to park in a Parent and Toddler/child space.

[penzance70]

I am 39 weeks pregnant so today parked in a P and Toddler/child parking space.
I did get a few funny looks so wondered if IABU parking there. Normally wouldn't but car park quite full (so couldn't park away from other cars) and P and T spaces fairly empty.

yanbu, you have a child attached to you. Enormous bumps can make it very difficult to get out of a narrow parking space, especially if you're not the best parker.

He was sitting in Tesco's car park singing 'God save me a parking space', if that helps?

He didn't by the way...save him a parking space I mean.

EXACTLY what Folkgirl said,

<span class="italic">YANBU to park in the P&C spaces at 39 weeks pregnant.</span>

<span class="italic">YABU to start a thread about it.</span>

OP, I do and I'm nearly 42 weeks. Quite frankly the mood I'm in these days I'd love someone to take me on over it!!!

YANBU.
Btw I love a good parking thread!!!!
Settles down with cuppa and biscuits.

I never thought of using one of those spaces when I was preggers with DD. Now I wish I had. Life would have been a lot easier!

Tesco used to have a permit scheme where you got one for joining their baby club and you were supposed to display it to use their p&c spaces. The permit was valid until the child's 3rd (I think) birthday. Great idea, but never enforced.

I actually like it when the p&c spaces aren't right next to the door, it means they're less likely to be used by people who just want a close space.

In my local supermarket, they're not the closest spaces, but are near the specialist trolleys, and don't involve crossing a road to get to the door. Anyone who doesn't see the point of them can try getting 2 small kids across a busy car park, when 1 is a young baby and 1 a bolting toddler.

I think MN should have a designated All Things Parking Section

I parked in one today, I had no children with me and I'm not pregnant. I just felt like it, it was closest to the door.

YA totally NBU. This is a real pet hate for me but I think a 39 weeks pregnant woman completely has the right to use one.

The Sunday before I had DS (so 41 weeks pregnant) I parked in a regular space at my church and when I came out someone was parked right next to me. I was so huge I had to get a normal sized person to reverse my car out as I couldn't fit in the space to get in! . Wouldn't want anyone to have the same experience!

One of my ambitions is to receive a 'fine' for parking in a P&C space and see what they say when i ask them if they seriously think i'm that dumb.

I do worry in car parks that someone will have parked really close to me by the time I get out, because I don't know what I'd do with DS if I couoldn't open the door. Like someone upthread said, what do you do, leave him in the trolley in the car park while I reverse out, get someone else to reverse the car or what?

I try really hard to find an end spot if I can't get a P&C space.

Those who park in them just because they feel like it are really rude. Yes, they may be a courtesy and unenforceable, but why not be a bit thoughtful yourself, you're making others' lives harder just because you're a lazy bastard.

I did the same at 8ish months pregnant and gave the lovely woman that gave me a filthy look a charming smile

YANBU

I also try to get an end space, but I have twins so I have to park right on the edge of that to try to make sure I have enough space to get both back in.

For everyone who says that parking fines in supermarkets are unenforceable, what case law / law are you referring to?

according to martin the money tips chap, not a random martin on the street any fines are just invites to pay however if the company is a member of BPA and all signs ect are correct and the ticket is fair they can (but often dont bother) take you to court.once a court order happens it is enforcable.

apparently anecdotal evidence surgests lots of people who challenge these in court win but we dont know if its because the company did something wrong with signs/unclear markings ect. or if the ticket was issued unfairly.

i really hate the view that if its not illiegal that must mean its ok. if i visit your house with permision but take your telly with the intention of returning it at some stage legally i havent stolen it, but would you agree this was fine?

i dont care why car parks have them the only thing i care about is they do. i expect people visiting my property to follow any rules they know i have. so i would do the same to anybody elses property its called respect and decency.

Most of these court cases, if they ever get that far, tend to fail on the fact they can't prove who is driving the car. So if you don't respond to them, they never know who's driving. They write to the registered car owner, but the presumed contract with which you sign up is between the driver and company, not the owner. The major issue with them is not only the extortionate charges, but that their appeals process is normally a sham to get an admittal of who was driving; and also a lot of companies issue these fines speculatively.

These private parking companies have won very few cases, and the one's they've won tend to be due to company stooges.

MIL received a "fine" recently with her car's number plates and times entered and exited for £90. There was no actual reason given for the fine, other than she was in one of their car parks and must have been parked. FIL went down later to check the signage, there was none. A week later signage went up, MIL hadn't broken any of the terms. They've ignored the threats.

I agree with socknickingpixie though, people should park considerably and not use the fact these fines are unenforceable as a reason to be a dick break car parking rules.

tryingnottofeckup:

not the finest source material here, but this is once case that did go to court
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-542355/Judge-quashes-300-parking-fine--set-frighten-intimidate-driver.html

it seems to have set the precedent for no legal enforceable fines unless company can prove financial loss

Thanks Bellyjaby and socknickingpixie, I agree with you both that people should park considerately, who are you striking a blow for in parking in a P&C place when you don't have babies / toddlers / are disabled / just pretty elderly.

I often see people saying that the fines are unenforceable and wondered if it was an urban myth that had no basis but was just repeated until everyone believed it. If so, I wondered how private car parks e.g. an NCP with a pay and display machine ever made any money. Thanks you both for your responses.

Park where you want, supermarkets can't fine you, they can only invoice you. You are a fool if you pay it.

P&C spaces are a pile of wank.

Parent and toddler spaces should go, I f you cant get a child out of a normal space you cant park properly
Parent and child spaces are for safety, not because people can't get children out of the car doors etc. also have you tried getting a basket style car seat out of a tight space? its almost impossible.
Yanbu, I am almost 35 weeks pregnant and if its empty and I am without the kids I park in them too.

WhatYouLookingAt I bet no one said anything though as your tramp stamps make you look scary.

I have no idea what that means. Is it code for something?

You are carrying a child so you are within your rights to park there. You will probably need the wider width parking space to get out of the car anyway and being closer to the shops is good for those swollen ankles!

tramp stamps - tattoos

Do you park in the disabled bays too? And do you hate people who own mobility scooters? Also, I bet you don't get on with your mil either and let your cat shit in other peoples gardens.
YABU.