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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

A (disabled) parking one!

83 replies

Brigger · 17/01/2025 23:09

I parked outside a terraced house on a side street where the sign below is in the window. I did not see this at the time. No disabled bay marked.

Parking is very tricky in the area, I am currently caring for my sick mum who has just come out of hospital and she lives on a busy main road that also has limited parking. I try to park on the main road whenever possible, generally on the block before where there is often space, but not today.

AIBU to report to the Council the fact that someone (assume disabled parking notice house) is using a sign without permission and saw fit to scrawl an abusive message about parking on my drivers side window with a tippex-like substance this morning?!

YABU - Don't report. Why did you park there? Park three streets away and walk you lazy mare.
YANBU - No restrictions marked on the road? Game on. Report them for inappropriate signage and vandalism!

A (disabled) parking one!
OP posts:
mumofoneAlonebutokay · 17/01/2025 23:11

What was the message? Was it written on your actual window or on a piece of paper?

Original poster
Brigger · 17/01/2025 23:13

mumofoneAlonebutokay · 17/01/2025 23:11

What was the message? Was it written on your actual window or on a piece of paper?

Actually on my window. Won't give the message but it referred to parking and called me a scumbag.

OP posts:
Mikiamo · 17/01/2025 23:14

Disabled people have enough to contend with as it is. Let them park in front of their own house and get a grip.

Mikiamo · 17/01/2025 23:15

Also, how do you know it's not a council approved sign? My LA gave me something very similar because they couldn't put a bay outside my last house. I was told to display it in my window.

Original poster
Brigger · 17/01/2025 23:17

Mikiamo · 17/01/2025 23:15

Also, how do you know it's not a council approved sign? My LA gave me something very similar because they couldn't put a bay outside my last house. I was told to display it in my window.

You can seemingly buy them for less than a fiver off Amazon, and it's clearly not issued by the local Council.

OP posts:
iwillfollowyou · 17/01/2025 23:17

I'd say it's fine to put up the sign it's asking as a courtesy. I would report the vandalism to the police.

RoastDinnerSmellsNice · 17/01/2025 23:18

They don't need permission to put the sign up OP, but as it's a public road, without signage, they can't stop you parking there. I think they've probably put the sign there, in the hope that people who live locally, and know this person to be disabled, are less likely to park there. However, as there is no signage on the street, anyone can park there.

Original poster
Brigger · 17/01/2025 23:19

Mikiamo · 17/01/2025 23:14

Disabled people have enough to contend with as it is. Let them park in front of their own house and get a grip.

Fair do's, but does that give them the right to vandalise my car?

OP posts:
JessiesJ99 · 17/01/2025 23:22

It sounds like a free for all, so whoever gets there first can park there. Have they damaged your car? If they have, or they leave an abusive message again I would contact police/ local PCSO. Might shut them up!!

MartinCrieffsLemon · 17/01/2025 23:25

Can't vote as YANBU to be angry about the abusive message, that's uncalled for but YABU to complain about the sign which is just asking for courtesy

thesaskedminger · 17/01/2025 23:27

I would phone the police if someone had used tippex (type stuff) on my car, not the council.

Mikiamo · 17/01/2025 23:28

It doesn't give them the right to vandalise anything, but perhaps they are at the end of their tether in pain and someone not extending courtesy to someone vulnerable and struggling was the final straw.

JaneBoleynViscountessRochford · 17/01/2025 23:33

I would report them, like you say anyone can buy these signs, they are not official, around here people can get a disabled parking bay marked outside of their house by the council. I would not adhere to any sign like that (and my Mum has a blue badge I know how annoying it can be when people park in disabled bays).

I would go to the police about the vandalism, being disabled, or being frustrated with what you view as Inconsiderate parking, does not give you the right to vandalise other people’s property.

Justcallmebebes · 17/01/2025 23:34

Surely, if they're disabled, the Council would allocate them a designated parking spot outside their house. We have a few in my area. You can't just put a sign up yourself. Surely, anyone could buy a sign and put it in their window whether they are disabled or not.

The vandalism of your car should be reported to the police as they had no right to stop you parking on a public road

Original poster
Brigger · 17/01/2025 23:36

A quick shufty on Google maps shows a different sign in 2022! At that time they just wanted No Parking and warned of 24hr CCTV in operation...on a public street with no parking restrictions.

OP posts:
Saz12 · 17/01/2025 23:45

I totally understand why you're angry. And you care in the right...

BUT, when you've experienced trying to get around with someone who is disabled you realise how unaware & inconsiderate & just plain stupid some road users, council planning departments, transport providers, businesses etc actually are. Try to cross when dropped kerbs aren't opposite each other and people park across them, when pavements are too narrow with lampposts in stupid places and dog shit. Honestly, until you've done it it's difficult to appreciate how awful reduced-mobility access in the UK is. I'm guessing it's equally crap for other disabilities, too.
I'd probably roll my eyes and leave it. Even though really you're in the right.

Ellmau · 17/01/2025 23:47

It sounds like criminal damage which I would report to the police.

Davros · 17/01/2025 23:48

Justcallmebebes · 17/01/2025 23:34

Surely, if they're disabled, the Council would allocate them a designated parking spot outside their house. We have a few in my area. You can't just put a sign up yourself. Surely, anyone could buy a sign and put it in their window whether they are disabled or not.

The vandalism of your car should be reported to the police as they had no right to stop you parking on a public road

This makes sense. If they genuinely need a designated space the council would provide one

Livelovebehappy · 17/01/2025 23:53

I would report to the police, but not expect much to be done. Sounds like the vandalism was the work of the person guarding their parking space, but it’s all circumstantial. Without a confession or proof, the police won’t be able to take any action I’m afraid.

Fraaances · 18/01/2025 00:11

Report to police and council. They are misrepresenting themselves. If they are genuinely disabled they would have disability parking reserved.

MartinCrieffsLemon · 18/01/2025 00:41

Brigger · 17/01/2025 23:36

A quick shufty on Google maps shows a different sign in 2022! At that time they just wanted No Parking and warned of 24hr CCTV in operation...on a public street with no parking restrictions.

You have to advice of CCTV recordings

And it's entirely possible in 2 years they have now required a disabled space

7ft1garysson · 18/01/2025 00:54

Did you see the sign before you parked? If I had I probably would have parked somewhere else but I don’t think they have rights to that parking space.

going by the fact they have vandalised your car and used the language they have, I’d guess they are just trying it on and definitely needs reporting

Vaxtable · 18/01/2025 00:57

Mikiamo · 17/01/2025 23:14

Disabled people have enough to contend with as it is. Let them park in front of their own house and get a grip.

So? And I say that with three disabled family members, all of which use wheelchairs

The sign, even if it’s been given by the council and not from Amazon doesn’t mean they can’t park there. It’s only if a bay has been painted on the road and even then any disabled user can use it

The sign is discretionary, therefore anyone can park on the road, if the person concerned was that concerned they would ask the council to paint a proper bay, and there is certainly no need for vandalism of someone’s car

DalzielOrNoDalzielAndDontPascoe · 18/01/2025 00:58

The problem is that, if they're genuinely disabled, I have sympathy for their difficulties in parking - although absolutely not for their criminal damage; however, if anybody can buy one of these online for a fiver, there's no way of actually knowing if they are disabled or not.

They could be lying outright or maybe are classified as disabled (as am I) but certainly not to a point where they would need designated close-by parking, although they would - as most of us - very much like it.

Think about blue badges: if they had them on am unmanned counter at the council office, saying "Please take one, but only if you really need it" - do you really think that they wouldn't be gone in an hour, taken mainly by able-bodied (or only minorly disabled) people? This is effectively the same thing.

That's not to say that they don't genuinely need it at all - but it does sound a very inefficient system, and easily missable, if it is genuinely issued by the council: not even on a pole or anything painted outside - and exactly the kind of thing that any selfish, self-righteous CF would grasp with both hands.

AlpacaMittens · 18/01/2025 01:04

Mikiamo · 17/01/2025 23:15

Also, how do you know it's not a council approved sign? My LA gave me something very similar because they couldn't put a bay outside my last house. I was told to display it in my window.

This is so very weird. How are drivers meant to see it in the dark? Are you sure your council didn't also paint a sign on the ground? The thing on the window, on its own, doesn't make any sense.