[blindlaw] parking discrimination?

[Daniel McBride]

Client is leasing an apartment.  The only provision in the lease, regarding
parking of vehicles, is in paragraph 21, as follows:

21.  PARKING. We may regulate the time, manner, and place of parking all  

cars, trucks, motorcycles, bicycles, boats, trailers, and recreational
vehicles.  Motorcycles or motorized bikes may not be parked inside an
apartment or on sidewalks, under stairwells, or in handicapped parking
areas. We may have unauthorized or illegally parked vehicles towed or booted
according to slate law at the owner or operator's expense at any time if it
(1)    has a flat tire or is otherwise inoperable (2)    is on jacks, blocks
or has wheel(s) missing (3)     takes up more than one parking space (4)
belongs to a resident or occupant who has surrendered or  

abandoned the apartment (5)    is in a handicap space without the legally
required handicap insignia  

is in a space marked for office visitors, managers, or staff  (7)     blocks
another vehicle from exiting  (8)    is in a fire lane or designated "no
parking' area  (9) is in a space marked far other resident(s)or or
apartment(s)  (10)   is on the grass, sidewalk, or patio  (11) blocks
garbage trucks from access to a dumpster, or  (12)   has no current license,
registration or inspection sticker, and we give  you at least 10 days notice
that the vehicle will be towed if not removed.

 

Other residents have their own designated parking space and are issued
windshield stickers for their car(s) to prevent them from being towed.

 

My client is blind and has no car.  Her parents usually transport her to get
groceries, go to doctors, etc.  As such, they always have to park in visitor
parking, which is not near her apartment.

 

She went to the manager and asked about getting a parking sticker for one of
her parents' vehicles, or perhaps, to place on the face of her handicap
placard.

 

She was denied on the basis that she does not own a car.  I do not
understand why she cannot be issued a sticker for a designated vehicle,
regardless of lack of ownership, if that vehicle is regularly transporting
her.

 

I would appreciate any thoughts you guys, and gals, might have.

 

Daniel McBride, Attorney

Fort Worth