There is only one thing more annoying than arriving at a full parking lot and seeing plenty of vacant spaces designated as handicap parking. You think, "Why did they make so many spaces here that I can't use?"

In a rush, you may be tempted to save time by sneaking in "for just a couple of minutes."

Even more aggravating, however, is going to the end of the lot, walking quite a long way, and then finding that someone else's car is parked in the handicap parking space and it does not have a sticker or appropriate license plate.

Individuals who illegally park in handicap spaces do it because they "know" they won't be ticketed, at least in Spotsylvania County.

In fact, it was reported that in the entire county last year only five tickets were issued for illegal handicap parking. It looks like the odds favor the lawbreaker and penalize those of us who do obey the law.

Either the handicap parking signs should be monitored by the Sheriff's Office and tickets given to offenders, or the whole concept of reserved spaces close to the door should be abolished.

Flagrant use of handicap parking spaces by non-handicapped people is just the kind of misdemeanor that leads residents to distrust all law enforcement.

I am not a believer in "quotas" for police officers, but flagrant violators must face some penalty or at least a realistic threat of penalty.

Alfred M. King

Spotsylvania