PREGNANCY & PARKING LOTS: WILL THERE EVER BE HOPE?

- Renee Gannon, Assistant Website Editor

Pregnant women in the OC are thanking Orange County Assemblyman Chuck DeVore for his attempt to do something nice for them.  DeVore had the brilliant idea to give pregnant and post-pregnant women special "handicapped" parking privileges. More specifically, a bill recently introduced by DeVore, AB 1940, would have defined women's last trimester of pregnancy and the first two months after birth as a time of "temporary disability," which would have entitled them to obtain handicapped placards and to park in most handicapped spots during that five-month period.

You may have seen something like this before; there are several malls and hospitals around the country that have a specific “Stork Parking" section that is separate from the Handicapped spots (and really, no self-respecting pregnant woman wants to be called "disabled" – pregnancy is hard work!)  According to the OC Register,  DeVore, (R-Irvine) calls this "a reasonable accommodation," adding that the idea came from a constituent who had recently struggled with balancing late pregnancy and early motherhood with the driving (and parking) demands of modern urban life. DeVore said he also ran the idea past his closest and wisest advisor – which is to say, Mrs. DeVore, the mother of their two children.  This just goes to show that you should always listen to your wife’s advice; this is a smart man, I’d say. A very smart man, indeed.

The response to the bill was very quick, to say the least. The California chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW) denounced the bill for daring to link pregnancy with "disability." An obstetricians and gynecologists association denounced the bill as "counterproductive" because it might discourage healthy pregnant women from getting necessary exercise.  Activists for the disabled denounced it for adding too many potential new competitors for the already severely limited number of disabled parking spaces.

Thankfully, many pregnant women were out in full-support for DeVore, applauding and cheering him on in his attempts to relieve their aching backs and swollen feet.  DeVore fought the good fight on this one; he made some great arguments on its behalf despite strong opposition. Unfortunately though, the proposal was killed – err, "slaughtered" is more accurate – in committee.

So for now, the pregnant women of Orange County will still be schlepping their groceries, children and big pregnant bellies across parking lots everywhere, and since they don’t have dedicated parking spots, if you see a pregnant woman, I say, be a good Samaritan and give up your up-close spot. After all, your Mom did carry YOU around the good, old-fashioned way; the least you can do is repay her by being kind to your local pregnant lady.