Last post Thu, Jul 31 2008 8:03 AM by FriPilot. 29 replies.
I'm new and not certain if this is proper forum, so feel free to move or advise.
The following is a letter I have written to Martinsville and NASCAR, they simply refuse to discuss anything via telephone
Tom
Hi Tom
I will be anxious to hear the outcome of your letter to Mr. Campbell. I want to first start off to say I agree with you. They shouldn't be so rude, but, being handicaped myself and having to get around in a wheelchair, and having an accessable van. We are given a registration card for our Plates and/or placards to show proof it is ours. I live in south florida, we have more handicap drivers between residents and tourists. We have so much abuse with handicap parking it is very frustrating. People use other people's placards and get away with it. I for one am glad that someone, somewhere is questioning people about the ownership oh their placards. There should be more of that, just done in a better way. That way people like us can park in the spots that are providied for us. My van ramp comes out of the side of the van, If I don;t get a van accessale spot, I can't park, or I go all the way to the back of a parking lot so I can park across two spot. Again, I am sorry for the way you where treated, that wasn't right. But that registration would have solved that situation. I also know the feeling of traveling and get there and having troubles, it is just no fun and so unfair to us. I love nascar also. I have been to only one race, here in homestead. I have to say ,it was a good expirience. Don't let one bad situation spoil any future plans.
Keep after them though
Crusty
Thanks Crusty
My frustration is this is the first time I have experienced this. The placard has a ID number and toll free number, but the Martinsville people were not willing to make any concession to compliance
I offered my drivers license so that if I was falsely using the placard it would be a criminal violation, but the security guard and NASCAR apparently have no one versed in ADA compliance
A reasonable accommodation without causing the track any expense or inconvenience would have been to let us park and follow up with Maine if the placard was legal.
Maine DMV states the card is valid in all States as does Virginia DMV. It is definitely an issue Martinsville/NASCAR created, but I am as of yet unable to understand where I go with a complaint?
Any information you may have would be appreciated
Tom, it appears your beef is with the track management, not NA SCAR. Like Crusty, I'm glad that placards are being checked. No doubt that many nondisabled use them for parking at racing and other large events. That said, their rudeness is clearly intolerable and you should continue to pursue the issue. I suggest you contact the Virginia organization that represents PWDs and enlist their support and assistance. You may discover the track exhibited this sort of behavior in the past. You did not say, or I missed reading what your disability is. If it's one of what I class as "hidden" such as COPD, heart related, etc., I suggest you get some sort of medical identification card and carry it with you to prevent further problems.
Thanks Wazabiker;
Campbell is the CEO but NASCAR owns Martinsville as they do a dozen or so other tracks
Yes, my disability is "hidden" but I don't feel I am under any obligation other than the State issued placard (Which Maine and Virginia state is acceptable) to prove anything! I realize it could reduce further problems but I am at a loss as to what I could carry for identification. The ONLY thing I could get from the State of Maine is the placard application form, and that contains medical information I am not going to share with anyone with exception of Doctor/Attorney etc.
You mention a Virginia agency for disabled; do you know how I might contact them and who they are?
Thanks for your comments
Tom, I'd sorry you were treated so rudely, but seeing that you have a hidden disabilty, I can completely understand their side it of it.
There is a simple solution to this whole problem. But many disabled people have a huge problem with it. If a person is going to be issued a placard to be used in whatever vehicle they are traveling in, then it should be issued with the user's photo on it. If the user is questioned, show the photo. This would eliminate all questions.
TriDog
I don't really care if the State where I live requires that I have a Scarlet "D" branded on my forehead, the issue is that the placard is ALL the State of Maine issues and they have reciprocity with the other 50 states.
I have no other "proof"
I have complied with the provisions of obtaining a placard and feel that the requirement should be honored or the issuing authority must change their requirements
Until such time, what can you do?
If you use a wheelcahair and are "found" in a disabled bathroom stall, should you be required to attempt to stand up to prove anything?
I don't understand why some of you are criticising me for simply using what is available to me per State requirement? I am beginning to feel the same attitude from certain forum members that I experienced at Martinsville. Is there a "Divide" between those with obvious and those with "hidden" disabilities?
To be perfectly honest; I don't want my name, picture, fingerprints or DNA on that placard for privacy purposes. What if the placard is stolen, my identity and financial/medical information goes with it
Just because I am disabled should I be held to a different standard?
I realize some of you that have "obvious" disabilities are upset that people falsely use handicapped parking, so am I. It is incumbent upon us to change penalties for misuse, not punish those that comply nor require a disabled person to prove anything to simply have a parking space available
When those of you that have your name/picture on your placard park, do you have to find a Police Officer and have him verify your identity before leaving your vehicle? How does the Police Officer know for certain the vehicle parked in the handicapped spot is carrying the person on the placard if the registered owner is not the same?
The standard is prove you are disabled and obtain a State issued placard, use after that should be standard and equal.
I came to this forum in search of suggestions in pursuing a complaint, not to defend myself for following the law.
Easy Tom, I'm sorry if you see it as a scarlet letter. It was just a suggestion that would remove all doubt. It would also keep people from abusing the placard. I'm happy to see parking attendents question the placard. Far too many people are abusing them by loaning them to family members and friends. Or, family not turning them in when the owner passes away.
You seem a bit touchy about it. Makes me wonder as to what really happened at Martinsville.
I don't know what "Really happened" at Martinsville as I was not allowed entrance.
I don't think you understood the metaphor about "Scarlet letter," it simply referred to my complying with whatever necessary under the law to obtain my rights. You are so focused on your personal agenda you can't comprehend what is written I believe
"Touchy," you bet; when my integrity is questioned by either a rent a cop at a parking lot or self anointed know it all, I get "touchy"
TriDog, from reading your "wars" with other posters I see your agenda, I am not interested in further pursuing anything with you.
You replies have tainted my view of this forum, it is too bad as I suppose this community helps many, unfortunately some need to advance their win personal agenda no matter the harm they do
Tomas090:I don't think you understood the metaphor about "Scarlet letter," it simply referred to my complying with whatever necessary under the law to obtain my rights. You are so focused on your personal agenda you can't comprehend what is written I believe TriDog, from reading your "wars" with other posters I see your agenda, I am not interested in further pursuing anything with you. You replies have tainted my view of this forum, it is too bad as I suppose this community helps many, unfortunately some need to advance their win personal agenda no matter the harm they do
I understood your metaphor. I just don't think a photo on the placard is that big of a deal.
I agree that the way the parking people handled the situation was completed screwed up. And the local officer you spoke to was completely un-professional. It just makes me wonder what else was going on down there. Personally, I would have called the State Police and tried not to deal with a local deputy sheriff.
Agenda? I have and agenda? What would that be? I guess these days having a different opinion equals having and agenda of some sort.
BTW. from the NASCAR Website:
Email us: Customer.Support@nascar.cust-serv.com
Phone: If you are within the United States or Canada, call us toll free at 1-866-722-5299 anytime between 9:00am-9:00pm EST Monday-Friday and 10:30am-12:00am EST Saturday and Sunday.
http://forums.nascar.com/jive/nascar/category.jspa?categoryID=5
Good Luck with it. I really hope you get some reasonable solution.
Returning to your original question about how to file some sort of complaint, start with contacting one of the Independent Living Centers in Virginia. They possibly will be able to refer you to either an attorney in private practice, or a state agency that handles this type of issue. You can find a listing of the Independent Living Centers through the Virginia Statewide Independent Living Council.
I hope that this information is more consistent and helpful with what you had expected.
TK
Thank you very much, at least I now have a "Direction"
Regards
Where in Maine are you from? My mother's side of the family is from Holton, up in Aroostook County (not sure if that is spelled correctly).
T.K. Small
Using the telephone number you provided, I contacted NASCAR in an attempt to get a physical address to send a letter.
"We do not give out our physical address"
I asked "How would I send a certified letter'
Reply, "Well we have email and a fax"
What an operation
Anyone happen to know the physical address in Daytona Beach Florida?
From the Virginia Office of Protection and Advocacy
Still no contact from NASCAR or Martinsville, apparently thy think this is insignificant?
