After becoming fed-up with jerks parking over the lines, especially near handicapped spaces, one Texas police department came up with a brilliant “warning” they’re placing on the vehicles of inconsiderate drivers — and it’s going viral.
When it comes to individuals most people despise, those who top the list are likely lawyers, politicians, tax auditors, and drivers who don’t stay in the lines when they park. Of course, the latter grievance becomes even worse when it involves taking up the space of a handicapped parking spot, making it impossible for wheelchairs to enter and exit the vehicle.
While nearly everyone who drives has experienced the frustration of an inconsiderate or incapable parker, there’s little one can do besides wait for them to come back to their car or simply climb over the passenger seat to get into your vehicle. Realizing this inconvenience, one police department has come up with an ingenious way not only to make sure that offenders straighten up but also to rightfully shame them in the process.
After recognizing that many drivers were having trouble parking within the lines, especially next to handicapped spaces, the Southlake Department of Public Safety decided to take action. Giving citizens the benefit of the doubt, the department designed a creative “warning” that allows first-time offenders to correct their behavior, while also making sure they understand how much of a menace they’re being.
Unveiling their new “warning” on their Facebook page, the Southlake DPS vowed that anyone who parks over the lines or too close to a handicapped zone will be issued a one-time notification, shaming them for their terrible parking habit in the most sarcastic way.
The department posted photos of the new warning, showcasing the first issued coloring sheet on an unfortunate owner’s vehicle. The car was clearly parked on top of the line, which was shared by a handicapped space next to it.
The department then explained that the reasoning behind their witty warning is to ensure that offenders realize that parking over the lines creates more than just an inconvenience for handicapped people.
“Be kind and drive kind and park kind! Let this graphic be an attention grabbing example so we don’t have to end up going to FedEx Kinko’s and making like thousands of copies of these,” the post concluded.
Of course, the department received a flood of positive comments praising them for taking action against terrible parkers. In fact, some citizens revealed that this happens far too often when it comes to parking spaces designated for those with special needs.
“Love this! I drive a big SUV to accommodate my mom’s walker/wheelchair. It is so hard to find handicapped parking where I have enough room to open the passenger side door to get her out safely. Thank you for the funny and useful reminders,” one woman wrote.
“Love, love, Love!! Thank you. My son uses a wheelchair. I’d certainly hate for his 300lb power wheelchair to scrape alongside someone’s car parked illegally,” another woman wrote.
So far, the department has received an overwhelmingly positive response from the community. Seeing that their creative warning has gone over as a hit, perhaps more departments will adopt the same policy. After all, if you can’t park within the lines, perhaps it would be best to go back to the basics.