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?

That’s why the safest approach is simple:

**Read the sign before parking.**

If you aren’t sure what the markings mean, don’t guess.

## Could Purple Spaces Be Reserved for Disabled Drivers?

This is where things can become particularly confusing.

Many people associate colored parking spaces with accessible parking because blue spaces are commonly used for that purpose.

However, not every accessible parking space is necessarily marked in exactly the same way in every location.

Accessible parking rules are governed by local and national requirements, and facilities may use different pavement markings, symbols, or additional colors as part of their parking design.

But this does **not** mean every purple parking space is an accessible space.

If you see a purple spot, look for the recognizable accessibility symbol and, most importantly, the posted sign.

Don’t assume that the color alone determines eligibility.

## Purple Spaces May Be Reserved for Special Permits