| Author |
Message |
    
mim
Citizen
Username: Mim
Post Number: 557
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, February 6, 2006 - 9:09 am: | 
|
Why would someone park their car at the foot of our driveway, totally blocking us in, when there were blocks of empty curb in all directions? Just out to lunch? Maybe I'm just paranoid, but it nags at me that there may be some nefarious explanation. (Yes, we did try to find the car's owners, visiting a neighbor perhaps? But it was late, and we didn't want to go knocking on doors of dark houses.) Major inconvenience to our guest, who needed a lift back to the train station. |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 6707
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, February 6, 2006 - 9:18 am: |
|
We've had that happen. On our block, it has been shear laziness; parking spaces were taken up near the house with the party & our driveway was the next best thing. If there were plenty of open spaces, then you were dealing with a driver who can't see (perhaps Maplewoody's Blind Carpet Bitch).
When this happens, we call MPD. They have no problems knocking on doors, towing or giving tickets. |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 12328
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Monday, February 6, 2006 - 10:41 am: |
|
If you have to knock on the neighbors' doors late at night, the responsibility is who committed the malparkage*, not you.
* That's a word coined on The Simpsons.
|
Just The Aunt
Supporter
Username: Auntof13
Post Number: 3884
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 2:21 am: |
|
Did you find out whose car it was? |
Ligeti
Citizen
Username: Ligeti
Post Number: 580
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 6:46 am: |
|
An interesting NJ phenomenon: neighbors who park their cars directly in front of your house instead of theirs.
I've never seen this anywhere else. |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 12346
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 7:29 am: |
|
Ligeti, as long as they don't block me in, it's fine with me. In fact, it gives me a warm communal feeling when we park in front of each other's homes. There's no problem on my block, because we have more parking than we need.
|
Dobler88
Citizen
Username: Dobler88
Post Number: 87
Registered: 7-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 8:37 am: |
|
so strange...I feel guilty when I have more than 2 people over and the next person has to park in front of my neighbor's house--I would never think of doing that if there were space in front of my own house!
Another annoying phenomenon--every delivery person thinks my neighbor's driveway is mine. I feel so bad everytime someone pulls into their driveway! |
Meandtheboys
Citizen
Username: Meandtheboys
Post Number: 2915
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 8:40 am: |
|
Funny, I didn't know I owned the street in front of my house! Silly me. I thought it was a free world and we could all park where we like, as long as it was legal.
Ligeti, maybe you could install a meter or two and make some money off those pesky people parking on the public street in front of your house?
 |
Oldstone
Citizen
Username: Rogers4317
Post Number: 530
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 9:05 am: |
|
i agree with ligeti. if you have a clear street in front of your house, why would you park in front of someone else's house? a friend of mine has a next door neighbor with a shi*tbox for a car that persists in parking in front of her house instead of parking their crapper in front of their own house. i think it's pretty inconsiderate. |
mim
Citizen
Username: Mim
Post Number: 558
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 9:09 am: |
|
We never discovered whose car it was. I was pretty peeved to be blocked in, so I called the police to wreak my vengeance, thinking they would just ticket. Silly me, they also towed the car. Strange, I almost feel the need to APOLOGIZE for that, as if it were somehow my fault for needing to get out of my driveway! (There is never a shortage of on-street parking on our street, so it was completely unnecessary to park blocking our driveway.) |
Smarty Jones
Citizen
Username: Birdstone
Post Number: 328
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 9:10 am: |
|
Blocking any driveway is not only a parking violation, it's clearly and obviously a totally ignorant thing for anyone to do. Personally, I'd have called the township/tow truck right away. Nothing speeds up the movement of an illegally parked car than the blinking yellow lights and beeping of a tow truck rumbling down the street.
And I wouldn't feel one hair of guilt about it, in anyway whatsoever. Nor would I have any problem smiling to my neighbors the next day or delivering their paper for them, or carrying on in the same friendly manner we always do. |
mim
Citizen
Username: Mim
Post Number: 559
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 9:48 am: |
|
Thank you, Smarty. Intellectually I know you are right, but being a considerate person, I feel that I inconvenienced someone rather dreadfully -- tho of course they really brought it on themselves. |
las
Citizen
Username: Las
Post Number: 921
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 10:03 am: |
|
Mim, it's been a couple of days; has anyone even rung your bell to ask if you saw what happened to the car they parked in front of your driveway? |
Just The Aunt
Supporter
Username: Auntof13
Post Number: 3885
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 10:16 am: |
|
Leg and others-
I don't think the problem was someone parked in front of the house. What I thought mim was saying is the person parked across the end of the driveway. Meaning the only way to get out of the driveway would be to drive over or through the car blocking the driveway.
Mim have any cars be stolen from your area lately? Could be someone dumped that car there.
|
mim
Citizen
Username: Mim
Post Number: 560
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 10:25 am: |
|
las, no one has inquired about a missing car! so, JTA, that was actually our first thought -- that perhaps it was an abandoned stolen car -- tho I don't know why a thief would do it that way as opposed to parking legally? (If it WAS stolen, no damage was done in the process. The car was PRISTINE.)
And yes, the car totally blocked our driveway; it wasn't merely in front of our house. Someone else brought that up as a pet peeve. |
Jersey Boy
Citizen
Username: Jersey_boy
Post Number: 124
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 10:44 am: |
|
That car DESERVED to be towed. You should not feel anything but satisfaction. |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 12347
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 10:48 am: |
|
Oldstone, I disagree. Feeling inconvenienced by an ugly car is analogous to feeling inconvenienced by having an ugly person walk by. As sheandtheboys pointed out, you have no right to say what goes on in the street in front of your house, as it's beyond your property line.
|
Ligeti
Citizen
Username: Ligeti
Post Number: 581
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 11:17 am: |
|
It just seems a little self-absorbed to park your car in front of someone else's house so you can have an unobstructed view of nature. Why else would you go out of your way to park in a space other than the empty space directly in front of your own house? Weird NJ. People in other states would never dream of doing this.
And, on the general theme of self-absorption, I get really steamed when someone plops a repulsive, black, menacing predatory SUV in front of the house. |
tom
Citizen
Username: Tom
Post Number: 4322
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 11:21 am: |
|
A few winters ago I accidentally blocked someone's driveway right after a snowstorm. Between the tow, and the ticket, it cost a god-awful fortune.
If you're really blocked in and need to get out, by all means call the police. But don't do it if you don't have to, maybe just leave a note "I saved you $500 by not having you towed, don't do it again!" |
mim
Citizen
Username: Mim
Post Number: 561
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 12:20 pm: |
|
Okay, thanks to Tom, now I'm feeling guilty again! (We did actually need to get out, and it just seemed so darned fishy, with miles of empty space in all directions, to have parked JUST THERE.) |
Oldstone
Citizen
Username: Rogers4317
Post Number: 531
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 12:32 pm: |
|
reingold, you're not comparing apples to apples. an ugly person walking by is moving. they will be out of my line of vision momentarily. the inconsiderate neighbor that PARKS his sh*tbox in front of my house instead of in front of his perfectly clear house is selfishly infringing on my view while maintaining his. it's called common courtesy. if people think twice about where and how they are parking so as to be agreeable to the neighborhood, why can't the person that doesn't think twice change ways?
it seems silly, but it is still inconsiderate. |
Oldstone
Citizen
Username: Rogers4317
Post Number: 532
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 12:34 pm: |
|
and you're right, i don't have a say about what goes on in the street in front of my house...but being a good and considerate neighbor is a two way street. do unto others... |
CLK
Supporter
Username: Clkelley
Post Number: 1876
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 12:39 pm: |
|
mim, why are you feeling guilty? Do you think the person who parked there gave a second thought about inconveniencing you (obviously, they did not)? What that person did is simply plain-old-fashioned self-absorbed oblivious pig ignorance, period the end. Very different for tom who did it in a snowstorm - very different. I don't recall any major snowfalls in the past few days ....
As to parking in front of neighbor's houses: The only time I've done that is when the front of MY house was so crowded with other cars that I had nowhere else to park. Not often, maybe two or three times. However, at least once this happened and then the other cars cleared out soon afterwards, but I just didn't get up and go move my car right away. (didn't notice right away, anyway.) Maybe the neighbors where I parked thought it was odd of me to park there, but there really was an explanation.
Of course if people do this repeatedly in front of your house, that explanation wouldn't work ...
And what's really, REALLY made me crazy is when the car-parking happens late at night for a teenager-party at the neighbor's house. Then the kids go to their cars to smooch & smoke (something - couldn't smell what) and laugh and tell jokes and blast the radio, all of which makes a lot of noise. I have a very small front yard and it sounds like there's a party going on in my house. This bugs the crap out of me, and yes I've called the cops. (bad grumpy grownup neighbor, what can I say.) |
Jersey Boy
Citizen
Username: Jersey_boy
Post Number: 132
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 1:11 pm: |
|
Could the parking across the street from your own house be to avoid turning the car around when you pull up?
I'm feeling responsible for this "New Jersey" behavior. I don't do it, but why do "my people?" |
Meandtheboys
Citizen
Username: Meandtheboys
Post Number: 2919
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 1:15 pm: |
|
J.B. I'm a J.G. and I don't do any of the things Jersey drivers are accused of doing. Besides, how does Ligeti know they're from Jersey? Does he poll every person who parks their car in front of his house?
They could be originally from Timbucktoo for all we know! |
Jersey Boy
Citizen
Username: Jersey_boy
Post Number: 133
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 1:18 pm: |
|
Don't get me started about those Timbucktoo drivers... |
Carrie Avery
Citizen
Username: Carrie33
Post Number: 1319
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 1:25 pm: |
|
It certainly is inconvienant for you and insensitve of them. I might have done one of three things:
Took the license plate down and found out whose car it was and did the next logical step of notifiying the authority.
Or I might have left a note on the windshield with the statement: "Thanks for your inconsiderate behaviour, but next time you will have the luxory of reading this note where your car was towed."
Or, being the nice person I can be, I might have believe it was a one time thing and let it go for the time being.
It is rude, but perhaps there were circumstances unbeknown to you that caused this self absorbed action?
One time, when my husband was much younger,he decided it was in his right to block him as well, but I would not suggest it. |
blackcat
Citizen
Username: Blackcat
Post Number: 484
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 1:30 pm: |
|
Years ago and in another town, I came back to my house to see my mother's car at the end of the block-sticking into the street. I thought, why would she have left it in such a weird place. she forgot to put it in park and didn't put the emergency brake on.. It rolled down the street and just happened to end up there. Is your street on an incline? I really think it was a stolen car that they had their fun with and wanted it to be found. |
Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 10562
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 1:59 pm: |
|
When we first moved to Maplewood I parked in front of a neighbors house because someone was parked in front of ours. A few minutes later I heard a knock, knock and the neighbor was there to deliver a speech on suburban mores and manners.
We have also, maybe three or four times over 18 years, had people park directly across our driveway, usually when someone was having a party on the block and parking was tight. I could never understand this. |
Ligeti
Citizen
Username: Ligeti
Post Number: 582
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 2:26 pm: |
|
NJ license plate = NJ driver
NJ driver = from NJ
He--LLOOOOH!?!?
|
Meandtheboys
Citizen
Username: Meandtheboys
Post Number: 2922
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 2:33 pm: |
|
Your logic is seriously flawed Ligeti! By those terms you too are NJ driver, right?
Suppose they spent all their lives in, say, Oklahoma. Then, just last month, at the ripe old age of, say, 37, they moved to NJ and got a new car with (obviously) NJ plates. In reality, they are a displaced Oklahoma driver, no?
Or are you just being obtuse on purpose.
 |
mim
Citizen
Username: Mim
Post Number: 562
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 2:41 pm: |
|
No incline so it didn't roll there.
No snow, and no shortage of parking elsewhere, so it wasn't done in the context of an emergency.
(I tend to go with the stolen car theory too.) |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 12358
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 2:54 pm: |
|
My house is on the south (eastbound) side of the street. If I am approaching my house from the east and I know I will be driving away soon, I stay on the street and park in front of my across-the-street neighbor. This way, I don't have to turn my car around. I do this to them a lot less than they do it to me.
If you feel this is rude, I respect your opinion, but I'm enjoying this mutual and unspoken agreement. Remember, fights break out more out of scarcity than out of principal. You don't see people scrappling over salt or ketchup at the restaurant, either.
|
Ligeti
Citizen
Username: Ligeti
Post Number: 583
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 3:57 pm: |
|
Tom, the scenario you describe is different. And actually, it doesn't really bother me. Unless I see them sitting in lawnchairs in the front yard, sipping lemonade.
OR they put a hideous SUV in front of my house. I don't want to look at one of those things while I'm sitting in my parlor listening to Mozart.
It's just, well, WEIRD. It's actually EASIER to park in front of your own house than someone else's, isn't it?
|
Oldstone
Citizen
Username: Rogers4317
Post Number: 533
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 4:00 pm: |
|
apparently not if you think turning your car around to go in the direction you want is an inconvenience. i have a driveway. i have never parked in the street. why on earth would i? |
CLK
Supporter
Username: Clkelley
Post Number: 1878
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 4:07 pm: |
|
I park on the street sometimes because the garage is currently not usable. We park on the driveway.
However, we always park the cars so that hubby's car goes on the inside, mine on the outside (as I leave early in the morning). But I usually get home before he does, so he has asked me to park on the street. He then parks his car, and moves mine into the driveway.
There have been other occasions, such as contractor truck being in the driveway or expected soon. |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 12363
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 4:15 pm: |
|
My across-the-street neighbors have a narrow driveway and FIVE cars, all actively used. They have to do a lot of shuffling and on-street parking.
As I say, I don't mind at all, since we have ample parking.
I suppose an ugly vehicle might bother me, but no, I do not think it's my neighbor's job to know what I consider ugly and what I consider pretty. Imagine what trying to converge on taste would involve! Threatening? How can a parked car seem threatening? Sure, I have socio-political views on this stuff, but not while it's parked, for goodness' sake. SUV's don't consume gas while parked.
|
emmie
Supporter
Username: Emmie
Post Number: 684
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 4:35 pm: |
|
The last time a car was blocking my driveway it turned out to be a stolen car someone dumped. Needless to say the police towed it. |
Carrie Avery
Citizen
Username: Carrie33
Post Number: 1320
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 5:34 pm: |
|
Tom said: "You don't see people scrappling over salt or ketchup at the restaurant, either"
Now wouldn't that be a hoot, lol.
(perhaps if we are talking about kids, it goes without saying)
Sometimes the driveway can only maintain one car, hence why other vehicles have to remain on the street. Isn't there a law that cars have to face the right direction when parked?
And just the sight of an SUV makes me quiver, I actually can't get the vision of a gas sucking module out of my mind when I see one, parked or not. lol |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 12372
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 5:39 pm: |
|
Most towns in NJ, including South Orange and Maplewood, forbid parking between 2am and 6am or thereabouts, so we can't leave cars on the street at night. And yes, we have to park in the direction of traffic flow. I notice in other areas of the country, that's not enforced, but it is here.
|
ess
Citizen
Username: Ess
Post Number: 1031
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 5:40 pm: |
|
I think if a car is parked right in front of your driveway, whether or not you HAVE to get out at that very moment, you are within your rights to report it. Driveways should be free and clear at all times. You aren't allowed to park in front of driveways on public streets -- in the city etc. -- so why should it be allowed elsewhere?
Mim, I would have done the same thing, no guilt. If someone parked there intentionally, then it was their problem for parking where they shouldn't. If it was a dumped, stolen car, then you did someone a favor for reporting it. |
Carrie Avery
Citizen
Username: Carrie33
Post Number: 1322
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 5:46 pm: |
|
Is the parking on the street law betweeen 2am and 6am only in winter?
What happens if you have more than one vehicle and not enough room on your driveway?
|
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 12373
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 5:55 pm: |
|
It's all year long, to combat loitering and mischief. If you have more cars than space, you have to increase your space or reduce your cars. No cars on the street.
|
Carrie Avery
Citizen
Username: Carrie33
Post Number: 1323
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 6:04 pm: |
|
Thanks, Tom.
It always amazes me when I see people in this city double parked, and when someone wants to get out they have to sit in their car and hold down the horn until someone comes a moves the car. Everyone on the street knows everyones business. The city is So big yet So small. |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 6715
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 9:47 pm: |
|
It hasn't happened recently, but I've called MPD every time we get parked in. Screw it- why the hell should I "be nice" and spend the time knocking on doors, waiting around to see if they move the car, etc.?
I can't begin to count the number of times that I've parked elsewhere in a residential neighborhood, gotten out, looked and realized that I was blocking a driveway. It takes all of 30 seconds to get in the car and move it 20 feet. Especially around here, with the ample street parking.
A few years ago, someone parked across my next door neighbor's driveway. This person was going to a party two doors down. It was summertime, so nothing was blocked. I went out and told the woman that she was blocking a driveway. She told me to mind my business. I said "It is my business; you are a guest in this neighborhood".
I just can't figure out what goes thru people's heads sometimes.
As for using someone's "street spot", I don't get it. We happen to have a very long stretch between drives next to our house. It is a favorite spot of landscapers with their huge vehicles and trailers. When they sit with their engines idling or start the mowers under my bedroom window, I go off. Otherwise, I don't really care. It is, after all, a public street. |
Eponymous
Citizen
Username: Eponymous
Post Number: 73
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 10:59 pm: |
|
People in other states would never dream of doing this.
As Bob K points out, this might be better described as a suburban phenomenon. People in most cities would, I daresay, never look a gift spot in the mouth. I certainly park across the street when I'm going in that direction or pulling one car out of the driveway to use the other. Residents surely tend to park in their own driveways or in front of their own houses, for convenience if nothing else, but why should visitors? The street's the street: public land, as Tom says. |
Ligeti
Citizen
Username: Ligeti
Post Number: 584
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 8, 2006 - 7:01 am: |
|
Let me be clear: I only think it's weird when every other space on the street is vacant, including the one in front of your own house.
|
Duncan
Supporter
Username: Duncanrogers
Post Number: 5687
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 8, 2006 - 10:01 am: |
|
Happens to me all the time. Parents block my driveway to walk their kids to Clinton rather than park a few yards down the street and walk a little further. I have taken to writing down license plates. When I see it twice, I call MPD asap. Sometimes there is a patrol car near the school at drop off and I go tell him. He sticks a ticket on the car, and I sit on my front steps. |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 6719
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 8, 2006 - 10:25 am: |
|
Good for you, Duncan. It's very nice that you help these parents teach their children that there are consequences for selfish actions.
Don't they even think of the example they are setting? |
Duncan
Supporter
Username: Duncanrogers
Post Number: 5693
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 8, 2006 - 11:33 am: |
|
nope |
Dobler88
Citizen
Username: Dobler88
Post Number: 88
Registered: 7-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 8, 2006 - 12:03 pm: |
|
I still think it is weird to park in front of your next door neighbor's house if the spots in front of your house are free. Notice I said next door, which means parking on the other side of the street for easy egress is acceptable.  |
Ligeti
Citizen
Username: Ligeti
Post Number: 585
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 8, 2006 - 2:31 pm: |
|
It is especially weird in that you must actually go out of your way to park in front of other peoples' houses.
The fastest, most convenient thing to do is -- HELLO? -- park in front of your own house.
No?
Putting a menacing black SUV with a carnivorous-looking grill in front of my house also marks me as having predatory instincts. Or worse -- having masculine insecurity issues. |
John Caffrey
Citizen
Username: Jerseyjack
Post Number: 44
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, February 11, 2006 - 9:19 pm: |
|
I have owned several s*^tboxes in my lifetime. Now you guys have hurt my feelings. I may not post on M.O.L. for a week. |
Purplebug
Citizen
Username: Purplebug
Post Number: 31
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, February 12, 2006 - 9:17 pm: |
|
I agree with Ligetti. I always found it weird that people have a garage and a large drive way, but will still park in front of someone else's house, when there is ample room in front of their own. In addition, I find it weird when a person is visiting somebody, but will park in front of someone else's house, AGAIN, when the house they are visiting has ample room.
And as far as I have no domain over the public street in front of my house. One night I was trying to relax and these two cars decided to have a conversation in the middle of the street, in front of my house. One was facing north the other south. Neither of these people lived on this street, they just decided to stop and have a convo. This convo included loud yelling, laughing and cursing at 10PM at night. I walked out there and told them where to go and how fast to get there. Their response 'WTF?!?! Can't we have a conversation?!?!' NO!!! You can't have a f***** conversation in front of my house yelling and cursing at 10PM at night, when you don't live here, nor are you visiting anybody here!!!! They saw the crazy look in my eyes and decided to move along. |
Closed: New threads not accepted on this page