Drivetime Mahatma

Spots with stripes are for ramps

Dear Mahatma: I am a quadriplegic. My wife drives our handicapped ramp van. The striped area next to handicapped parking spots are a must for us to lower the ramp. Motorcycles are often parked in these striped areas in our daughter's apartment complex in Fayetteville. Can I call the police or complain to management? I'm concerned about repercussions. -- Mr. Russ

Dear Mr. Russ: A third way is to report this sort of thing to the Arkansas Spinal Cord Commission, which has a website on which an accessible parking complaint can be made. After which the commission will notify the local police department and anyone else who needs to know.

We are told that Susie Hook, a case manager for the commission who is based in Fayetteville, zoomed over to the apartment complex and found five motorcycles and scooters parked in the striped areas. She reminded the folks who run the place that such parking was prohibited, and that a violation could result in a fine of $500, and asked that the word be properly spread.

Bugged by this problem? The commission is at www.spinalcord.ar.gov.

Dear Mahatma: What is the status of U.S. 425 from Hamburg to the Louisiana state line? -- Roy

Dear Roy: You have made our day. Also the day of the United States Postal Service. Because you wrote a letter and used an actual stamp.

Now to the question. We are told by a source in the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department -- the source's code name is Deep Asphalt -- that the widening of U.S. 425 will commence after bids are let in April 2017. The first part will be the 5 miles south of town.

The second project, 9 miles of highway starting north of the state line, is also scheduled for 2017, but the month remains undetermined.

Dear Mahatma: A van backed into my truck in a parking lot and drove off. I got the license plate number and had three witnesses. I called the police to make a report and was told they won't go after the guy, but I should report it to my insurance company. Surely this cannot be true. -- Please Help

Dear Help: Stop calling us Shirley.

Seriously, if there is an accident on a private parking lot, police do not claim jurisdiction. It's private property. This has happened to our family within the last year. Someone backed into Herself in a parking lot. She notified our insurance company, which notified the other driver's insurance company, and Herself got a new back door. Unlike your incident, both drivers hung around and exchanged names, phone numbers and insurance information.

On the bright side, you did the right thing by calling the police and having them make a report. Also, based on our family experience, insurance companies like to have a police report. And the license plate number will help your insurance company track down the miscreant. Here's hoping he has insurance.

Vanity plate seen: FIXFIDO

Mahatma@arkansasonline.com

Metro on 10/10/2015

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