Yesterday in a parking lot, I witnessed a heated argument. A woman was yelling at a guy that he needed to move his car immediately because he was parked in a purple parking space. The guy said he knew what he was doing and had the right to park there, but the woman kept insisting. I had to leave because I was with my kids, but what was that about? Who are the people who can park in purple parking spaces?

Both may be speaking from personal experience.

And both may be right in their own locations.

That’s the problem.

A rule that applies in one city or parking facility might not apply somewhere else.

When parking rules matter, local signs and official regulations are much more reliable than comments from strangers online.

## What About Disabled Parking?

Because accessibility is one of the most important parking-related issues, it’s worth emphasizing one simple rule:

**Never assume a space is available simply because you don’t immediately understand its markings.**

If the space has an accessibility symbol or sign, follow the applicable requirements.

Accessible parking is not simply a convenient location for someone who wants to park closer to the entrance.

These spaces exist to ensure that people with qualifying disabilities can access public and private facilities.

Even when a space appears empty, that doesn’t mean it is available to everyone.