Document text
44 °F Forecast | Road Cams Monday, January 19, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend December 10, 2003 Since You Asked Toilets for disabled can be used by nondisabled Several people in a chat room were talking about handicapped bathrooms. The question was, would you use one? Sometimes that is the only one they have and they are dandy to take little kids when there are two or more in the stall. So my question for you is: Is it illegal for someone not handicapped to use the handicapped stall? — Kathy V., Medford Sometimes, it’s the little things that challenge the conscience the most, isn’t it, Kathy? You and your chat-room friends can rest easy. Even though it’s against the law for an able-bodied person to park a car in a space designated for disabled folks, it’s no crime to park your tush in a similarly marked bathroom. That’s according to Medford Police Lt. Tim George, who recognizes the quandary you face. Advertisement "It’s rude and kind of a personal ethics issue, but there’s no violation there," George said. The lieutenant admits that even he has slipped into a handicapped stall when all the others were full and no disabled person was waiting. And he acknowledges that using the more spacious digs can be a blessing to a stroller-rolling parent of toddlers. It may not be against the law to hog the handicapped stall, but as with so many issues of social consideration, it’s also not nice. Just imagine the distress of a disabled person who enters a bathroom to find the only usable space among a dozen stalls unnecessarily occupied. Send questions to "Since You Asked," Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; by fax to 541-776-4376; or by e-mail to [email protected] . We’re sorry, but the volume of questions received prevents us from answering all of them. Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times