One in five Aussies think divisive this parking offense is 'acceptable'

A shocking 23 percent of Australians – more than one in five – think it's acceptable to 'reserve' a spot in a car park by standing in it, according to an exclusive Nine.com.au poll.

A further 10 percent of the 614 respondents said they're OK with the divisive act in certain situations, like if someone living with a disability needed the spot.

"If a person is disabled and needs a close park," one wrote.

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Another said: "When you have a disabled person with you but they don't have a disability parking tag or the one or two disability parks are full."

Emergency situations are also a valid reason to to 'reserve' a spot in a car park by standing in it, according to some respondents.

Another common response was that 'reserving' a spot was OK if you were transporting an elderly person or someone with mobility issues.

"If needing a car park close to path for elderly using a walker," said one.

Even then, most agreed that a person should only be allowed to 'reserve' a spot for a few minutes, and only if the car was close by and ready to park.

But a whopping 67 percent of Aussies disagreed, saying it was never an acceptable move – and they may have the law on their side.

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In NSW, it is an offence for a pedestrian to create a traffic hazard or obstruction on a road.

Per Rule 236 of the Road Rules, "A pedestrian must not cause a traffic hazard by moving into the path of a driver."

That means standing in a parking spot to prevent another car from taking it can be considered an offence and could get you slapped with a penalty notice and $81 fine.

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'Reserving' a spot by standing in it in the ACT could also attract a fine, and though there's no law against a pedestrian occupying a parking space in Victoria, local road rules state that people shouldn't "cause a traffic hazard or obstruction".

Exact rules vary from state to state, but the general consensus from Aussie road authorities seems to be that people shouldn't be standing in car spots.

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