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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this was really rude? Kids left in car!

86 replies

Twistedpantsagain · 03/08/2017 18:01

So I popped to a friends earlier who lives on a busy road full of double yellow lines unless you have a drive just to add some perspective.
As I was leaving, a neighbour was welcoming her child back from a play date, all done at the doorstep may I add.
Must have been a one minute conversation at the most before the little girl then realised she had left her jacket so both mums and the girl head back down the slight hill towards the car.
A woman is standing beside the car ( not sure if on phone to police? ) but is circling around and looking in the window.
Mum had obviously decided not to get out the 3 other children she had with her in order to drop one child home which I wouldn't have given a second thought, they all looked at least 6 years old up to about 8/9.
However as the mum got in to drive off this woman gave her a massive mouthful, about parking on double yellow lines which are outside HER house, which I do understand but also said she is a neglectful mother " to top it off "
I guess from where she was stood as its downhill she may not have been able to see the mum but I would have thought she would have heard them as only 2 doors down.
Mum left crying after asking if she was ringing the police to be told " she would find out "
Just felt it was really OTT but as soon as I said it to hubby he said the kids shouldn't have been left so she was in the right! What do you think?

OP posts:
plominoagain · 03/08/2017 18:56

Actually one of the exemptions is allowing for passengers to board or alight . So the other woman should at least try and get her facts right. The only reason double yellows exist , are because of the length of time they are in force for , i.e. For 12 hours and over , and if they count on a Sunday . Parking on them is no greater offence than parking on a single and the offence is the same .

Personally I think shouting judgements at someone else makes them a far greater wanker than someone parking incorrectly .

RatRolyPoly · 03/08/2017 19:00

Well yes, I can see there was some "wrong" on both sides here; although your friend's "wrong" would simply see me shrug my shoulders and not give it a second thought, whereas shouty neighbour's "wrong" would make me think they were a bored dramatist with too much time on their hands. So yeah, maybe they were both a little bit wrong, but only one of them would be my friend.

Shadow666 · 03/08/2017 19:05

I know what you mean though. Once I left DS aged 8 in the car alone in the supermarket car park while I took the trolley back and when I got back he told me that a woman had told him to stay where he was and she would be back with someone in a moment. I couldn't have driven off quicker if I tried. It wasn't hot or anything and he had the window open. Probably just bad timing.

Original poster
Twistedpantsagain · 03/08/2017 19:14

Shadow666, that made me really laugh.
People do over react I think! I would be very annoyed with someone approaching my kids if I left them in the car to go to return a trolley!!

OP posts:
Mumof56 · 03/08/2017 21:12

"Actually one of the exemptions is allowing for passengers to board or alight . So the other woman should at least try and get her facts right. "

Hmm Yes it's her that should get her facts straight

Have you read the rules of the road yourself latelly?

Original poster
Twistedpantsagain · 03/08/2017 21:19

To add, it's a single yellow line not a double. My mistake!
It's a double yellow as there's a shop on the corner and then it turns to a single yellow all the way along until half way up the road.
My friend said something about private cars being allowed to stop for 5 mins and commercial 10, but this was overtaken by the other woman screaming TBH!

OP posts:
Original poster
Twistedpantsagain · 04/08/2017 06:09

H!

OP posts:
belmontian · 04/08/2017 07:59

Re the illegal to park on double yellow lines, she may have had a Blue badge for one of the children, in which case it is not illegal. The woman sounds way OTT. I was in Ikea once (we are very regular) and dd8 was walking around the rooms. I was behind her, but out of sight for about 30 seconds. An assistant told dd that she was going to phone SS because she was on her own Hmm

Original poster
Twistedpantsagain · 04/08/2017 09:00

I wonder if this lady had indeed called the police as she indicated what they will do now, turn up at her house I presume if she took the vehicle registration!

OP posts:
Floggingmolly · 04/08/2017 09:28

How have you just discovered you made a "mistake" and it wasn't double yellow lines at all? I thought that was the whole point Hmm

Original poster
Twistedpantsagain · 04/08/2017 09:44

I wrote it wrong I meant there is double yellow lines outside the shop she then turns to a single. Not that it makes any difference as you're not allowed to stop there between 9-5 for either!

OP posts:
Lweji · 04/08/2017 10:05

You seem very invested regarding a neighbour of a friend. Wink

RainbowPastel · 04/08/2017 10:27

belmontian you can only park on double yellows with a blue badge if the holder of the badge is getting out of the car.

The woman shouldn't have parked there at all.

Original poster
Twistedpantsagain · 04/08/2017 10:35

Not interested, just concerned really. It wasn't nice seeing someone crying over something pretty minor!

OP posts:
Tofutti · 04/08/2017 10:39

FloggingMolly

You do get about with your bollocks spreading, don't you bollox?
Rein it in, fgs. Serial killers...

Pretty sure bollox was being sarcastic. In response to ChelleDawg. Why are you having a go at them?

Salmotrutta · 04/08/2017 10:40

Mumof56 - I think I'm right in saying plominoagain is a Police Officer?

So she probably knows the facts..

FoxtrotUniformCharlieKilo · 04/08/2017 10:41

Trust me, the police will not be in the slightest bit interest and certainly won't be going knocking on her door for parking on a single yellow line Confused

Parking restrictions are the responsibility of the council to enforce (though the police do on occasion if they have the resources) and if this woman had called the police she would have been advised as such. Also, unless she took a picture or video she has absolutely no proof so nothing will be done now after the fact anyway.

Mumof56 · 04/08/2017 10:56

@Salmotrutta

"Mumof56 - I think I'm right in saying plominoagain is a Police Officer?

So she probably knows the facts.."

Yes of course, the rules of the road must be wrong. Hmm

Salmotrutta · 04/08/2017 11:04

Mumof56 - a quick Google of the Highway Code shows that for single yellow lines (which the OP says it is) you can stop to let passengers board or alight
www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/road-markings

Original poster
Twistedpantsagain · 04/08/2017 12:53

She was out of sight though so I guess that's why the lady was so annoyed as it wasn't clear she was just dropping a kid home, although quite obvious I think she hadn't abandoned the kids!

OP posts:
Lweji · 04/08/2017 13:22

Maybe she cried because she actually knew it wasn't a good idea to leave the two children out of sight?

And if the child hadn't remembered her coat, it would have been longer.

abigcupoffuckyou · 04/08/2017 13:27

Why isn't a good idea to leave children out of sight? Do they combust if you take your eyes off them?

Floggingmolly · 04/08/2017 13:28

What a ridiculous comment, bigcup

Lweji · 04/08/2017 13:29

Do they combust if you take your eyes off them?

That is exactly why. Yes.

Original poster
Twistedpantsagain · 04/08/2017 13:38

Yes maybe although she would have been able to see them from the doorstep! It was the neighbour who wouldn't have been able to see her which is why I think she reactee like she did.
I guess if I returned home to find 3 kids in a car parked across my drive with no mum in MY sight I may have called the police or something too

OP posts:
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