INCOMPETENT BUILDING OFFICIALS HURT SEVERELY DISABLED

This brand new disabled parking space , on South Dixie Hwy., Miami, Florida, is installed "Ass  backwards" as the access aisle is supposed to be on the passenger side. In Florida all disabled parking spaces are 12 feet wide. This accommodates any passenger car unloading from either  side. The driver parks to the left or right of the space depending which door the wheelchair comes out.

Many architects don't know any better, building officials don't know any better or deliberately  process the plans wrong. Rene Fraga, code enforcement , actually went and sought out literature where the code is silent to which side the access aisle is supposed to be on Mr. Fraga then distributed the literature to municipal building officials to get them off the enforcement hook. Dozens of these bad disabled parking installations have been reported to Code Enforcement in Miami-Dade County.

The 5 foot access aisle is provided strictly for vans with lifts. Lifts generally come out the passenger side. Quadriplegics with hand controls really need the access aisles on the passenger side of the vehicle.

People with disabilities expect building officials to use common sense, especially after counseling them on which side the access aisle is supposed to be and why.

When Mayor Penelas was running for election, he was forcefully told about this specific installation long before the building was completed and occupied. This event occurred at the Perrine Chamber of Commerce meeting, with lots of witnesses in the Chamber. It is commonly known that our mayor caters to wealthy developers, who want NO CODE enforcement. Mr. Fraga knows the way the game is played currently in Miami-Dade County, and will not enforce these infractions all over the county.