What the blue lines in parking lots mean in the Phoenix, Arizona area

The blue lines in parking lots indicate employee parking. There's more to it than that, but if that's all you wanna know, I can't blame you, and the rest of this post is just for people who want to know the rest of the story, and why it's potentially confusing, especially here in Arizona.

I live in Glendale, which is a suburb of Phoenix, Arizona, and I spend most of my time there, and in the suburb right next to me, Peoria. And since traffic laws vary by state, I can really only speak for the three where I've lived: Minnesota (where I learned to drive), Arizona (where I live now), and California (where I lived for about ten years). I've always found it strange that traffic laws are, to this day, state laws, because I'm not old enough to have driven back when it must have made sense, in the early 20th Century. Of course, jurisdiction is something that is always held onto very tightly!

If you've ever driven in California, you know that there's a color code to tell you where you can, and can't park. Here ya go: Remember this is California law, and these are for curbs: 

Red: No stopping, standing, or parking. Red zones are usually for emergency vehicles only, as well as fire hydrants. You cannot park in front or, or block, a fire hydrant. Buses may stop at a red curb if it’s marked OK for buses to stop there.

Blue: Blue curbs are where parking is allowed only for a disabled person with a disabled placard or plates, or someone who is driving a disabled person. If it’s a public city street, the disabled driver can park there for an unlimited amount of time. The area next to a disabled parking space that is painted with blue diagonal stripes also is not to be occupied by any vehicle. That space is set aside for van ramps for the disabled.

Green: Anyone can park at a green curb for a limited time. There is usually a sign posted there stating the time allowed. Or it might be painted on the green curb.

White: Drivers can stop at a white curb long enough to pick up or drop off passengers or mail, but you can’t park there long-term.

Yellow: Motorists can stop at a yellow curb for the length of the time posted only to load or unload passengers or freight. Drivers of non-commercial vehicles are expected to stay with their vehicle at a yellow curb.

Like I say, these laws vary by state (which I think is ridiculous) so Arizona doesn't do the same color code. In fact, the handicapped spots look like this:

There's usually a sign but mostly they're marked with a blue and white stencil of a person in a wheelchair. Of course, if the stencil is obscured, or the sign, then it just looks like a California yellow zone (see above).

Thank you for being patient with me, because the whole point of this post was just to tell you why some of the stripes in the parking lot by the Jack in the Box where I stop for coffee are blue, it's only to indicate where the employees should park (well away from the Fry's grocery store). Only the employees are told this, and customers can park wherever they want (usually closer to the entrance). But I'm inclined to think that because of the color confusion, most people wouldn't dream of parking anywhere that has unusually painted stripes.

I hope this helps.