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?

The meaning of a purple parking space depends on the property, city, institution, parking authority, or local regulations governing that particular parking lot.

This is an important point because people sometimes assume that parking colors have a universal language.

They don’t.

A colored parking space can be used by a business, hospital, school, university, residential complex, government facility, or local authority for a specific purpose.

The color itself is only one clue.

The signs and markings around the space are usually much more important.

## The Sign Matters More Than the Color

If you ever encounter an unusual parking space, the first thing to do is look for a sign.

There may be a sign directly in front of the space.

There could be a notice at the entrance to the parking area.

There may also be words or symbols painted directly on the pavement.

These details can tell you who is permitted to park there.