Parking Fine Madness

[ModernMadnessEra]

Park in a parent & child space
Left children in car (under 12)
Enter shop to do shopping
Received parking fine

Absolute, ridiculous fine
I am outraged !

Do you agree ?

Secondly, evidently there is also a new rule that children have to be under 12

When children are classed as children under 18

www.express.co.uk/life-style/cars/1972395/supermarket-parking-age-limit-parent-child-fines

You left your children in the car whilst you went shopping?

You left your CHILD in the car while you went shopping?
Really?

I don’t know about the legalities of the fine, but why did you need to park in a parent and child space if your children were staying in the car?

I do agree with the under 12 rule, there’s no need for the parking spaces with older children, they should be for younger children who need the extra space for car seats and prams. Disabilities aside of course, although hopefully they would be able to park in a disabled space if needed.

Those spaces are supposed to give more room to get children out of the car. If they weren't getting out then why did you park there?

Regardless of the “legalities”, using a child and parent space when (a) your child isn’t getting out of the car, and (b) your child is 12 and perfectly able (I assume) to get in and out of a car in a normal parking space and walk to the shop, is piss take isn’t it?

Where the signs explaining the rules clearly displayed.

The morality of the situation vs the legality may be different.

I don't see an issue with you leaving the kids in the car if they are old enough to do so, however if they aren't getting out of the car why would you need a parent and child space? The spaces are for people who need extra room getting their children safely out of the car. I expect that's why you were fined as you weren't using the space as intended

It's in line with the rules for disabled parking, I think. You can only park in those if the disabled person is getting out of the car too. So YABU

I too don't know why you parked there if you weren't getting your kids out and depending on their ages you probably shouldn't have left them

Why would you need a parent and child parking space if the child isn't getting out of the car?

None of the reasons why parents need these spaces apply if the child isn't leaving the car. You don't need to be closer or nearer a safer pavement route to the shop. You don't need extra space to open the doors wider or to avoid your child hitting the car next to them.

I wish more people were fined for abusing parent and child spaces, I see dickheads doing it almost every time we go to a shop.

Completely agree. Parent and child are for extra room to get child out. There has to be a limit. Think it’s mental when I see parents park there with teenagers.

Really boils my piss when I see people park in parent and child spaces then get out and leave the kid(s) in the car. Selfish, lazy twattery that deserves the fine you got.

Not to mention a potential safeguarding issue depending on kids' age.

Secondly, evidently there is also a new rule that children have to be under 12
When children are classed as children under 18

Nobody's this daft, surely. Can you imagine how the average teenager would feel having to get out of a car in a P&C space because their parent's stupid. My teens would be utterly humiliated and would explain to me why we shouldn't be parking there.

Well, when I take my DM shopping we park there, because she is my parent and I am her child. So what if I am in my 50's?

( BTW we dont )

The OP has linked to a newspaper article where the driver got parking charges for using a P&C space and left her kids in the car. I dont think it was the OP that was involved

hahah So true!

seriously though a car nabbed the last parent and child last week in Aldi and 2 teens got out must of been 15-18.

Theres me with my 1 year old who couldn’t get the last space.

https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/cars/1086696/parking-parent-child-car-park-fine-mother-UK

£260 fine - bit steep

YABVVU

If the children were in the car then they didn't need the space.

"Mother fined £260 for parking where she shouldn't on multiple occasions and ignoring fines when they arrive" isn't as snappy a headline.

It was two fines for two occasions plus a debt recovery charge.

That article is pretty clear:

"Whilst it can seem ambiguous as to who can park there, we’re here to clear things up: you can park in a parent and child parking space if you’re entering the shop with a child that is under 12 years old.
"If you’re going into the shop on your own and leaving a child with another adult in the car, you must use an ordinary parking space."

Common sense: If the child isn't exiting the car then no need to be in the P&C spaces.

I feel like parent and child car parking spaces would be misused a lot less if they weren't directly outside the shop.

IMO they should put them at the back of the car park but gave parents enough space to actually get kids/buggies safely out of the car - then walk on safe paths to the door.

If you need to be close due to mobility etc, then you should be entitled to use a disabled bay.

At our Local Sainsburys they are in a seperate area with a safe walkway to the store but further away than the majority of spaces, funnily enough they don't generally get misused and are actually often empty

This. The same as parking in a disabled space and leaving your disabled passenger in the car.