There is a very small parking lot in the bank where I sometimes have business to take care of. The lot is meant ONLY for bank customers. I went there and the lot was almost full, but there was a spot available and I was about to pull into the driveway to go there, when another car got there first. OK. They got there first. BUT… the woman preceeded to go to a store next DOOR to the bank, with her kids. She was not going into the bank. I ended up paying for a parking space, finsished my banking, and went into that same store next door to shop. The woman was still there with her children. I had been in the bank for around twenty minutes or so.
I finished my shopping quickly, and the woman coincidentally did as well. We both went out the store and she went to her car and drove off. She never went into the bank for any reason, so there is no kaf zechus here for her parking in a spot meant for bank customers. And yes, it was a frum woman, someone I recognized from the neighborhood. I should have said something to her, but her kids were there, and I didn’t want to get into an argument on the street.
People may think it is harmless to park for “just a short while” in an illegal space, but it is really stealing from the person who a) is not able to legitimately use it, and b) the owner of the space who designated it for HIS business puprposes. it is this same mentality that allows someone to thoughtlessly block someone’s driveway, “just a little,” thereby preventing them from easily parking without going up on the sidewalk or having difficulty angling in.