I've seen photos of these purple parking spaces floating around online for a while now, and I finally decided to figure out what they actually meant, just in case I ever come across one in Illinois.

Parking can already be stressful enough!  Between circling the lot a thousand times and dodging pedestrians, the last thing you want is confusion about where you can and can't park.  We all know the marked spots for individuals with disabilities, expectant mothers, and electric vehicles.  But a PURPLE parking spot?  That one had me curious.

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See a Purple Parking Space in Illinois? Here’s What It Means

Turns out, purple parking spots are incredibly meaningful.  They're reserved to honor combat-injured veterans, brave men and woman who've received a Purple Heart for being wounded in service to our country.  The color purple is a direct reference to the medal itself, which recognizes those who have sacrificed so much.

While there isn't a "nationwide" law about these spots just yet, many states have started to adopt the idea in local parking lots, government buildings, and even shopping centers.  Technically, there's nothing stopping anyone from parking there, but the respectful thing to do is leave them open for veterans they're meant to honor.  In some areas, parking without proper designation can even result in fines.

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Next time you're pulling into a parking stall and see a purple parking spot, now you know exactly what it stands for!  It's not just another color, it's to recognize the veterans who've fought for our country.  The more you know!