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

OP, in case you missed it, this was a joke, please don’t actually do this 😂

Why not just get a grocery delivery?

Because we’ve moved on from women not being able to leave the house.

Maybe, just MAYBE it's different women on this thread.

We're not all one homogenous mass you know!

They could equally claim that you photographing their car caused alarm and distress. This taking pictures and recording is ridiculous, just stop, before your child is old enough to consider you an embarrassment.

I spent nearly a year trying to get a blue badge for my deaf, demented and not able to walk very far father. By the time it arrived he was housebound. P&C parking spaces were a godsend during that year

OK then I’ll put it another way. P&C spaces are a concession. There is no law stopping anyone else from parking in them. Better ?

And your opinion of someone questioning the use of a P&C space matters NOT A JOT either.

The fact that the supermarket management doesn’t enforce them doesn’t magically make them regular parking spaces. They’re provided for parents and children, and it’s really not that outrageous to point that out.

You really have a chip on your shoulder. Did your DH park in a P&C space today and got told off by the OP?

I was a disability outreach worker for many years and there were some wild variations in what did and did not qualify. I saw some local authorities back down and issue blue badges after being threatened with legal action because the refusals were clearly wrong in law. I think it’s been standardised a bit more now and the rules around PIP awards can make it straightforward, but I’ll happily admit I used to tell those involved to park in public P&C bays while they were awaiting decisions.

You can have your opinion, no one’s said you can’t, but you are actually expecting people to change their behaviours for you and to comply with your Spanish Inquisition.

Newsflash: they don’t have to!

Did your DH park in a P&C space today and got told off by the OP?

Lol, is that supposed to be a burn? I’ll tell DH he can claim his pension if you think he’s early 70s!

The reason they are there is for SAFETY you know so kids dont get flattened walking accross the entire car park !
You wouldnt park in a disabled bay would you so why park in a parent and child space ?

I think if OP is going to get this upset about it she should absolutely get delivery.

Parking in a neighbours spot, is a bit of a selfish thing to do. Parking in a parent and child bay with no child is also a selfish thing to do. Neither are illegal.. doesn’t make it right though.

Just as OP’s questioning of the use of P&C spaces matters not a jot. Supermarket management can’t and won’t interfere because the spaces are either public and they know anyone can park in them, or their supermarket has sod all to do with the car park because it’s run by a private concern.

And again it depends on the circumstances. I have a blue badges. I would have no problem with an elderly couple who were having difficulty using a spot - the law prevents it, but in principle it would be the right thing to do. OP had no idea why that couple were using the spot, she just launched into a lecture about P&C spaces.

To be honest both you and the old couple were unreasonable here. Yes they parked in a designated parent and child space which is a dick move if they really didn't need it but honestly even the supermarket staff don't care and won't dona thing about it. You pointed it out and they clearly weren't bothered(they probably know the supermarket staff can't or won't do anything about it) but you had your baby with you and still carried on haranguing them and took a photo of their car. What did you think you were going to do with their photo other than maybe post it all over your towns Facebook page to shame them?

Because if you’re elderly and you’re having difficulties that don’t qualify you for a blue badges a P&C space is a viable, legal alternative. Why aren’t the elderly couple entitled to the same level of safety given that they are at similar risk ?

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 think you need to wind that little bitty neck of yours right in and stop trying to pick fights with strangers and photo people going about their perfectly lawful business. Nobody is required to abide by Parent and Child car parking spaces - whether you like it or not, they are a courtesy only.

If you want to change that, then campaign for legal protection for P&C spaces. Stop sticking your oar in at car parks in the meantime.

So you’re a parking warden and medical expert?

even if that was the case, you didn’t know that when they first got out of their car and you confronted them!

They’re twats. There’s no age limit on entitlement, unfortunately

So what was the issue?

While a lot of 70 year olds can run and are superfit, it is a fact they are far more likely to have aches and pains than younger people, but might still not qualify for BB, so if they are in pain, I have some sympathy-they might think most young parents can manage to walk further than they can/they might also need to open the door wider than the average person (you don't realise a lot of this until you have an injury/disease). Not exactly sure how this could be policed, to allow people in pain (but no BB) to have spaces nearer, and not effectively allow all CFs, though.

they probably know the supermarket staff can't or won't do anything about it) but you had your baby with you and still carried on haranguing them and took a photo of their car. What did you think you were going to do with their photo other than maybe post it all over your towns Facebook page to shame them?

Yes this is a big red flag in all this, taking a picture of their car when they had walked away and hadn’t sworn or been aggressive to OP.

This really does suggest she has some spreadsheet somewhere or that she is a Facebook obsessive.

Confronting strangers in public is almost always a bad idea.

You encountered some people who don't care about others. There are millions of people like this and nothing the rest of us can do about it.