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

proof - all they need to show is that it’s more likely than not that there has been a breach. So it comes down to what the attendant saw and logge

so unless the attendant can say that he hung around until they returned - he can’t say more likely than not

There won’t be any photos for someone parking in a parent and child space unless the warden waits around for them to return to ensure they weren’t collecting a child

That doesn’t hold up because the parent could have been dropping off a child, and not collecting them. A photo of an empty car is not definitive evidence that there is no child present. I’ve actually challenged this on behalf of a couple of clients and each time was unsuccessful because what the car park attendant logs carries most weight when it comes to the balance of probabilities.

In Meadowhall, you have to take your child with you to customer services to check in to the parent and child space. It’s not difficult to manage.

No. The attendant logs what they see at the time and whether there has been a breach is decided on the balance of probabilities. These are not criminal cases, it’s a civil breach resulting in a parking charge, not a fine. There are also cameras placed in these car parks, so supporting evidence may or may not be available.

Yep. This. The private car parks could police things much better if they really wanted to.

Most places, and most women apparently, don’t place any importance on (usually) women with babies being able to safely access public spaces.
It’s a real shame.

I don’t believe you I’m afraid but hey… no skin off either of our noses

Are you saying people have gone to solicitors to fight a pcn?

Because many of us did have babies and know that it really is no big deal at all having to park, oh I don’t know, 15 meters further away from the front door that a P&C space.

The distance to the shop doesn’t matter. The distance between the cars does.

This thread is about supermarkets. I think the person I was speaking to is capable of making her own decisions about my advice. She is saying she parks in p&c spaces, which at my supermarket would incur a charge if she was reported (which I know people do as it has happened to my parents as I said upthread). I said if the BB spaces are full, she could park on or near the line or even potentially over the line and display her BB (rather than parking miles away to try and avoid anyone parking next to her when people seem to park next to her anyway if she does this). I wouldn’t expect anyone to report her for this, considering how often I see people parked over the line for no reason at all, let alone for wheelchair access. I wasn’t talking to you, and I think it’s insulting to assume another adult will follow a stranger’s advice without thinking for themselves and making their own decisions.

Again…. It’s not that big a deal. I had two under two. Don’t remember getting twisted in to a pretzel if there was a space available and so parked a bit away 🤷‍♀️

Well, that easy to solve.

You don’t have to park in them. In fact, if you choose not to, that makes things even easier.

Parents who do feel the need can park in them.

Maybe you could write the the supermarkets and ask for a special little badge for being so cool and capable 😊

It's 2026. The social contract is gone. Who the hell cares anymore

sorry? Basically when i had young ones, if there was a p&c… great. If not, 🤷‍♀️ I really didn’t give a fig. And don’t ever recall getting in a twist about it.

I accept your apology

There’s loads and loads and loads of us who don’t really give a fig about it @Thedevilhasfinallycaughtupwithhim . The majority I would say. In RL at least. Not on Mumsnet. And it would appear not in your world, which is a shame really.

Sure that’s how I roll!

Well, all those loads and loads and loads of you can chose to NOT use the spaces and let parents of young children who do “give a fig” use them in peace.
Just because you don’t value something doesn’t mean others shouldn’t be able to.

No chance 😆 I’ll park where I like thanks. And of the only space is a P&C, then that’s where I’ll park. Thankfully it’s very rare in fact I can’t recall last time or indeed of ever. But I would.

But I would leave a supermarket car park if only option was disabled

Lots of people just do what they want and don’t give “a fig” about anyone else.

You’re not that special

Never said I was.

The only special people to me are my family friends and, most importantly, my children. Perfectly happy to park in a P&C if the ONLY space available. Perfectly happy to. Soz!

Your advice was really misleading. Your post was general about car parks and implied it's fine to take up two spaces, and it isn't, it will get you PCN in most car parks.

So I don't care who you were talking to, it's a chat forum, and people are allowed to correct you if you give misleading advice.

Nope. I’m not a solicitor, I was an outreach worker. These were people on my caseload. I’ve challenged car parking charges on a few occasions but in private car parks P&C spaces are policed. I found that if the motorist couldn’t provide robust evidence that they were either collecting or dropping off a child, then the attendant’s log was given most weight. That’s all I’m saying.

You both sound as batshit as each other.