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Discussion Boards => Off-Topic => Topic started by: MichelleHW101 on May 20, 2016, 03:24:47 am

Title: Lives on a public street w/strangers parking in front of their of their house?
Post by: MichelleHW101 on May 20, 2016, 03:24:47 am
I do!  I live Woodbridge, VA in an upside-down ‘T’ shaped enclosed neighborhood.  That means there is only one way in and that’s how you get out.  We are single family homes and had the opportunity to make it a private neighborhood and the only reason we did not was because we were told that if we did so then we and our family member could not park in front of our own home.  Some of us have a single driveway with at least two cars so we ruled that out.  My house is situated towards the end of the stem of the ‘T’.  A sidewalk encircles the neighborhood.  The problem comes in that there is a townhouse neighborhood literally on the other side of that sidewalk and they are only allowed two parking spots per townhouse but have more than two cars.  Someone over there ended up spreading the word that our neighborhood is a public street.  Now they park in front of our homes--and do it like it's a parking lot.  We'll have drivers sit across the street in front of another neighbor's house watching us, from their car waiting for us to go inside to move their car in front of our home.  We've even had to fight and argue with drivers from their neighborhood who claim they have more of a right to park in front OUR own home then we do!  I've even had one jerk tell me that it's one neighborhood and he does live on the street!  I and my neighbors are so sick of fighting for the right to park in front of our own home.     
Title: Re: Lives on a public street w/strangers parking in front of their of their house?
Post by: MichelleHW101 on May 20, 2016, 03:34:22 am
I understand its a public street I live on and I would have no problem having people park in front of my house IF they respected the fact they were parking in front of my home rather than treating it like a parking lot and 'claiming' that spot for themselves.  --Like one jerk.  He actually slammed into my garbage bin and trap it between his car and the curb just so that he could park is piece of crap in front of my house!  I called the police on his sorry butt and waited in the morning for him to approach his car.  I then blocked him so he couldn’t get into his car and told him to wait for the police.  He waited but after fifteen minutes he began to get impatient.  I exchanged not so pleasant words with him and hold him to wait.  I recalled the police who said to just have him give his name and phone number then leave.  A cop showed up when he was gone and my problem with the cop was he sided with the driver and everything that came out of his mouth gave off the vibe he himself does it, (i.e. parks in front of a stranger’s home with no respect for the home owner.) Even had the nerve to tell me to put my garbage bin on the sidewalk!  No garbage company, certainly not the one that I have anyway, will collect my garbage if it's on the sidewalk!  The cop even had no issues about people sitting in their cars watching you and waiting for you to go inside to pull up in front of your home!  I'm sorry, that to me is suspicious behavior and should be a 911 phone call.     

So calling the cops is a waste of time, especially when you get one that is an apartment owner not a house owner.  But I got satisfaction in the end because I was mean and nasty to the driver and purposely inconvenienced him making him late for work so he never parked by my house again. 
Title: Re: Lives on a public street w/strangers parking in front of their of their house?
Post by: MichelleHW101 on May 20, 2016, 03:44:29 am
It's a pain living on a public street because you do get strangers parking in front of your home.  They don't even have the decency to introduce themselves or ask if you need the spot since it is your home they are parking in front of (especially in my neighborhood when they don't even live in it they live in the townhouse neighbor a block away).  I got rid of one jerk but like bugs, now I have another that parks his van in front of my home and it’s directly in front of my mailbox not quite blocking my driveway.  He’s usually out of there before my mail-mail arrives so that’s not what bothers me.  And he doesn’t park there for the weekend because the ruling is three days not touched and the police can tow it away like an abandoned vehicle so come Sunday I can call the police.  No, what bothers me is because he’s using my mailbox as his private parking spot on Wednesday nights he puts his lousy hands all over my private trash bin that I put in a location that is convenient for both myself and my garbage man, and moves it just so that he could pull his piece of crap van front of my house.  It’s a street not a parking lot!  Your car don’t fit in the spot you move down the road.  Or better still, park where you live!  You certainly don’t put your filthy hands all over someone’s private property trash bin to move it to a location convenient for you so you park your piece of crap in front of a PRIVATE HOME to a family you don’t know on a street of which you don't live!   >:( :BangHead:
Title: Re: Lives on a public street w/strangers parking in front of their of their house?
Post by: debidoo on May 20, 2016, 07:01:23 am
I don't quite have that problem but that would be aggravating for sure.  My problem is different - I live in a rural area and even though there are places to turn around on each side of us we constantly have people pulling into our yard which freaks us out and I don't understand it.  Sometimes they spin out doing it Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.  Well hope you get your issue resolved.  If I ever get the money I am going to put a fence and gate up and hopefully that will solve my issue.
Title: Re: Lives on a public street w/strangers parking in front of their of their house?
Post by: aflyingmonkey on May 20, 2016, 12:45:43 pm
If a car is blocking your access to retrieve your mail, I would think you would have a right to call code enforcement.     The mail can get in, but you can't get it out because he is parking in front of your box.  Obstruction, I would think.

People kept pulling in my driveway to turn around, I put up a security motion sensor spot light that lights up.  It has noticeably become less.  The security light is solar powered, so no electrical wiring. :)
Title: Re: Lives on a public street w/strangers parking in front of their of their house?
Post by: bleyd on May 20, 2016, 01:39:02 pm
I dont have that problem.  I live in a condo and only have metered parking around my area. But I can see how that can be really annoying and frustrating.
Title: Re: Lives on a public street w/strangers parking in front of their of their house?
Post by: vickysue on May 20, 2016, 03:26:07 pm
It is so sad that people are such jerks about things, they care naught for anyone but them selves. I live on a public street, park our car and truck in the driveway. But so far we have never had anyone  just park  in front of our house and leave their car. Our neighbors had a death in the family and needed to park in front, but they were so polite and ask if they could. We told them they could as long as they left the mail box clear from 2-4 as that is when the mail runs after that they could park there also and to leave our drive  clear. Also told them they could park in front of our neighbors house as she was gone. Everything was good for three days. It is nice to have good  neighbors.
Title: Re: Lives on a public street w/strangers parking in front of their of their house?
Post by: dreamyxo on May 20, 2016, 11:18:13 pm
Have them towed.  My neighbors across the street used to park in front of my house and it drove me crazy because they had plenty of space in their drive way.  They have about six cars.  There were the parents cars and their two grown daughters' cars and the daughters boyfriends cars.  It was one bf in particular that did that.  We had words and they stopped doing it.  One daughter moved and I guess maybe they broke up with the bf so he doesn't come around thank goodness.
Title: Re: Lives on a public street w/strangers parking in front of their of their house?
Post by: moonangel on May 21, 2016, 07:17:39 am
i needed to go to work one day. opened my door to leave and saw that someone had parked his car blocking my driveway. i waited a few minutes.  then decided to call the cops. i was actually told they could not do anything about it that i would just have to wait it out!! wait. what if it had been an emergency?finally someone came walking down from a few blocks away got in their car and left. i tried talking to them but they was not hearing any of it.  well of course i was late for work and sufficiently docked plus points.
Title: Re: Lives on a public street w/strangers parking in front of their of their house?
Post by: countrygirl12 on May 21, 2016, 03:22:04 pm
It's a pain living on a public street because you do get strangers parking in front of your home.  They don't even have the decency to introduce themselves or ask if you need the spot since it is your home they are parking in front of (especially in my neighborhood when they don't even live in it they live in the townhouse neighbor a block away).  I got rid of one jerk but like bugs, now I have another that parks his van in front of my home and it’s directly in front of my mailbox not quite blocking my driveway.  He’s usually out of there before my mail-mail arrives so that’s not what bothers me.  And he doesn’t park there for the weekend because the ruling is three days not touched and the police can tow it away like an abandoned vehicle so come Sunday I can call the police.  No, what bothers me is because he’s using my mailbox as his private parking spot on Wednesday nights he puts his lousy hands all over my private trash bin that I put in a location that is convenient for both myself and my garbage man, and moves it just so that he could pull his piece of crap van front of my house.  It’s a street not a parking lot!  Your car don’t fit in the spot you move down the road.  Or better still, park where you live!  You certainly don’t put your filthy hands all over someone’s private property trash bin to move it to a location convenient for you so you park your piece of crap in front of a PRIVATE HOME to a family you don’t know on a street of which you don't live!   >:( :BangHead:

That seems odd.  Looks like the police would do something if he is just parking there and has no reason or business there.  I would not be comfortable with him parking right in front of my mail box.  And if he is moving your trash bins I would think that would be reason to call the police.
Title: Re: Lives on a public street w/strangers parking in front of their of their house?
Post by: crisstar on May 22, 2016, 12:50:10 am
I don't like it when people park in front of my home either. Where I live, there is nothing I can do about it. The only way to have a car towed on our street is if it's been parked in front of our house for days. ::)

The only thing I can suggest you probably do is put cones (those bright neon orange traffic cones) in front of your home to deter people from parking. It may or may not work.
Title: Re: Lives on a public street w/strangers parking in front of their of their house?
Post by: hawkeye3210 on May 22, 2016, 07:17:59 am
Have them towed.  My neighbors across the street used to park in front of my house and it drove me crazy because they had plenty of space in their drive way.  They have about six cars.  There were the parents cars and their two grown daughters' cars and the daughters boyfriends cars.  It was one bf in particular that did that.  We had words and they stopped doing it.  One daughter moved and I guess maybe they broke up with the bf so he doesn't come around thank goodness.

Towed for what? They are well within their legal rights to park on a public street.
Title: Re: Lives on a public street w/strangers parking in front of their of their house?
Post by: BlackSheepNY on May 22, 2016, 11:20:37 am
It seems to me the REAL problem is HOAs.  You were given the chance to make your neighborhood "private," yet you were told you wouldn't be able to park on your own street.  Sheer stupidity, and that's a rule an HOA would come up with.  It's usually like that when a neighborhood is fairly new.  Until hands change within the HOA over the course of years and they relax their rules, don't expect much else.  Streets are public thoroughfares and there aren't any cops that will ticket someone for parking in front of your house (unless they're blocking your driveway).  It sounds like you're stuck between a rock and a hard place for now.
Title: Re: Lives on a public street w/strangers parking in front of their of their house?
Post by: camellia0 on May 22, 2016, 01:55:46 pm
That is crazy. I went to Woodbridge to visit someone and they had to move their vehicle on the side of the road so that I can park there. I don't know how you guys deal with that. I couldn't live in that area, it's so congested.  Good luck.
Title: Re: Lives on a public street w/strangers parking in front of their of their house?
Post by: countrygirl12 on May 24, 2016, 04:37:10 pm
I don't like it when people park in front of my home either. Where I live, there is nothing I can do about it. The only way to have a car towed on our street is if it's been parked in front of our house for days. ::)

The only thing I can suggest you probably do is put cones (those bright neon orange traffic cones) in front of your home to deter people from parking. It may or may not work.


If it is in the street that would probably be against the law.  And if the idiot is moving the trash bins they would most likely move the cones as well.  : (
Title: Re: Lives on a public street w/strangers parking in front of their of their house?
Post by: plennis on May 25, 2016, 03:48:03 pm
We have been having a lot of those problems lately.  Are neighborhood streets is a dead end about 2 blocks long with 2 cul-de-sacs.  The houses are are older and very big, 5 - 6 bedrooms.  The house next to us has 6 bedrooms and they added a Mother-In-Law house in the back yard.  The parking had been for 2 cars n the drive way and 2 in the garage.  They build the garage in so now they are renting the garage, the mother in law house and all 6 bedrooms out.  With only 2 parking spaces.  so they park everywhere on the blocks.  Another problem we have with the parking is 5 churches on the block and a half at the start of our street.  So since they all have small parking lots, they think it is ok to park all over our street.  You cannot have people over on Sunday or Wednesday evening because the street is so full.  The street narrows at one point to the last cul-de-sac, these church parkers are so rude they park right to the corner so that we cannot get into our street.  Lately every Sunday they have been towing cars from that spot.  And in a few minutes after they are parked there again.  We are trying to get a special zoning for NO CHURCH PARKING.  Several other streets in our area have this, we just have to go through all the paperwork.
Title: Re: Lives on a public street w/strangers parking in front of their of their house?
Post by: minioncookies on May 26, 2016, 07:01:33 am
Hmm Since there in there car watching public street or not you could have police called out to investigate them because you dont know really if they are there for the other people or they might be there to watch see your habbits so they can rob you. Call police saying there's a strange car outside my house and if its been there for days on in say it. They will have to come out see why they are there and if they have no valid reason they will be asked to leave public street or not. Also petition the city to parking signs for residents only that way you never have that issue again.
Title: Re: Lives on a public street w/strangers parking in front of their of their house?
Post by: sgluckadoo on May 27, 2016, 09:58:48 am
It's a pain living on a public street because you do get strangers parking in front of your home.  They don't even have the decency to introduce themselves or ask if you need the spot since it is your home they are parking in front of (especially in my neighborhood when they don't even live in it they live in the townhouse neighbor a block away).  I got rid of one jerk but like bugs, now I have another that parks his van in front of my home and it’s directly in front of my mailbox not quite blocking my driveway.  He’s usually out of there before my mail-mail arrives so that’s not what bothers me.  And he doesn’t park there for the weekend because the ruling is three days not touched and the police can tow it away like an abandoned vehicle so come Sunday I can call the police.  No, what bothers me is because he’s using my mailbox as his private parking spot on Wednesday nights he puts his lousy hands all over my private trash bin that I put in a location that is convenient for both myself and my garbage man, and moves it just so that he could pull his piece of crap van front of my house.  It’s a street not a parking lot!  Your car don’t fit in the spot you move down the road.  Or better still, park where you live!  You certainly don’t put your filthy hands all over someone’s private property trash bin to move it to a location convenient for you so you park your piece of crap in front of a PRIVATE HOME to a family you don’t know on a street of which you don't live!   >:( :BangHead:

Rude and inconsiderate for sure. I guess in some areas where parking is a challenge and there is only street parking, you are more prone to things like this. I have people park in front of my house too, but I have a driveway I can park in and so does everyone else in the neighborhood, so it is usually someone visting my neighbor.
Title: Re: Lives on a public street w/strangers parking in front of their of their house?
Post by: MichelleHW101 on September 17, 2016, 03:55:30 am
I know I live on a public street but that is no excuse for the lousy neighboring townhouses to use it as their private parking lot!  The only reason we left it as a public street is so that we, the single family home owners who live in this neighborhood, can park in front of our own home.  The townhouse people have certainly NO RIGHT to put their hands on any private property to the home owner be it a trash bin or a bag full of yard waste and move it because they ‘declared’ the spot in front of your private home, blocking your private mailbox, as THEIR personal parking spot!  It really gets me fuming that these townhouse people have NO respect for the home owner!  They act like they’re parking on a public street in DC and we, the homeowners who actually live in the neighbor have no right to put anything (IN FRONT OF OUR OWN HOME) in their spot! 
Title: Re: Lives on a public street w/strangers parking in front of their of their house?
Post by: MichelleHW101 on September 17, 2016, 04:18:14 am
There is a difference between parking on a public street and parking in an enclosed single family home neighborhood.  At least to me anyway.  It gets me so mad the neighboring townhouse neighborhood parks not only in front of my mailbox, but now moves my trash be it yard waste or trash bins.  Whatever I put out to be collected by my trash company they move just so that they can park in front of my house.  I did call the police and unfortunately the cop who came lives in an apartment and basically said I have no right to obstruct a ‘parking space’ and told me to put my stuff on the side walk (which anyone who lives in a home knows you can’t) and my trash company told me they aren’t going to collect my trash if it’s on the sidewalk.  It must be in the street or near a curb in front of your house.  So the police are basically worthless because the law doesn’t side with the homeowner, and you as the homeowner have no right to defend what I consider as private property.  I mean I pay to have the trash collected and until it is, it is my responsibility, therefore my property.  I don’t want to get sued if 1) the person moving my trash gets hurt moving it 2) if someone from my actual neighborhood trips over it and gets hurt or 3) I back up with my car into all my trash then (worse case scenario) deflect into someone else’s car all because the townhouse neighborhood bought three cars knowing they are only allotted two parking spots!  It’s so frustrating because the law doesn’t defend the homeowner and it should!     
Title: Re: Lives on a public street w/strangers parking in front of their of their house?
Post by: MichelleHW101 on September 17, 2016, 04:19:21 am
My problem with the neighboring townhouse area parking in my neighbor is, 1, my street does not connect to them so they are actually trespassing to come into my neighborhood and 2, they don’t respect the homeowner they are parking in front of since they don’t ask permission to park there and move whatever the homeowner puts in front of their own home.  They just see it as a street they can park on NOT as another neighborhood.  We all started putting up fences and getting home security systems because of that.  Our front yards have been littered with trash, and my neighbor’s son’s car was even broken into.  It just gets me angry that the police can’t do anything and the law doesn’t protect us. 
Title: Re: Lives on a public street w/strangers parking in front of their of their house?
Post by: MichelleHW101 on September 17, 2016, 04:20:01 am
While I have a drive way and don’t really need the spot in front of my mailbox it gets me so angry when a townhouse person moves my trash like I had no right to put it in THEIR parking spot.  It’s my home.  My neighborhood.  My trash.  It is NOT their parking lot.             
Title: Re: Lives on a public street w/strangers parking in front of their of their house?
Post by: Twyztidninja2789 on September 17, 2016, 05:02:33 am
There is a difference between parking on a public street and parking in an enclosed single family home neighborhood.  At least to me anyway.  It gets me so mad the neighboring townhouse neighborhood parks not only in front of my mailbox, but now moves my trash be it yard waste or trash bins.  Whatever I put out to be collected by my trash company they move just so that they can park in front of my house.  I did call the police and unfortunately the cop who came lives in an apartment and basically said I have no right to obstruct a ‘parking space’ and told me to put my stuff on the side walk (which anyone who lives in a home knows you can’t) and my trash company told me they aren’t going to collect my trash if it’s on the sidewalk.  It must be in the street or near a curb in front of your house.  So the police are basically worthless because the law doesn’t side with the homeowner, and you as the homeowner have no right to defend what I consider as private property.  I mean I pay to have the trash collected and until it is, it is my responsibility, therefore my property.  I don’t want to get sued if 1) the person moving my trash gets hurt moving it 2) if someone from my actual neighborhood trips over it and gets hurt or 3) I back up with my car into all my trash then (worse case scenario) deflect into someone else’s car all because the townhouse neighborhood bought three cars knowing they are only allotted two parking spots!  It’s so frustrating because the law doesn’t defend the homeowner and it should!     
Title: Re: Lives on a public street w/strangers parking in front of their of their house?
Post by: nannycoe1 on September 17, 2016, 06:32:37 am
If it is a public street there should be marked parking areas.
Title: Re: Lives on a public street w/strangers parking in front of their of their house?
Post by: sak4kat on September 17, 2016, 08:46:55 am
We live on a corner where a bus stops to pick up pre-schooler's.  The first day an elderly couple parked there car in our yard waiting for there grandchildren.  The next day they were across the street.  I asked my husband how they knew we were displeased with them initially parking in our yard. And he said, "sometimes all it takes is a look." Guess he gave em' "the look" when I wasn't watching.