The Editor,
Today, while attending the Royal Bank at Newport Village in Port Moody, I parked adjacent to the handicapped stall immediately in front of the bank.
Seated in a vehicle in that stall with windows open and chatting on his cellphone was a young man who looked between 18 and 25 years of age.
As there was no handicapped sticker visible in his vehicle, I inquired whether he was aware of the vehicle being in a handicapped stall. The occupant became quite belligerent about how it was none of my business and it was a bylaw issue and basically his attitude was one of entitlement and total ignorance of the purpose of the space.
As I had passed another young man in the bank who was of similar age and dress, I reentered the bank and inquired of the second man whether it was his vehicle parked in the handicapped space. From there, the discussion became quite heated as he told me that I could call bylaw enforcement but that he was not going to move his car and didn't care because there was no available parking in front of the bank.
Of interest is that not one person in the bank spoke up and requested the young man relocate his vehicle despite the fact he openly admitted he was breaking the law.
The management appeared more concerned about the "scene" in the bank than ensuring that handicapped clients who may require the space have access. It was approximately 10 minutes to closing and there were almost no other clients visible in the bank except for employees, myself and the young man.
Until there are consequences to these young men for flagrantly abusing the parking privilege (not a right), they will continue their reprehensible behaviour. Shame on both of them.
W. Martin, Port Moody
