I know when I got my handicap placard in CA back in 2005, the paperwork CLEARLY stated that you were ONLY qualified for the handicap placard if you were blind, had limb amputations (I believe for lower extremity it was only required to have 1 limb amputated, for upper extremity I think it was 2), had heart problems classified as severe (they have a specific cardiac output that must be met), have a severe respiratory disorder (required to be at a certain level on pulmonary function tests and/or requiring of oxygen, etc). Another qualification for MOBILITY impairment (which is what many people claim) is that you CAN NOT walk 200 feet without the use of an assistive device such as a cane, crutches, walker or wheelchair or having to stop and sit down to rest. This does NOT mean that because you require a cane for support just in case, that you NEED to park in the spot CLOSEST to the door of the store so that you can then go in and walk around the ENTIRETY of the store and conveniently have your car right outside the door when you are done! To me, that is ABUSE of the system! Now, if you parked in the same spot, took your cane inside and used a store scooter to do your shopping and get assistance back out to your car so someone can help load the groceries and not further fatigue you, that is a completely DIFFERENT story, and is EXACTLY what that space was designed for!Now, with that said, I don't police those spaces or the people that use them. I give them the benefit of the doubt because I DON'T know what they are going through. What I will do though is if I see a person park and they don't have a placard or a plate displayed, I will roll down my window and kindly remind them that they forgot to put their placard up. If a person HAS a placard they are always very grateful, and if they DONT have a placard they kinda look like they stick their tails between their legs and go re-park their car. By addressing them in a non-judge mental, non-confrontational manner, people are not off put by my question because they don't see me as questioning their validity. I have never had a situation escalate with this tactic.