Altercation in carpark

[Icecreamsundaz]

I was in a supermarket carpark, I had put my baby in her carseat and had just loaded my groceries in the boot. A car parked in the parent and child space next to me and an older couple got out, early 70s I would guess, able bodied, no kids with them
I said "sorry do you realise thats s parent and child space" and I pointed to the markings.
Well his response was very rude in tone "I came here to do my shopping, not to dance around" ?? "It should be first come first served " and they stormed off. I was a bit taken aback, I said loudly but they were a bit away at this point so not sure if they heard me "god id hate to be so ignorant". I took a picture of their car. Not really sure what I was going to do with it, thinking I would think about it and perhaps report to management. I got into my car
The next he was at my window "you took a photo, its illeageal to take photos of other people's property, delete it." I ensured my doors were locked, he stood behind my car so I couldn't reverse out, she was at my windscreen taking photos of me. Eventually they moved and I got out.
Maybe I shouldn't have said anything but there were loads of other places they could have parked but the parent and child spaces are limited. Its very frustrating when I've all my kids and can't find a free parent and child space because people like this who dont need them take them and they don't give a shit

You’ve missed a fair bit. It says it in law. P&C spaces are not legally enforceable - they are a concession. Disabled people are entitled to reasonable adjustment - disability is a protected characteristic. So they are perfectly entitled to park in a P&C space if no blue badge space is available, or if their disability does not meet the threshold for a blue badge. In actual fact there is nothing stopping anyone from parking in a P&C space - once again, not legally enforceable because being a parent is not a protected characteristic under the law.

Navigating small children further across a car park wouldn’t exactly be safe.

I don't begrudge parents their parking spaces but I do get pissed off when people assume no children = life of leisure.

Try having parents with dementia and see how much free time you get 😟

You harassed them first 😂, seriously, get a grip.

why not?

If they need a wider space they are fully entitled to apply for a blue badge. My disable mother has one and so do all the disabled clients I work for. It's not difficult to get a blue badge if you are fully entitled to one and if you aren't then you don't need a wider space. Simple.

Maybe cars have got wider.

But we all know that parent and child parking spaces are not JUST used by parents and those with disabilities. There are people who take the piss.

I get it OP I really do, it’s selfish behaviour and incredibly frustrating but it really isn’t worth saying anything and causing yourself stress.

Like someone up thread said if they’ve made it to their 70s with 0 chill I doubt they’re going to learn it now!

I just side eye these people and call them dick heads in my head. If someone else confronted them I’d be very happy to see it but I’m not getting into it with them!

Reminded me once I was waiting for a car parking space in a car park indicating waiting for cars to go past when a car coming the other way drive right in it! I did say to her I was waiting for that space and she said ‘you go find another one.’ That one raised my blood pressure and took a week to get over 🤣

Can't believe some of the replies here, of course they were ridiculous to park there and should be ashamed to be caught instead of arguing about it!

Blimey that's a lot of blowback OP!

These selfish people boil my piss too. Trouble is, the people that do that are likely to be shitheads in so many other areas of their lives there's hardly any point in tackling them. They may be seventy-year-old shits but they're still shits! Well done for calling them out though.

People with children do not rule the world. Have you considered that the poor lady was not very mobile and needed more space to get out of the car, but not eligible for a blue badge? Children and their parents are more flexible and mobile.

It depends. Our local supermarket has a long line of P&C spaces right next to the pavement over which the store entrance is accessed. There is no need for a child to navigate the car park as they can step straight out of the car onto the pavement. The ones at the far end are largely always empty, while the ones nearer the entrance are full.

Why ? For the millionth time they weren’t doing anything wrong.

Depends on what you call taking the piss. There is absolutely nothing in law that says parking in a P&C space if you don’t have kids is illegal.

To summarise this thread.. lots of people feeling called out about parking in a parent and child space who are capable of using a normal space !

For goodness sake, is it illegal to park in a neighbours designated spot?

There’s no NEED for many things that simply exist just to make life a bit easier.

Disabled parking is a NECESSITY, not something chucked in as a customer perk.

I genuinely can’t believe you need this explained once, let alone over and over.

Sorry what ? Ex disability outreach worker here. With most local authorities it’s very difficult to get a blue badge unless you’re significantly disabled or qualify via a PIP award. And it’s massively more difficult for an elderly person to qualify for a blue badge because eligibility is decided on disability - not age related difficulties. It doesn’t mean that there are no age related difficulties, just that they are not catered for. And just because you don’t cater for the need, doesn’t mean it’s not there. It’s anything but simple.

And your last sentence is interesting. You asserted that if you’re not entitled to a blue badge then you don’t need a wider space. So why would you need one because you’re a parent ?

We’re not talking about parking in a neighbours’ designated spot. And if it’s marked out as a disabled space specifically for their use then yes it is.

Early 70s even if they seemed
perfectly mobile they maybe where not and had health issues but not enough for a disabled badge I’m guessing. I don’t think I would have ever challenged an elderly couple parking in such a space when I used them when my kids were young A young couple yes but not an elderly couple. Your parents will be that age one day and would you want someone complaining to them because they did but couldn’t get a blue badge so was the next nearest easier way for them?

Nope. Lots of people feeling that an elderly couple parking in a P&C space isn’t a problem and that OP is the unreasonable one since she already had a space. She had no idea why they may have needed it, and they weren’t breaking any laws. The moral of the story is wind your neck in and mind your own business.

OP

Meadowhall has a good system for this. You have to take your baby into customer services and register your car if you’ve parked in a parent bay.
If you don’t do this and just park in them, you get a fine.

My youngest is 5 now so I don’t need them anymore. But I’m so glad somewhere is finally doing something about this problem.

There’s absolutely nothing in law that says sitting in priority seating on public transport if you’re fit and able-bodied is illegal. Priority seating on public transport operates on social etiquette/consideration for others, similar to parent and child spaces. Would you say someone sitting in priority seating on public transport just because they can legally, despite not needing to, is taking the piss?

It really isn’t that simple. There are lots of people who have struggles with mobility that don’t meet the threshold for a blue badge.