McDonald's Discrimination is Unacceptable

It has nothing to do with the delivery driver, it is the way the store
is designed. Deliveries at that time where made by using track and
stands. The doors on the trailer has to line up with the doors on the
building, and that requires parking parallel with the store. If the
truck parked across the lot, as you have suggested the track would run
across the whole parking lot blocking anyone from getting through. It
takes on average 1 to 2 hours to offload the order. My Mom is in a
wheelchair, and she understand that sometimes exceptions have to be
made, But if it makes you feel better by accusing someone thats trying
to do his job of being a bigot then more power to you.

You are so right McDonald's is a place that is not for African
American. The reason that I say this is because I have been
discriminate against as a former employee. I was term., due to a white
female mistake. She was inform not to take any money over a $100 bill
without a manager checking it out first. Well guess what guys she took
one and when her draw were counted down and I notice the bill was
fake, she said that because it was her mistake she were going to pay
the money back. Well guess what because she paid the money back
knowing that she was not to take it, they term me the African American
young lady, and let the white female continue to work! Now you tell
me, was that fair. Hell no!!!!!! And here in the corp. world of this
McDonald's that are truly racist in my town against African American
here!!! I truly think that we as African American needs to put this to
a haul!!!! Enough is enough!!!!! I am looking for a good Lawyer there
is so much more to this case!!!

Did anyone think that just maybe when the driver stopped his truck, he
couldn't SEE the signs? When he got there, the parking lot might not
have been lite up. Maybe the parking placed where on the other side
of the trick. Maybe a worker was standing in front of the sign. We
don't know.

I am a truck driver... the poor guy was just trying to do his job and
unload the product! How would you like to drive one of those trucks
AND unload a 53 foot trailer by hand?!!!!!! Life simply is tough and
inconvienent at times and we all have to deal with it EVEN if one has
a handicap. So what, you had to eat across the street this time. Big
deal. With out that delivery you would never be eating at McDonald's.
Can't we all just get along as human beings? At times we all
inconveince one another to accomplish things that must be done.
BELIEVE me, my life has minor irritations in it as well...I am a very
cute woman truck driver AND have always worked in the blue collar
trades. Sure crap happens to me working with a bunch of men and the
reactions of people where I go are not always positive BUT unlike you
I don't whine about it and scream out "I have a right to have an
easier life than every other human on the planet because I am
handicaped or in my case a woman." I simply, do what I have to and
accomplish my goal.

Oh, and try a day driving an 18 wheeler before you judge where they
should unload...It is a VERY difficult job, yet one that EVERYONE
depends on, even you... Try a little tolerance...After all, you expect
tolerance on your part. What's good for you is good for all humans.
Remember, they were NOT discriminating against you. they were only
accepting a delivery which is unloaded by hand.

In most areas, if a handicap parking space is properly marked and
signs posted, local ordinances and in my case (State of Georgia) it is
a violation of state law to block access or improperly park a vehicle
(e.g. no placard or handicap tag) in such space.

A simple call to your local LE agency usually results in an officer
who gladly writes a nice $500.00 citation on the rude turd who cannot
read signs. Delivery truck or not, the turdface who blocks the space
should have to face a judge and pay for their self centered idiot
behavior.

Two pet peeves of mine, blocking or improper use of handicap spaces
and fire lanes. On our municipal 800MHz radio system, I change
channels to our PD supervisors channel and call in morons like this.
Makes the cops happy as they get their "quota" for the day.

I was at my local McDonalds the other day-
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=s.+westnedge+49024&ie
=UTF8&ll=42.216623,-85.588646&spn=0.001222,0.002151&t=h&z=19

Take a look at the satellite picture- see the handicap spaces on the
left side of the building? On the "Bottom Left" of the building,
right before the DT, I saw what appeared to be a service door. So if
the truck was unloading with the back pointed towards this door, then
therefore the handicap spaced would be blocked.

I personally think that Mcdonald's needs to come up with some sort of
procedure as not to disturb the handicap parking area.

First and foremost, I would like to say that I worked at a McDonald's
for several years. I was one of "those teenage shift managers", and
for a time one of "those teenage assistant managers", as many people
would like to state.

I can promise you that this was not an intended act of discrimination
or bigotry.

McDonald's gets truck deliveries roughly two or three times a week.
They always come at slow hours, whether it be between 5 and 7 in the
morning or 2 and 4 in the afternoon, or something of that nature. On
these trucks, they have all the product minus the buns, bagels and
muffins. However, everything else comes on these trucks and without
these trucks, there is nothing to serve. Unless, of course, you would
just like to purchase bread.

Getting sidetracked, these truck drivers do not directly work for the
stores that they are delivering to. As managers, we cannot fire these
truck drivers. We don't always know who is going to be delivering
that day and we don't always enjoy their company or personality.

Focusing on the parking on the handicapped spots. This may have been
the most convenient spot for them to deliver, whether you think there
were more convenient spots or not. Trucks always use the same exact
spot to deliver because it's easier and more convenient and usually,
the only spot that they can deliver in. I would have to see the way
the store was set up to tell you. It's not because they want to
prevent people from parking there, but because they HAVE to park
there.

And if the parking lot was so dead, you could have easily parked
somewhere else. It's not like you had to "dodge traffic" in order to
get to the accessible door. Or if you were that concerned, you could
have used the drive-thru and ordered there.

Another scenario is that the truck driver was there sleeping over
night, which happens quite often. I doubt he intentionally picked
that spot just to upset people, but perhaps he thought that would be
the most convenient spot to sleep overnight and just overslept a
little bit. McDonald's generally doesn't get their busy morning rush
until 7am or 8am, so I'm sure he would have left by then.


Instead of writing a letter claiming that they discriminate, perhaps
you could have just used the drive-thru, then before leaving, ask for
the manager on duty and ask why exactly the truck driver chose there
to park? I'm sure the manager would have been more than happy to
explain it to you, and if there was no reason for the driver to be
there, I'm sure that they would have fixed the problem.

Lastly, next time you want to claim McDonald's discriminates, maybe
you should look up all their policies and regulations. Everyone signs
documents when hired and as managers, take classes to learn the "ZERO
TOLERANCE POLICY." No discrimination, no harrassment, no nothing.
This includes towards each other and towards customers. It covers
everything possible - being disabled, race, gender, age, sexual
harrassment, etc. When people break this policy, action is usually
taken immediately (or at least it was in the stores I've worked in).

Personally, no offense, I think you're just one of those people that
are looking for anything to complain about. Hopefully you'll take in
this information and instead of ranting in a letter, talk to the store
manager about your concern. McDonald's is always eager to fix
problems - THEY WANT PEOPLE TO COME BACK!

if all the handicapped spaces had been legitimately taken by other
handicapped people? That they were discriminating against you because
they should have had more??

As others have pointed out to you, Janice, your moral outrage is
clouding your perception of the facts at hand.

Yes, the truck was blocking the handicapped spaces. HOWEVER, many
times that's the only entrance wide enough to fit the pallets of
supplies through. It isn't because they didn't want you and your car
there, it was because they were getting a shipment in and nothing
more.

By your argument, anytime there aren't enough spaces to accomodate
you, the facility/business in question is a.) An establishment full of
bigots and b.) In violation of the ADA. Neither of which are even
close to being true.

And if you read the ADA very carefully and don't exaggerate just those
portions that suit you, you'll come to find that the ADA calls for
"ACCESSIBILITY" which this and every other McDonald's has. And
accessibility is not just about close parking spaces for you!

I would hardly call that discriminationo. Rude, and over site, wrong,
yes, not discrimination. And btw, how do you know that the driver
didn't have a disability and there fore entitled to park where he did?
Would you have rather them not have a delivery that day so when you
got out of the car and into the store you weren't severd becasue they
didn't have what you wanted? Biogtry? Maybe you should learn the
defination of what bigotry is before you use it against sombody.

I'm absolutely amazed that so many posters here think the ADA
(Americans with Disability Act) is optional. It isn't.

I don't think the truck driver made a conscious choice to discriminate
against the disabled, but he did so when he parked his truck across
the handicapped parking spaces. I think he either didn't care or it
wasn't convenient neither of which justifies where he parked. And, as
I pointed out in my original post, there were other places large
enough for the driver to park his truck, but he chose to discriminate
by blocking access.

There also seems to be widespread ignorance about enforcement of the
ADA. Enforcement of the ADA is the responsibility of the U.S.
Department of Justice, not local or state law enforcement agencies.

A local police officer does not have the authority to require the
driver to move the truck unless the store owner/manager asks that the
truck be moved. It is up to the store owner/manager and the trucking
company (which owns it) to enforce the ADA because the truck is on
private property. If they don't, then the only recourse people have is
to document the situation and file charges under the ADA.

If I had used the drive-through to ask that the truck be moved, I
could be charged with trespass by that same police officer because I
was not using the drive-through to order food, which is the purpose of
the drive-through, not registering complaints.

I don't have the legal right to be on the store's property if I am not
ordering/buying/eating food from the store. Trying to enforce a law by
breaking another isn't right or legal, and this is one of the things
that the DOJ constantly stresses to the disabled community.

DOJ tells the disabled who have experienced discrimination to walk
away from the situation and file charges under the ADA. Instead of
filing charges against McDonald's, I took a more benign approach of
notifying the company of this problem, without taking the legal steps
that can result in fines, mediation and/or closure of the store.

All legal contractors and/or franchises of a company are required, as
part of their contract with the company, to uphold the
non-discrimination policies of the company. McDonald's contracts have
such a clause. Since the local McDonald's is either a franchise or
company-owned store, it is the responsibility of McDonald's to make
sure that their contractors are in compliance. A similar situation
exists with the trucking firm.

For those that think that discriminating against the disabled is okay,
I hope you get to experience it directly yourself one day. As for
those of you who think I should have made an extra effort to notify
the manager, a friend of mine did exactly that one week after I first
reported this store. The store manager's response? "If some cripple
doesn't like where he has to park, he should go someplace else!"

Many groups, such as social service agencies and disabled rights
groups, partner with the DOJ in holding ADA training seminars for both
business owners/operators and private citizens. I've been a volunteer
trainer. If you don't understand the ADA, then take the time to learn
about it.

The number of required handicapped parking spots depends on the number
of total parking spaces in the lot. It is calculated as a percentage
of the total spaces and some lots are so small no HC spots are
required at all.

As for where the parking spots are located, they don't have to be the
closest ones to the door, but the closest ones to barrier-free access
to doors.

Barrier-free access means curb cuts, ramps, etc., so someone in a
wheelchair can navigate to the door.

"Barrier-free access means curb cuts, ramps, etc., so someone in a
wheelchair can navigate to the door. "

They ARENT! I took a long look after reading this. The ones out the
the ones outside the DHS office, you have to go AROUND other cars to
get to the ramp. The one at the gas station, the sign is turned so
you can't really see it. You have to go OVER (and I am not sure
someone in a wheelchair could) the takns in the ground with the raised
covers. There are a LOT of spaces in the lot. I am sure (after
learned a lot reading on this post) there are not enough spaces.

yeah, i guess I hit "post" too many times.

6 am. The restaurant was not busy, it was a McDonald's truck
performing a delivery. He parked, probably in the same spot he always
does, and you just so happened to pull up wanting to eat.

Instead of looking at this moment as an unfortunate incident that you
and the driver were there at the same time. You have chosen to look at
it as discrimination. I can't say for sure, but I don't think the
driver pulled up and said, "Screw those handicapped spots! I hate
them!! a ha ha ha ha!" No, he probably parks in the same spot every
delivery.

You have a valid complaint, but for the wrong reason. You could've
handled this right there by driving through the drive thru and talking
to someone right there at that moment. But no, you chose to take
offense and fire off an angry letter accusing someone who is doing
their job of discrimination against you over what is probably an
oversight.

6 am. The restaurant was not busy, it was a McDonald's truck
performing a delivery. He parked, probably in the same spot he always
does, and you just so happened to pull up wanting to eat.

Instead of looking at this moment as an unfortunate incident that you
and the driver were there at the same time. You have chosen to look at
it as discrimination. I can't say for sure, but I don't think the
driver pulled up and said, "Screw those handicapped spots! I hate
them!! a ha ha ha ha!" No, he probably parks in the same spot every
delivery.

You have a valid complaint, but for the wrong reason. You could've
handled this right there by driving through the drive thru and talking
to someone right there at that moment. But no, you chose to take
offense and fire off an angry letter accusing someone who is doing
their job of discrimination against you over what is probably an
oversight.

6 am. The restaurant was not busy, it was a McDonald's truck
performing a delivery. He parked, probably in the same spot he always
does, and you just so happened to pull up wanting to eat.

Instead of looking at this moment as an unfortunate incident that you
and the driver were there at the same time. You have chosen to look at
it as discrimination. I can't say for sure, but I don't think the
driver pulled up and said, "Screw those handicapped spots! I hate
them!! a ha ha ha ha!" No, he probably parks in the same spot every
delivery.

You have a valid complaint, but for the wrong reason. You could've
handled this right there by driving through the drive thru and talking
to someone right there at that moment. But no, you chose to take
offense and fire off an angry letter accusing someone who is doing
their job of discrimination against you over what is probably an
oversight.

6 am. The restaurant was not busy, it was a McDonald's truck
performing a delivery. He parked, probably in the same spot he always
does, and you just so happened to pull up wanting to eat.

Instead of looking at this moment as an unfortunate incident that you
and the driver were there at the same time. You have chosen to look at
it as discrimination. I can't say for sure, but I don't think the
driver pulled up and said, "Screw those handicapped spots! I hate
them!! a ha ha ha ha!" No, he probably parks in the same spot every
delivery.

You have a valid complaint, but for the wrong reason. You could've
handled this right there by driving through the drive thru and talking
to someone right there at that moment. But no, you chose to take
offense and fire off an angry letter accusing someone who is doing
their job of discrimination against you over what is probably an
oversight.

6 am. The restaurant was not busy, it was a McDonald's truck
performing a delivery. He parked, probably in the same spot he always
does, and you just so happened to pull up wanting to eat.

Instead of looking at this moment as an unfortunate incident that you
and the driver were there at the same time. You have chosen to look at
it as discrimination. I can't say for sure, but I don't think the
driver pulled up and said, "Screw those handicapped spots! I hate
them!! a ha ha ha ha!" No, he probably parks in the same spot every
delivery.

You have a valid complaint, but for the wrong reason. You could've
handled this right there by driving through the drive thru and talking
to someone right there at that moment. But no, you chose to take
offense and fire off an angry letter accusing someone who is doing
their job of discrimination against you over what is probably an
oversight.

Next time you are at a McDonald's while they are receiving their
products, take a look at how it is delivered. You will note there is
only one place for the truck to park to unload.

And the orginal poster stated it was a McDonald's truck. The driver
was there working. No truck, no food.

And I assure you, were I the driver's supervisor, were he to to
ticketed for doing what is needed to supply this McDonald's, there
would be no further delivaries to this store.

And yes, I do drive a truck, but not for McDonald's.

I don't think delivery truck drivers work for the actual McDonald's
company, but I could be wrong. I think you should call McDonald's
general office and ask where you can complain about that situation,
it's basically out of the actual restaurant's hands,even if a manager
asks the delivery truck driver to move it may not be possible or the
driver may choose not to listen. It can also really depend on the
design of the parking lot,which is not the driver's fault. If there's
no where else to park,how else would they be able to deliver the
product to keep up with customer demand? Without delivered supply,
there will be no burgers, no drinks, no fries,the list goes on.Sure it
is a temporary inconvenience,and you have every right to be annoyed by
the inconvenience, but it will benefit you and other customers in the
long run.

My observation was to look at the complainer's line of work. Janice
infers she is some sort of writer.She says she worked all night
finishing an article. I suppose poetic liscense was used to inflame
her displeasure. Although the event is against the law and lacks
consideration, this type of "outrage" is over the top. Save it for
more serious infractions or one might never be considered legitimate.
A simple "by the way your driver parked...." would suffice.

I think this clearly was a case of laziness or stupidity on the driver
of the truck, NOT discrimination. I doubt the driver woke up and
said, "Hey, I feel like discriminating against the disabled...I am
going to park my huge truck so it blocks all the handicapped spaces so
noone can park there." Heck, he might have not even known his truck
was over them. You need to calm down and realize everything isn't
black and white. For you to go on a discrimination rant about this
matter is wasting your time. You should have spoken to management
about this issue at the time this occured so the driver could perhaps
move his truck.

I agree with others who have asked why you just did not bring this up
with the restaurant when the incident occurred. It was wrong for the
delivery truck to be blocking parking spaces especially those for
handicapped individuals. However were there no other spaces in the
parking lot near the door that you could have parked?

McDonald's is not descriminating against the handicapped as you claim.
I feel you are just blowing this out of proportion.

I'm just curious...if you go to McDonalds and other handicapped people
have filled all the spots, do you think it's discrimination because
they don't have more spots available?

I gotta go with the majority here. I think you are overreacting.

This wasn't discrimination or bigotry. If they wanted to violate ADA,
they would have never built those handicapped spaces in the first
place. No, this was a case of someone being careless or selfish. I'm
not sure how the truck was oriented--he may not have even realized he
was blocking handicapped spaces if he came in when it was dark!

I think you should have notified the manager via drive through and
your problem would have disappeared pretty quickly.

Also, I'm surprised that the lobby was open at such an hour. Usually
they just have drive through open.

The McDonald's I worked at through college had a special lane, next to
the building, for the delivery truck. The building and parking lot
were designed so that deliveries would have as little impact on
business as possible. The truck did not block any parking spaces or
the DT ordering area, but DT customers WOULD have to drive around the
cab of the truck to get to the window.

The truck could deliver directly into the basement. Deliveries were
scheduled for non-peak times, but sometimes delays occurred.

Perhaps the truck was making a delayed delivery. Look at your store's
set-up. Where are the doors from the BACK of the store located? Not
customer doors, but delivery doors or "I have to take out the trash
now" doors?

Perhaps the truck was scheduled to arrive at 5:00. With the right
crew, all items could be put into the store and into the proper spots
quite quickly. For some reason, the truck did not arrive as
scheduled. Flat tire, accident on the freeway, items at the
distribution center not ready, driver had to be called in on his day
off....

Perhaps the truck was on time but the McD's employees were not up to
speed. Called in sick, hung over, person with the keys was stuck
behind some accident.

This wasn't an intentional, personal affront to you. It was something
that happened. At a time that is generally not a rush.(Management
tries to make sure that deliveries affect customers as little as
possible. Imagine that.) Today, the store was busy. Usually, it's
not, at that time.

This definitely isn't "bigotry". It's really not even
"discrimination", although it's likely the store could have been
designed so that deliveries would have less impact on ANY customers.
If it's an older store, though, what do you expect McD's to do? Close
the whole thing down so that they can redesign the store and the
parking lot?

Seriously? I agree that the truck should not have been there, but I
highy doubt they decided to discriminate against the handicapped.

You do know that handicapped people can park in the "regular" parking
stalls too, right?

Besides, if the parking lot was empty, it sounds like there was plenty
of good parking still available.

I read letters like these and wonder what this world is coming to.
"Bigotry" - give me a break.

It's no wonder why our economy is faltering and the dollar is
weakening.... We've got people with nothing better to do that complain
about the fact that their favorite parking spot is not available
because a supply truck is trying to deliver food to the store.

Oh, the humanity!

I wonder is the truck was making a delivery. Sometimes they have to
block off access to some parking spaces or to the drive thru so that
can make their deivery. Some store unload directly to the freezer and
fridge walkins by small access doors outside of the building which
might not be in the best spot

I agree with you that if the truck was not making a delviery or had
finished unloading the truck then it should be moved. However if they
were in the process of unloading, then you have to understand that
they need to get the food into the store so they are able to make that
Egg Mcmiffin for you.

The same thing happens here when they get a delivery. The parking lot
is tight, the big truck blocks accessability. It's just set up wrong.
The handicapped spaces are in an area where the drive thru line is
behind them also. If the lines become backed up which only takes 4-5
cars, they block the parking spaces. Someone seriously didn't plan
this out very well.

This is a situation that calls for speaking with a manager before
screaming about bigotry and discrimination. The OP could have done
that without even getting out of her car simply by going through the
drive thru.

The person who collected the carts at my local grocery store would
routinely stage them in one of the four handicapped spots. I honestly
don't think he realized he was doing anything wrong. Rather then
scream, rant and rage about it, I calmly went into the store and spoke
to the manager. Carts are no longer staged in those spots. Even
this, however, doesn't always mean a spot will be available for me.
At any given time, all four are taken and this, again, is not
discrimination.

This is unacceptable, although I think it's someone being a pig rather
than being discriminatory. I've seen plenty of truck taking up
multiple spaces or blocking entrances/exits/so forth to know that some
truck drivers feel that can stop their truck wherever. Doesn't matter
if it's a handicapped space or not.

What really stinks is that you had no way of notifying the manager or
the driver that you needed the space. You shouldn't have to go out of
your way to use the drive through or to struggle with another spot
just to tell someone that they parked in the wrong place.

McDonalds can't monitor the lots 24x7 at every location, but they can
let their employees and contractors know proper parking procedures.

You're right.

We've just celebrated the 18th anniversary of the signing of the ADA,
and the number of acts of disabiity discrimination I've encountered
recently has been stunning.

For the most part, the people making the decisions that this sort of
thing is okay were not in the workforce before the passage of the ADA.
Some weren't even born before the passage of the ADA. And I'm tired
of hearing "You have to give us time ...." 18 hours really is enough
time for somenoe to have gotten hold of the ADAAG standards and made
sure that the store is complying with them.

The truck driver should not have parked there. The manager, finding
that the truck was there, should have told the driver to move it. If
the driver wasn't available, the manager should have called the
police. Now, I realize that McDonald's is likely to punish someone
who calls the cops on a truck that is "only" denying access to
disabled people, but that only transfers the responsibility to the
franchise holder and/or the corporation.

Thank you for this letter, and thank you for making the stand. I,
too, have celebrated the anniversary by permanently diminishing the
number of stores I am willing to patronize.

It is often a consequence of the fact that McD's are shoehorned into
tight places in many instances.

I'm not making an excuse for this being legal; in fact it is likely
illegal.

At my local McD's, they park right in the single lane drive-through
(shutting it down), and it also blocks normal access to the main
entrance. In this case, I think it also blocks the path a handicapped
person would use to go from the haqndicapped spot to the entrance. I
wonder if they could get nicked for that.

A lot of people said they believe this is thoughtlessness on the
driver's part. If it is tight enough, there may have been no other
choice than to park 50 feet away. I guess I agree - he should have
parked anywhere but the handicapped spot.

Wow.
6AM? That's pretty early. At least the delivery driver wasn't there in
the middle of the lunch rush...

And a quick question- were the handicapped spots close to the service
door? (On side or back of building) If so, then it was most likely the
most convenient place to park.

Secondly, it is the drivers fault, but he may not have known where he
was parking. at 6AM here in Michigan, it is pretty dark. Considering
that NC is significantly further east however in the same time zone,
he simply may not have seen that he was blocking the handicap parking
area.

I say get over it. I doubt that the corporate office tells the
suppliers to tell their truck drivers that because the corporation is
DISCRIMINATORY and loves to practice BIGOTRY, they should always park
their truck in the handicap area.

Sorry, but this doesn't sound like discrimination. A careless and
thoughtless act, but not discrimination.

I'm sure it must have been a pain in the ass for you since you
couldn't park, but do you really think McDonald's would intentionally
not want people with disabilities in their restuarants? Your money is
just has good as everyone else's.

Sometimes a thoughtless act is just that.

"While the restaurant was far from crowded"

There had to be plenty of parking spots relatively close to the
entrance. Why are so many people in our society actively striving to
be offended?

I've had fights in my grocery store parking lot from people that are
visibily handicapped fighting with people with permits that are not
visibly handicapped.


Speaking of illegal acts, it is illegal to drive with the permit
hanging from your mirror but I see it everyday driving to work.


Good Day

Completely legitimate complaint, except for the discrimination
hyperbole. Yes, the management at that restuarant should have told the
driver to park somewhere else, but in all likelihood, they didn't even
see where the driver was parked. An inconsiderate delivery driver's
actions is not representative of an entire world-wide chain's views on
disabled people, and claiming that is just silly.

I do give you props for not demanding freebies.

Was the truck their delivery truck? If so, it is doubtful that they
even worked (directly at least) for McDonald's. They would either
work for a shipping company or for the food supplier that supplies
McDonald's.

Unless McDonald's works different almost any other restaurant and does
all that work themselves without contracting out.

This is something you should have made the manager aware of or the
police.

Also there is no discrimination, on either McDonald's or even the
truck driver, he (or she) was just thoughtless. I highly doubt he was
actively thinking "I will park in that handicap spot so no one else
can".

I wish you had stopped at the drive-through window to complain, or
called the police so the driver of the truck could be ticketed.

Some of you who are writing this off as a thoughtless truck driver are
the same people who have vehemently railed against others who
"thoughtlessly" (selfishly? lazily?) park in those same spots, in
other letters on this website.

Either the handicapped spots are reserved for those who actually
require them, or they aren't. Which is it, people?

I am curious as to Cal M.'s thoughts regarding this letter and
everyone's responses.

Good letter except for the "discrimination" part. Like others have
mentioned this isn't a case of discrimination but a case of a person
representing McDonalds (the McDonald's truck) being an inconsiderate
dope.

This isn't really the fault of the company or even the franchise, but
that of one truck driver with some bad judgement. Mind you, had I been
working there I would have given him an earful until he moved it...

Did you consider going through the drive-thru? Just a suggestion...

This has nothing to do at all with discrimination or bigotry and
everything to do with poor judgement on the truck driver's part. You
are getting way too carried away with this. I am disabled and have
run across this exact situation. I don't go screaming discrimination
or bigotry. I park in the closest available spot and bring it to the
manager's attention. Since the restaurant was not crowded, I'm sure
there was a spot close by you could park in.

Do you really think the driver parked there intentionally because
"they didn't want disabled people such as me eating there"?

Yes, he made a mistake and used poor judgment, but I think that's as
far as it goes.

It seems like you are blowing this out of proportion. I don't think
the driver parked there with bad intentions. While they should have
parked some where else, I think that your claim of "bigotry and
discrimination" are over the top.

You could have used the drive thru, that way you wouldn't have to get
out at all.

I believe what they did is illegal. If you had a cell phone with you
that alloed to to take a picture, you should have.