To have a word? (Parent and child parking).

[OptimisticIntrovert]

I've just pulled into a parent and child space (with my baby who is sleeping so waiting for him to wake up before i go into the supermarket).

A woman pulled into the space next to me- no kids in the car- and went in to the shop. She's not back yet.

AIBU to accost her when she comes back and tell her that it's not fair?

Most answers wins!

Supermarkets can have their own rules but they still have to obey the law which means they have to be careful about who they are fining.

If you think parking in the parent and child space is bad, today a bmw driver pulled into the motorbike space (very clearly marked) rather than parking a half dozen spaces away! The trolley person asked him to move his car and he ignored completely headed into the store - still parked 30 mins later when I can out so not a quick sandwich grab!

Supermarkets don't fine people; they don't have that power. They charge for a breach of the contract stipulated on the signs in the car park. If those signs state p & c spaces can only be used by adults with children up to, (insert age), the charge will be recoverable through the courts, (if you choose not to pay after their initial letter). You may be able to avoid them through various legal means but if the signage is there they are enforceable.

@ADastardlyThing I'll swap you!

I get told constantly I should be parked in mother and baby not disabled spots with DS.

Whilst I carry his oxygen tank he is clearly attached to

VeniVidiWeeWee oh my goodness you are being so petty! Very clearly we agree on this issue but you keep trying to pull my words apart to disagree with me! How strange! Have a lovely evening and festive season!

Also the supermarket can just come and insist you move. They don't have to fine you or anything that extreme. That would still count as enforcing the rule. Saying "it's unenforceable" just makes no sense to me.

I see no reason why you couldn’t have lifted your baby and gone shopping. Supermarket parking spots aren’t hotels.

I struggled out my car deliberately hitting his sports car with a door, with a toddler on each hip, lots of huffing and puffing. These my choice of words in the moment:
"So your child's in the boot is it?"
"You know there's parking 10 yards away for you, have you got bad legs? Oh clearly not as the disabled bays are free and you've chosen to park here"
"No I don't care about your adult children"
"DO NOT REVERSE MY CHILD IS BEHIND YOUR CAR AND I WILL BE LESS FRIENDLY IF YOU HIT HER"
"So do you park in disabled bays too? Yeah I guess you would"
"Sod off you inconsiderate prick."

Not very eloquent but it was very satisfying.

Invisible

My apologies. It's nothing personal but a number of people have said they are unenforceable.

Not everyone with mobility issues qualifies for a blue badge toomuch.

Venividi that’s not how the law works. The Parkingeye case dealt with contractual law and it hinged on the signage in the car park. If the signage doesn’t stipulate that p and c spaces are only for parents with children and doesn’t state the fee payable if you transgress, they cannot be enforced. Oh and they wouldn’t be fines but invoices. Private bodies cannot issue fines.

Toomuch the sports car guy was obviously an inconsiderate idiot.

However at least, unlike you, he hadn’t broken the law and committed criminal damage. I’d have taken pictures of you and your car and taken legal action if my car was damaged.

Bad legs doesn't mean you get the right to park in a disabled space.

I have bad legs. And bad back. And more.

I still am not legally entitled to park in a disabled space because I don't have a blue badge.

And I'd have reported the door banging mother (on app, can't look back)

Imiss

My earlier post specifically referred to signage and contract terms.

I also wrote that supermarkets cannot issue fines.

I agree OP sometimes I'm at the shops with 3 kids 2 and under and guaranteed most parent a child spaces are taken up with people with no kids. It makes my bloody boil and yes I know that because I have seen so many jump in a space in front of me or come put of the shops with no kids. Infuriating! People on here thpugh will try and tell you that everyone who does this has an invisible disability and they obviously need the space more than you.

Apologies Veni.

imiss

Thanks. No worries.

I was at the supermarket a few weeks ago and parked up in a P&C space with the two baby DCs.

A bloke in a flash jag convertible takes the P&C spot next to me. His children are teenagers.

So I quietly judge away, not saying anything though, obviously, as that would be rude 😆.

Then I see him getting out of his car, going to the boot and taking out two wheelchairs.

I have never been so glad I kept my stupid, judgemental mouth shut in my life.

Vendi in my defence I blame it on the egg nog. Iv decided to start Christmas now.

I haven’t read the whole thread, but wanted to add my tuppence worth 🤗
I was in a ‘normal’ parking space the other day, when somebody pulled in to the P&C space next to me. She had no child, just a dog. I gave the look up and down, looking for the required child and made sure I made eye contact with her. I then walked past her as she was getting out of the car, and again I gave the ‘searching for a child’ look, then raised my eyebrows. I walked in to the (pet) store and she dilly daddled, trying to be behind me. I waited at the door, pretending to struggle getting a basket, so I could look at her again. She huffed at me, then muttered to her dog about it being none of my business. So I chuckled, smiled and simply said “so, you know you are in the wrong then?!”. She then stropped off to the back of the shop, so I followed her for a while - with a big smile on my face.
In short, yes; I would have commented on her being ungracious. I no longer have children young enough to warrant a P&C space and wouldn’t use one because of that. Some people are just selfish (and lazy!) 🤗

Have you nothing better to Persephone, it’s really sad that you felt it necessary to stalk someone. Although iv never parked in a p and c space, I’d have probably just laughed at you.

I have a disability. No blue badge though and I haven't applied for one because i don't want to take up a space that someone might need more.
I never park in disabled bays but I do sometimes park in child and parent bays on the days my back hurts badly and I struggle to walk.
Sorry if you dont like it. I'm not going to stop and if you waited for me and told me off if I would just ignore you and carry on regardless.
You have a baby. Big whoop. That doesn't mean we all have to get out of your way.

You could laugh at me all you liked, Imissgmichael 🤣, we would be laughing together. I am a strong believer in common courtesy, something which is severely lacking in current times. I have plenty of other things to [do], but I also have a strong moral compass. Please don’t mistake my calling someone out, for being ‘sad’, it really isn’t. I just think a P&C space is best used by a parent with a young child - completely off the wall, I know 😂

I can't begin to tell you how very frustrating it is to see all 10 of the P&C spaces full at my local supermarket, to then realise at least half of them are occupied by children and an adult while the other adult shops alone. I see it all the time. If you are waiting in the car then you have no actual need of the P&C space. YABVU.