Asking Eric: My Friend’s Use Of A Handicap Parking Permit Is Shameful

Dear Eric: I have an extremely close friend who lives in “parking challenged” Los Angeles and uses a handicap parking placard for pure convenience. He was initially issued this permit more than 10 years ago, when he had hip replacement surgery. The permit is automatically reissued to him without the necessity of proving its continued need. He hasn’t done anything to dispel this, but I find this distasteful and makes me think less of him. I am a physician, and in my state (Illinois), issuing handicap permits is highly regulated.