Getting a handicap sticker or license plate is an unnecessary battle, as many of us are finding out.

Each state is different and each has its own set of bureaucratic rules designed to give the tags to deserving seniors and to keep them out of the hands of lazy inconsiderate persons.

The abuse in parking lots is almost epidemic.  There are a lot of younger people who should be ashamed of themselves.  Taking a senior's handicapped parking spot ought to be a real socially bad thing to do, but it really isn't.

Can this system be improved?

Tennessee has a long way to go.  That's where I've just finished doing battle  this morning.

That was after I had driven the car through the auto emissions station, where they could have been just a little more polite to me, and after I had gone to the doctor yesterday to get them to sign the sheet I had to download off the Internet.

The Davidson County Clerk makes getting the license plates almost impossible for caregivers.  I think that needs to change.

The rule is the handicapped person must own the car and the car must be registered in that person's name.

I explained to them that I own the car and the main reason why I'm driving and HHR Chevrolet in the first place is because it is the only car on the market that my aging parents can actually get in and out of.

(I ought to know about this because I had spent eleven months looking at just about everything in the market before I decided to buy the HHR.)

Still, no lather for this soap.

We have paid taxes faithfully all our lives.  We have never asked the state for anything until now.

Answer?

"You can have the cardboard place card."

"I don't want that.  I don't want anything hanging from the rear view mirror."

"Remember, you're only supposed to put it there while the car is parked," I was told.

"And be careful, there is a lot of theft going on," she added.

"You mean now I've got to worry about people breaking into my car just to get the handicapped place card?"

I got kind of a nod which I interpreted as a 'yes'.

So now we have a new worry.  Now we have something of value thieves will actually want.  Who would have thought?

What really kills me as a caregiver is that everyone is so solicitous to young parents with children, but older seniors who have spent lifetimes serving us and the rest of the country often do not receive more consideration.

For another example, we often have to request tables at restaurants instead of booths, and  that's an uphill climb with some establishments. 

Sorry, for the rant, but I think I do have a point.

What do you think?  Write us and let us know if your state is better or worse about this senior need.

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