to have parked in Parent And Child space without a child?

[JennifersBody]

Working ridciulously late last night and finished work at 1am (ish) - on the way home I drove by a 24 hour Tesco, I hadn't eaten dinner so I thought I would quickly go in and get something small to eat.

Go into the carpark (it was virtually dead) - there were about 10 P&C parking spaces with only one occupied. Parked there, went in store, was out in less than 10 minutes.

Got back to my car at the same time as the other owner of the other car had finished strapping a baby in and she asked me - wheres your child then? You do know that space is only allowed for parents with young children?

.. I started to reply and then she called me an ignorant cow and got in her car.

I was a bit shocked by it and thought that was a total over reaction.

[scarlettsmummy2]

Why would you park in a baby and toddler space if you didn't have a child in the middle of the day? Fair enough at 1am. Don't be so bloody selfish. Have you ever tried to get a child into a car seat in a normal sized space? Or tried to stop an excitable three year old from opening the door and banging it into the neighbouring car? I always think people that take them without children when they clearly know young families need them are lazy scumbags to be totally honest.

[spottyparrot]

My point in my first post on this thread was that P&C spaces ought to be by a walkway/pavement where possible. That could have made it safer for children who weren't being properly supervised. So it does have to do with P&C spaces in the context of supermarkets.

Yes agreed poor parenting. But poor parenting is pretty common!

[ShadowStorm]

Generally it's unreasonable to park in a P&C space without a child.

But at 1am? It's not at all likely that more than 10 parents with babies or toddlers are going to turn up before you've done your shopping and left.

I'd be more judgy about the parents taking the child out at 1am than about the childless driver parking in the P&C space at 1am.

[CatOfTheDay]

My mum parked in a P&C space with me when I was 26!

(I was struggling on crutches at the time though and they were nearest the door)

[Skellig]

I find P&C spaces really useful as with a three door car it can sometimes be impossible to get a car seat in/out if people have parked too close. So I don't think they are a ridiculous concept. It's also handy if they are nearer to the store to minimise the transition from car to store in poor weather.

And OP YANBU.

[ilovesooty]

It's also handy if they are nearer to the store to minimise the transition from car to store in poor weather

I'm sure someone will mention children melting in the rain in a moment

[AmandaPayneAteTooMuchChocolate]

I find the spaces useful (though I fully recognise they are a perk). Some spaces are so narrow it can be tough to get kids out. Especially back when we had a three door car. Also handy that they are often near a little walk way so you can safely deposit one child whilst removing the other from the car.

But 1am? No, perfectly fine. At 1am I don't even car if you park horizontally across three P&C spaces.

[TidyDancer]

Ooh I love a good old P&C parking thread.

Popcorn anyone?

[Fillyjonk75]

I would normally think badly of people for misusing P&C spaces, but really at one am I don't think many parents would be there, or that it's bad to park in them at that time.

[Skellig]

I am aware they don't melt! :) But it's not nice for them having to sit in a car seat in poor weather when they can't move about. As an adult, I'm more than happy to walk the length of a car park in the rain so a baby doesn't have to be carried the same distance, iyswim.

[mumofweeboys]

1am in morning, crikey the women with baby is mental. At that time I would park in a disabled space too if I was just nipping in.

Must admit I love p/c spaces. Im very pregnant - measuring huge, there have been times I physically couldnt fit down the side of normal parking space to get my toddler out of car and then feel guilty cos the door hits car next door as I try to wrestle him out.

[LaurieFairyCake]

At 1am I'd be parking in wherever was closest to the door and wouldn't give a flying fuck turd about anyone else.

This is because our local Tesco is a dogging spot

I don't blip my lights either ....

[colleysmill]

A few weeks ago we were parked in a p & c space when dh (i was returning the trolley) was accosted by a lady asking where his child was. Dh was a bit surprised but pointed to ds (3) inside.

In fairness we had taken the campervan to fill up with booze petrol so ds isn't always visible and she did apologize but it was the first time we have ever been challenged.

At 1am though I can't imagine there's much of a rush on for any parking space

[SirChenjin]

Whoops - way back upthread I meant baby or child, not car! That's what happens when you're trying to help build a meccano car and MN at the same time

[LST]

Yanbu op.

But to anyone saying anyone can park in c&p spaces, you are wrong. You get fined £100 at our local Asda if you park in a c&p space without a child.

[magimedi]

Parking - schmarking - yawn.

[TidyDancer]

Lst, sorry but you are wrong. It's not a fine, it's an invoice. You can't be fined unless you're in a council car park. Asda or their contractor are relying on the stupidity of people to pay the invoices.

[SirChenjin]

If it's so yawn why go to the bother using muscle power to type on this thread? There are plenty more that you'll find less yawn if you go to 'Active'

[SirChenjin]

Tidy - did the law not change recently? I vaguely recall reading something on here about that

[LST]

Tidy my dp works there. I am afraid you are wrong. It also states the same in the disabled spaces.

[TidyDancer]

I think it changed wrt clamping (was oreviously not allowed on private land) and the companies can pursue people for the charge but afaik it is still legally an invoice not a fine.

[TidyDancer]

They can say what they want lst, and quite often do. Private companies running private car parks do not and should not have the same powers as the council.

[magimedi]

If it's so yawn why go to the bother using muscle power to type on this thread? There are plenty more that you'll find less yawn if you go to 'Active'


This was on active. And I am quite happy to give my fingers some exercise.

[TidyDancer]

Disabled spaces are also a legal entitlement so they may have some weight there. But P&C spaces are not legal rights, so they would be on shaky ground anyway even if they were fines. You either permit someone to park somewhere or you don't, you don't make arbitrary decisions as to who can park where unless it is wrt disabled spaces.

[SirChenjin]

Ah, OK