the appropriate law enforcement agency, the owner of the vehicle will be fined not less that $100.00, nor more than $500.00 for the first offense. The second offence is not less than $250.00, nor more than $1,000.00 plus will pay for towing, impoundment and related fees as well as court costs. Upon the second offense the court can suspend the driver’s license for up to six months.
Q: My relative died, can I keep the permit?
A: No, the special certificate (hang-tag), or license plate must be returned to the Office of Motor Vehicles within thirty (30) days after the death of the persons to whom the special certificate or plate was issued.
Q: I am moving to another state, can I keep my Arkansas special permit?
A: No, within thirty (30) days of your move the special certificate (hang-tag) and/or plate must be surrendered back to the Arkansas Office of Motor Vehicle.
Q: What is the difference between a Handicap Parking sign and the Handicap Parking/Van Accessible sign or Handicap Parking Van Only spaces?
A: A van or vehicle having a wheelchair lift or ramp requires eight feet of space for an individual using a wheelchair, or a three, four, or six wheel scooter requiring additional space for exiting or entering their vehicle. Most people with a special permit or license plate only requires three to five feet of access. It is respectful not to use the “Van Only” or “Van Accessible” spaces, if you do not require the additional space for entering or exiting your vehicle. These are the only handicap parking spaces a person using a wheelchair or scooter can use.
Q: What is the difference between a special permit and the license plate?
A: The special permit is made out to the individual who happens to have a disability and is transferable with the individual to any vehicle in which they are riding in or driving; the license plate is assigned to a specific vehicle and is NOT transferable from vehicle to vehicle in the same manner as a hang-tag.
Q: How many handicap parking spaces must be provided in a parking lot?
A: The Americans with Disabilities Act states one (1) for every twelve- (12) parking spaces.
Q: Can I park in the handicap striped off area?
A: No, this is the access isle for a person with a disability to enter and/or exit their vehicle.
Q: Where do I display my special permit?
A: When the vehicle is parked the permit is to hang on the inside of the rearview mirror or on the dashboard if the vehicle does not have a rearview mirror.
Q: Why is there a number on my permit?
A: The number issued on the permit is your identification number. Law enforcement officers can type in your number and learn your name and age. Therefore, if the permit is made out to a 90 year-old person and 22 year-old male or female uses the tag without the 90 year-old person’s presence, they have just committed a crime. Remember, the fines and penalties?
Q: What is a temporary permit?
A: A temporary permit enable someone who is temporarily experiencing a disability as defined by a licensed physician to obtain a hang-tag. The tag expires three (3) months from the last day of the month in which it is issued.
The information in this article is from the Director, Arkansas Governor’s Commission on People with Disabilities and is reprinted here with permission. Upon further checking with them. I asked the question about the Disable Veterans License Plates and was told that they too, qualified the individual only to whom the plate was issued, to use these described parking places.
The Editor
If you have questions on this subject, I would first contact the owner of the facility and bring the matter to his attention. If no results I would then contact the Executive Director Arkansas Governor’s Commission on People with Disabilities Arkansas Rehabilitation Services, 1616 Brookwood Drive, Little Rock, AR 72202 ... Phone (501) 296-1626
Handicapped Van Use.
Handicapped Van Use.
Handicapped Van Use.
Handicapped Van Use.
You rarely see a Handicapped Accessable Van here because it is usually taken by some uncaring person.
1930's, 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's!!
Comment/Letters to the editor/Questions Input Form
James C. Wheeler
Copyright © 2009 James C. Wheeler All rights reserved.
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