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

Pick on?? Ffs

I wish.

I don't agree with what the OP did, at all. She had her young baby with her, a parking space, and should have not carried on once she pointed out that it was a P&C space.

You know they likely did know it was a parent and child bay. You never know who is capable of what, I wouldn't go starting with people when you're with a child.

You had an altercation with two older people. You don't know if they're from a rough family and could have made a call and had their children/older grandchildren nearby who could have turned up. Speaking from experience, being with my ex-friend who confronted an older couple over something minor, then within a few minutes, there were 4 more people there, arguing and threatening her.

In the grand scheme of things, it was a non-issue.

That’s a million miles from obvious - I don’t even necessarily think that’s what he meant now you’ve said it

Honestly, all my sympathies are with you. The sheer bloody selfishness of some people makes me so angry sometimes, I feel I simply must do something to show them they can't just do whatever the fuck they want with impunity. I would have photographed his car license plate too. There's nothing illegal about photographing a car that's in violation of... whatever mother and child parking spots are. Traffic regulations? I'm lucky I'm not a man or I would have punched a few people by now.

That guy would have been pushing mothers and babies aside to grab a seat on a lifeboat on the Titanic.

Car seats weren't mandatory until 2006 but people have been using them for a long time before that.

FFS how did the human race evolve into not being able to go shopping without a Parent and Child space. Just let it go OP

If you weren't attempting to brush violence against women under the carpet, this would almost be funny.

Agree, my Dad is in his 70s and definitely can cross a carpark easier than my 2 year old and 4 year old. People aren't disabled automatically at 70 years old.

Quite a few on this thread lol

You seem pretty keen to brand OP a bully. If she did confront some brick shithouse I'd hope there were other people to back her up, but chances are they'd all stand there with their iphones, recording.

Fear of violence seems to be a reason why people are getting away with anti-social behaviour right up to criminality. All that is needed for evil to prevail is for good people to say nothing.

OP, people on this forum have a strange attitude to P&C spaces. Many focus on legalities and cite courtesy etc. If you take up a P&C when you don't have a young child, or severe disability etc. then you are special kind of arsehole, whether its legal or not.

So of all the P&C bay threads on MN, why is it that the OP never approaches a big man?

It’s always the elderly and women or younger people they pick on.

really? statistics about road rage , and violence against the opposite or same sex around cars?
maybe research them?

Or just have a look around schools at pick up and drop off times. It's not the dads who are losing the plot, it's the mums 😂

It's not a "lie" because it goes against your little opinion you know 😉

I have also seen men checking themselves up and apologising for swearing near a little child, women? never.

Oh well then.
Changed my mind... OP should have battered them with her pushchair for being out in public.

They sound like entitled twats. Also lol at them saying you can’t take a photo of their car 🤣

I saw someone do this and take the photo inside to the customer service desk in Waitrose before and they asked the customer to move the car

I work in retail.
FYI - parent & child car parking spots are NOT enforceable. They are a discretionary provision. They rely on the public doing the right thing. Most people do.
You pointed it out to them, that's all you can do.
Retail management would not have been able to compel them to move.

I think you should have just put your child in or out of the car whatever you were doing and minded your own business

Parent and child spots have no legal backing. they are just discretionary and on private property like at the supermarket it's not the same as a blue badge parking which is legally protected
A couple in their 70s would probably need a closer parking spot than you did

FFS! These P and C spaces are more trouble than they’re worth.
My solution ? Put them at the back of the car park and lazy buggers won’t be so tempted to use them. After all parents don’t need them near the supermarket entrance, they need the extra wide spaces to get kids out of car seats and buggies out of boots. So these spaces can be at the back.
Then make the spaces near the entrance the BB spaces, which makes more sense.
Anyone agree?

The statistics show that most violence is committed by men. If you don’t like that, take it up with the ONS.

And how typical that you think I have a ‘little opinion’. Your misogyny is showing.

Sorry OP, I am on your side but as someone in my 70s, car seats were mandatory when my children were small. We just didn’t have these huge travel systems.

Why? Genuinely interested.

I needed those when I was ferrying a small grandchild in a two door car. The wider space makes getting a small child out of a car more safely. I never felt the need to use them otherwise. I can’t imagine many who would use those or disabled bays unless they are in the categories they are there for.

YES!
I say this all the time!!!

Anyway, most 70 year old have kids and grandchildren, just not with them. No mention of age for kids on the parking bays.

I don't think this is anything to do with the spaces being close to the shop, it's about them being marked so you can get your car doors open to get in and out when you are no longer as flexible as you used to be.