Most businesses especially in mall areas have several car lengths marked off with (usually multiple diagonal yellow lines through the entire "spot"). Yellow lines in a parking "spot" means NO Parking, even if it is not marked with signs. The rationale is in the case of fire or emergency, police, an ambulance or fire truck can pull in close to the building if they need to do so. This is not a local ordinance but more likely a state law, and, is universal across all states. It is also a "do not stand" parking restriction, even if you put your flashers on or are only gone "for a minute".
Here is one example that might bring it to a more personal level... You take your grandmother shopping. You park in a spot right up front, but it's marked with yellow lines. Of course, you take your keys with you and lock the doors on your car. An hour later, at the back of the store, far from any exit, your grandmother gets sweaty and collapses. She has had a heart attack. You call EMS on your cellphone and the store calls as well. An ambulance arrives in two minutes, but has to block the driving lane because you and others parked in the emergency-authorized spaces. They can't get the stretcher between the car bumpers, so the guys must walk to the end of the building to access the sidewalk and store. Inside, they are directed to the back of the store, carrying med boxes and pushing the stretcher. Tormented with fear and anguish, you beg them to save your grandmother. They start their rescue efforts. But she's now been "down" and not breathing for over 5 minutes; it is unlikely they can restart her heart. In an emergency, every second counts.
Fortunately, no one had an emergency that day. Unfortunately, you'll have to pay the ticket.
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