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

Well if you do it in private car park presumably you’ll be happy to pay the PCN.

It isn’t the distance from the door that’s the problem. It’s walking the child through a busy car park and with young children they are below the height where they’re easily seen by drivers.

What if you do need it, but don’t have a child?

And yet generations of children survived that

Loads of us have done that
and know full well that it is absolutely no big deal, not even slightly, not even teeny weeny tiny bit!

Which is where we come full circle again. If it’s a public car park or on street parking the P&C spaces are a concession. If you need to, you can park in them without a child in the car and you can’t be fined. In a private car park or those run by private concessions on behalf of supermarkets, shopping centres etc, they have their own rules and you may get a PCN if you park without a child in the car.

Cant see it happening often
so you’re a solicitor with clients who you have represented who’ve got tickets for this?

Generations of women survived giving birth in mud huts, that’s not a reason to get rid of maternity care.

Why don’t you want better environments for women and children? Why rage against improvements for vulnerable people?

I live on the edge

I can only speak from my own experience which is being a wheelchair user. Once in the chair I’m about the height of a young child and I can confidently say it absolutely is a problem on occasion. Can’t be arsed arguing with you any more, it’s turning into a derail, so enjoy the rest of your day.

I’ve already told you I’m not a solicitor and I’ve detailed my professional experience throughout my posts. Keep up.

Yes they did. But is that a reason not to have better conditions. It was pointed out several times upthread that cars are bigger, higher and more powerful these days so why take risks if a simple concession can improve safety.

Sorry? Is not a how is a 10 year old crossing a supermarket car park vulnerable ?

Sorry, how is a 10 year old crossing car park vulnerable? As opposed to someone with a disability or injury?

Oh can’t be assed
just wanted you to say xyz
but not being a solicitor - that’s all I need to know really

Wheelchair user? So you have a blue badge?

I would leave a car park before I parked in a disabled bay. I never ever would

Why are we making children’s safety compete with adults with disabilities?

This isn’t correct. Even in a private car park if there are no blue badge spaces, a blue badge holder can reasonably park in a P&C space as long as they are displaying the badge, and the clock if necessary.

In the event of a ticket it can be challenged on the grounds that in the event of no BB spaces being available, the Equality Act 2010 confers a duty on the car park provider to provide accommodation on the grounds of disability. Parking in a P&C space can be considered reasonable adjustment for that purpose, and the enforcement of the ticket could be viewed as indirect discrimination.

I’ve argued this very successfully a few times over the years - most providers are accommodating because the optics of pursuing a parking charge under these circumstances tend to be negative.

Parking over the line is dodgy. IME many car park attendants either don’t look for a BB or don’t care if there is one, and in the event the car is ticketed, it’s on the disabled person themselves to demonstrate that the reason they parked over the line was directly due to disability. So for example if there are no wider spaces available, and you park over the line because you need extra space to open the door fully to be able to get out of the car, or to access a wheelchair or other mobility device, that would be directly due to disability so I’d expect the ticket to be cancelled. What you can’t do is cause an obstruction by parking in this way, and where you don’t use a mobility aid it can be surprisingly difficult to demonstrate why you need the extra space - it has to be a need, not a preference.

Disability outreach worker. Specialist areas. Fifteen years of working with the Equality Act 2010 every day. Doesn’t matter if I’m a solicitor or not, as long as I’m accurate in how the law is applied. Why are you making this personal ?

Usually it's not owned/ ran by supermarket

Because you said “my clients” hence me asking. Seemed reasonable enough question 🤷‍♀️

As a wheelchair user I can well understand how young children are vulnerable in crossing a car park. When I’m in the chair, I’m about the same height and much of the time it’s below the line of vision of drivers.

Do you have kids @Rosscameasdoody ?

It was. But you queried it again twice after I had already told you I wasn’t a solicitor.

Not young children no. My DD has kids, so I’m a grand mum.