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Handicap parking
Almost everyone can empathize with people who get angry seeing totally healthy people use handicapped parking passes. But what's appropriate for this woman to do? (AP Photo)

Dang it, Dori! Should I call the cops on my annoying neighbor?

BY Jillian Raftery  on January 24, 2013 @ 12:21 pm (Updated: 3:55 pm - 1/24/13 )

Dori is the best advice-giver in town, so when one woman was at the end of her rope with her awful neighbor who keeps using her disabled mother's parking pass, she turned to the Dori Monson Show for advice.

Our listener, signing herself "Frustrated Mom," says her neighbor is using her mother's handicapped parking pass to park close to grocery store entrances and soccer fields on game day. Frustrated Mom says that her neighbor's mother is never in the car when this happens.

This Frustrated Mom would love to call the cops on her neighbor, but her husband said to just let the issue go. She wants to teach her neighbor a lesson, but she also doesn't want to seem vindictive and set a bad example for her 14-year-old son.

News anchor Ursula Reutin and producer Jake agree with her husband and don't think she should call the police on her neighbor.

"I think she should try to address this terrible neighbor first, separately, before doing the cop thing," said Ursula. "These neighbor disputes go on for way too long, and maybe there's a simpler solution."

Jake thinks that calling the police seems like a spiteful thing to do, since Frustrated Mom writes in the letter that she really doesn't like her neighbor. And calling the police could lead to more problems with her neighbor down the road.

Dori, on the other hand, says the woman should call the cops because the neighbor sounds dangerous. Although it doesn't solve her problem, Dori thinks it's worth it to stick it to the neighbor and feel superior for a few days.

"Parking in a disabled parking spot is a lousy thing to do," said Dori. "It gives her some momentary satisfaction."

Listener Dee thinks that Frustrated Mom is taking out her personal annoyances on her neighbor. He also doesn't think it's a big problem that the neighbor is illegally using her mother's parking pass.

"There's always more than one handicapped spot," said Dee. "To me, that's moot."

Several listeners thought that it didn't matter what Frustrated Mom's motivations were because her neighbor was breaking the law - so Frustrated Mom is justified in calling the police.

One woman suggested that the neighbor's history might indicate that she's mistreating her mom. She says that's even more reason to call the police.

"I feel for her mom, I think she might be bullying her mom," said listener Karen.

Read Frustrated Mom's letter and decide: should she call the cops on her annoying neighbor for using a disabled parking pass, even though she's perfectly able?

Hi Dori,

Believe it or not, it's my 14-year-old son who told my husband and me that you and your listeners should solve a problem we have. Our family was listening when you helped the guy with his friend's funeral problem, and the Lake Stevens dad who got hassled by the hockey arena parking staff - so now our son thinks your show is the best way to settle our issue once and for all.

If you want to put this on the air, feel free - but please don't use our names.

Here's the deal: there is a woman in our neighborhood who is a biggest B-word I have ever met. She never volunteers at any school events, but she criticizes everyone else who does - behind their back, of course. If her kids don't get invited to a birthday party, she starts rumors about the host mom. And it's not just women that she attacks. Two years ago, the cops arrested her for assaulting her husband - who is a pretty nice guy. Clearly, no one ever stands up to her because they are afraid of what she will do next.

My problem is this: at weekend soccer games, this woman always shows up late when the parking lot is already full - but she borrows her disabled mom's parking pass to get a front row parking spot. She does this at the grocery store, too. Her mom is NEVER in the car. Believe me: my neighbor isn't disabled. I see her working out at the gym.

I would like to call the cops on her - anonymously - when I see this -- but my husband disagrees. He think my motivation for ratting her out is "impure" and "vindictive" so tipping the police off is wrong. I say a crime is a crime and my motivation for alerting the cops doesn't matter. My son says you and your show listeners should decide.

Dang it, Dori - I can't stand this woman - and I hate it when people park illegally in disabled spots - but I want to set a good example for my son. What do you think?

Sincerely,

Frustrated Mom

What you're saying on Facebook:

Eric Krieger: As a disabled person I see this all the time and it ticks me off! I like to park my car behind them and go about my business shopping or whatever. The other thing I like to do id call them out on it loudly and publicly. The cops do have bigger tthings to worry about but it's still a problem.

Barb Marshall Jachimiak Miller: Call the cops.

Bryan McNally: Per Washington State Department of Licensing guidelines, you're to contact your local police to report individuals who are abusing disabled parking privileges or parking in a disabled parking space illegally.

Jake Anderson: She should have her son egg the B's house

Stephen Waters: No one likes a snitch, get a life!

Don Carlson: Rat the neighbor out. Show that she is playing hard ball, and maybe the neighbor will back down from future confrontation.

Lisa Edwards: Why should she get so upset about what someone else is doing? It doesn't affect her directly, so why let someone else's actions control your emotions? Who even cares ? How important is this really?

Crystal Mullins: It seems to me that the people saying not to be a "snitch" are people that have never had to use a handicap pass. Imagine yourself or someone you love as an elderly person who can barely walk as it is just to live their life having to suffer. We all get old sometime; your words may come back to bite you one day.

Jillian Raftery, Social Media Captain
Jillian Raftery is a social media captain for the Dori Monson Show. She loves the neighborly vibe of the Pacific Northwest and spends as much time as possible outdoors.
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Comments (8)


  • Add A Comment

  • mpblue wrote...
    Pricey if caught
    January 24, 2013 3:10 pm
    Fines start at $450 for improper use of a marked handicapped stall. Fraudulent use of the placard and/or plate gets more fines and a revocation of the placard/plate from DOL. What ever happened to actually talking to the neighbor about it? It would be nice if folks would talk first before calling the police for minor matters.
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  • Cash wrote...
    Interesting...
    January 24, 2013 6:13 pm
    I am sure the cops have much better things to do than come out and tell the lady to knock it off. Unless neighbor #1 follows neighbor #2 to a location and gets the cop there in time to see the illegal parking and use of the placard there is nothing they can do. I would start with telling her to knock it off and if it continues move to plan B and catch her in the act.
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  • AKAF wrote...
    Call the cops...
    January 24, 2013 10:25 pm
    I read the riot act to my sister-in-law who had a legal disable permit when she needed it, continued to use it when she was no longer injured. Parking in these spaces in sacred and needed by disabled. An individual having this pass to use at their own needs hurts others that need the access. I went through this with my mother and father...mother who needed the pass but father who did not. It pissed my father off to infinity that spaces were not available when he had mom in the car. When she wasn't there...he parked normally...role model. These people are being selfish and not obeying the law...report them!
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  • AKAF wrote...
    Oh, btw...regards to your caller that says plenty of spaces...
    January 24, 2013 10:27 pm
    are available...no they are not. Our local Safeway has eight spaces available...except late at night they are always full. If this woman takes one, when not needed, then that takes a space way from someone that truly needs it...call the police!
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  • Ron_Spins wrote...
    I see able bodied people "with Handi-capped" placards using "Handi-capped"
    January 24, 2013 10:37 pm
    parking spaces all of the time.This is not unusual with the "victim status mentality" culture we live in.This just irks F.M because she sees it up close and personal. GET OVER IT
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  • loulu wrote...
    write a note
    January 25, 2013 10:31 am
    My husband was a paraplegic and we noticed VERY able people using the disabled parking spots. We would place on their windshield a preprinted anonymous note that said it appeared they were unlawfully using the parking spot at a great inconvenience to the truly disabled. It also said we had made note of their license plate number and if we saw them park their car improperly there again we would report them to the police. I don't remember how many we eventually reported, but at least we got our message across.
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  • Snout wrote...
    Truely disabled people need those spots.
    January 25, 2013 12:10 pm
    Maybe it's just me but I've noticed way more people with disabled parking passes in the last ten years or so. Is there a standard for these things or if I sneeze do I get a cripple sticker? And most of the people I see using them appear to be in decent condition.
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  • MmMerrifield wrote...
    call the police. avoid the directed hate.
    January 25, 2013 2:13 pm
    you can ask her if she has a condition to use the placard, some people with weak lungs get the placards and appear to be just fine.
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