Motorists have been warned they could be fined for ignoring strict age limit rules in supermarket car parks.
Drivers may not be aware of supermarket car park age limits (Image: Getty)
Experts have told drivers to follow little-known “age limit” rules in major supermarket car parks such as Aldi, Asda, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons. Motorists may be unaware that certain parking bays are restricted to certain age requirements with road users at risk of penalties if they break the rules.
Child/parent parking bays, otherwise known as mother and baby spaces, are one of these areas, with road users at risk of falling foul of the rules. Under some circumstances, motorists could be slapped with fines for refusing to move their vehicles. The threat of penalties could be a major blow for cash-strapped road users this September with many likely to be simply unaware of the rules around stopping in the spaces.
Parking in certain bays could land drivers with fines (Image: Getty)
Motoring experts at StartRescue said: “Rules among supermarkets vary when it comes to child/parent parking spaces. In general, to park in a child/parent parking space, you should be accompanied by a child aged 12 or less.
“If someone parks in a child/parent space but does not have a child with them, they will probably be asked to move their vehicle (via the supermarket’s public address system). It’s also possible a fine may be levied for those who refuse to move their vehicle.”
Experts at EMG Motor Group have stressed road users should always check with a store whether they are enforcing age rules on spaces before leaving their vehicle. They stressed road users could receive up to a £100 fine on their windscreen if they fail to check and stop in the spaces regardless.
EMG Motor Group said: “No, there is no law against parking in a parent and child parking space without a child under 12 with you, but you are risking a PCN (Parking Charge Notice), the same as if you incorrectly used a disabled parking bay.
“This is because the car parks are usually owned privately, for example, by supermarkets, and so they enforce rules allowed by their Accredited Trade Association (ATA) status.”
However, the RAC has previously explained there is still some confusion around who can and cannot stop in these bays.
They added: “It’s unclear whether pregnant women can use the spaces and probably best to ask an individual store manager what their rules are.”
