Letters to the editor

— Erin Beesley

Las Vegas

Don’t be quick to judge seemingly fit people parking in handicap spaces

I agree wholeheartedly with the observation that there are many handicap parking permits in Las Vegas, and there are likely some who are not handicapped (“Drivers skirt handicap-parking laws,” April 12 View).

(But) take me and my significant other. I am sure that when some people observe us getting out of the car in a handicap-parking space, they raise their eyebrows. We may seem to be “normal.” (But) about 15 years ago, my significant other had his femur replaced with a titanium rod as the result of injuries suffered in an explosion. The healing procedures were not effective, and he has a gaping hole in his upper thigh, exposing the underlying muscle tissue. Is he handicapped? I’d say yes. But can you “see” that he is handicapped? I doubt it.

When I was 21 (I’m now 66) I was the passenger in a car wreck . I broke or fractured virtually every bone in my body in some way. I spent six months in the hospital having numerous surgeries. My left thigh is held together with two 7-inch stainless plates secured with 10 screws . It took me 2½ years to learn how to walk without crutches or a cane and to appear as normal as possible, all things considered. But every step I take is a painful one. I’ve learned to live with the pain, but with advancing age, it does get worse . Sometimes I limp, although I try not to, because I don’t want anyone’s sympathy, but it just sometimes happens that I cannot walk right. But most of the time, I walk as agilely as most others my age and do not appear to be handicapped. Pain is not something that can be seen or felt by anyone who is not experiencing it.

Please caution your readers that there are those of us who are truly handicapped but may appear not to be. I will use my handicap placard as appropriate and, on the few really good days I have, I don’t use it at all. Nevertheless, I’d hate for someone to see me and report me or my license number. As Antoine de Saint-Exupéry wrote in “The Little Prince”: What is essential is invisible to the eye.

— Andrea McShane

Sun City Summerlin

Many park in handicap spaces
when transporting parents on errands

I just had to write a short reply to your article (“Drivers skirt handicap-parking laws,” April 12 View.)

I felt this was very one-sided and needed improvement.

As for people abusing the placards, in most cases we are transporting elderly or parents for errands.

Do you know that a majority of parking spaces are pre-designated for handicap and therefore can encompass most of the spaces in close proximity of doors to shopping areas, more than legitimately can be used by true handicaps?

Did you know the city of Las Vegas still charges $25 for the ticket even though you may be innocent?

It’s called a processing fee and is charged even though you may have a valid placard.

The column could have been more balanced and laid out more facts on both sides.

— Kerry Leavitt

Las Vegas