| Author |
Message |
    
DrFalomar
Citizen
Username: Drfalomar
Post Number: 156
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, February 28, 2004 - 11:23 pm: |     |
I was in Bill & Harry's one night. A woman makes an illegal left into a slot and doesn't come close to actually making the necessary angle, thereby blocking in a car. She comes into B&H as I'm leaving and asks me if she had blocked me in (which means that she might have to move her car). I said no and she was so relieved. I should have said yes just to get her to move her car. |
Tom Reingold
Citizen
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 2249
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, February 28, 2004 - 11:35 pm: | |
I don't agree T did anything unadvisable, though she was a bit gutsy.
If the scratch is the length of the car, the repair job could cost $1,000 or more to paint the car properly, far more than her likely deductible.
MAYBE a six month pregnant woman should get special consideration for a convenient parking spot, but the idea that it would entitle her to make illegal turns is pretty laughable.
Tom Reingold the prissy-pants
There is nothing
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Cynicalgirl
Citizen
Username: Cynicalgirl
Post Number: 443
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, February 29, 2004 - 7:35 am: | |
Early in my time in Maplewood, I made an illegal left to park. Some fellow pointed this out to me, and I was both rueful and grateful. I should've realized, given the solid yellow line, but I didn't. I've never done it since.
Maybe there does need to be more enforcement, consciousness raising on this point. I know that I had seen others do it, along with other bad parking behaviors (the old "I'm just running in for a minute so I'll double park, park in front of the newsstand" stuff). My family teases me about my over-law-abiding-ness in the face of others doing bad behavior. |
cody
Citizen
Username: Cody
Post Number: 486
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, February 29, 2004 - 8:16 am: | |
I've had people who were driving the wrong way UP Dunnel (from Baker to the train station) and through the parking lot adjacent to the Post Office yell at me when I've called out that in both instances the drivers were going the wrong way on oneway routes.
Whatever happened to the concept of "common good"?
Or accepting the fact that you can't have something you want just because you want it?
I think it's time for people to grow up and stop acting like large toddlers in a tantrum!
The insurance rates will probably go up for T if she files a claim in this instance on the assumption that the location where she parked had something to do with the damage incurred.
I fail to see why S should get a pass on this one just because she is pregnant. Getting a pizza is not the same as contractions being 2 minutes apart and shouldn't give her carte blanche to stick her car wherever she wants!
My sympathies to T. |
algebra2
Citizen
Username: Algebra2
Post Number: 1667
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, February 29, 2004 - 8:17 am: | |
At six months preganant she needs a more convenient spot? Good grief. |
ffof
Citizen
Username: Ffof
Post Number: 1998
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, February 29, 2004 - 9:24 am: | |
The spot S found was up by the bank with the Current Temp/Clock sign. Based on the timing of the whole escapade, presumably she took a right into that lot thereby going the wrong way on a oneway. |
sportsnut
Citizen
Username: Sportsnut
Post Number: 954
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, February 29, 2004 - 11:17 am: | |
Anon is right. T should suffer absolutely nothing as a result of S's actions. T's insurance company should subrogate the claim and force S's insurance to pay. Keying someone's car is about one of the most cowardly acts one can commit. I would pursue this and compel S to pay for the damage and I would harass her until she did pay, pregnant or not. |
Tom Reingold
Citizen
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 2250
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, February 29, 2004 - 1:29 pm: | |
Actually, that's why I said MAYBE. I meant to ask you and then posted my message hastily, so, let me ask now. When you're six months pregnant, that doesn't really make walking around that hard, does it? I have never been pregnant. Anyway, it would be OK for a woman to ask me if she could take my spot because she's handicapped, but presuming so would tick me off big time.
I think we have reached consensus on how right and wrong the people were. I agree with sportsnut. S deserves no slack whatsoever.
Tom Reingold the prissy-pants
There is nothing
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anon
Citizen
Username: Anon
Post Number: 1009
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, February 29, 2004 - 2:02 pm: | |
When sportsnut, Tom R. and I all agree, it's a slam-dunk! |
ffof
Citizen
Username: Ffof
Post Number: 2001
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, February 29, 2004 - 2:14 pm: | |
Well, thanks everyone for all the input. I will make sure that T reads this thread and I will report back as to what happens next. |
gemini
Citizen
Username: Gemini
Post Number: 288
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, February 29, 2004 - 2:34 pm: | |
Tom, I agree with you and most of the crowd; pregnancy is not an excuse to be an *&^%hole. FYI, the only advantage of parking close is if you have heavy bags to carry. 6 months isn't that bad, really, but you do have to be careful. I commuted into the city until like 8 months, and it does get very uncomfortable. It's probably her first, where the world is supposed to stop b/c you're pregnant...Every woman is different. |
anon
Citizen
Username: Anon
Post Number: 1012
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, February 29, 2004 - 2:36 pm: | |
FOLKS: I just came across this post from officerfriendly on the thread "Just when I thought I'd seen it all" which was a response to a post about a driving incident. It explains the procedure for a citizen to file a complaint far better than I did.
"If you were able to get the plate and a good description of the driver, you could go to Maplewood Police HQ and sign a summons against the owner of the vehicle. At court time, when the owner of the vehicle shows, you would have to ID the driver. If the owner was not the driver, the judge could order the owner to produce the driver.
Since you are the complaintant, you have to sign the summons. The police don't usually get involved in citzen vs. citizen complaints.
officerfriendly
PS. Based on what you described, you could sign complaints for improper passing (passing your car), careless driving (passing your car and entering the intersection), and reckless driving (doing all of that and nearly causing an accident)"
|
debby
Citizen
Username: Debby
Post Number: 112
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, February 29, 2004 - 3:40 pm: | |
Wow - things have really changes since I left!
We moved to Boca Raton, FL last summer, and the people aren't nearly as snooty as I had worried, but the attitude of entitlement in the parking!!
I think the worst I've seen was a Hummer (for all the icy mountains in south FL) parked on the grassy median in a half empty lot. I'm not sure if the point was to avoid anybody parking next to him, or merely to exercise his off-road capabilities. To add insult to injury, the a-hole's license plate read "SYZMATTERS".
I think in that case keying would have been justified. |
Joan
Citizen
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 2536
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, February 29, 2004 - 4:41 pm: | |
Wouldn't T's insurance company need an independent witness (other than T's immediate family member) or some physical evidence to support the contention that S keyed T's car? Without such evidence I don't believe T's insurance company would be willing or able to subrogate the claim. |
papayagirl
Citizen
Username: Papayagirl
Post Number: 165
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, February 29, 2004 - 7:39 pm: | |
I'm 6 months pregnant right now, and while i can't speak for "my people" as a whole, i would never dare to use my condition as an excuse for why i should get any parking spot, let alone an illegal one. None of the spaces in the village are so far that i can't carry a pizza. Heck, i don't even park in the "expectant mother parking" spaces that are designated at Babies R Us because i don't feel like i warrent any special treatment at this point. |
marian
Citizen
Username: Marian
Post Number: 133
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, February 29, 2004 - 7:51 pm: | |
I commuted into the city until TWO days before my due date last April! S's outrageous behavior and trying to excuse it because she's six months pregnant is totally inexcusable. If S is that incapacitated she should have her pizzas delivered.
I hope S reads MOL and see this thread. |
curb
Citizen
Username: Curb
Post Number: 391
Registered: 1-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, February 29, 2004 - 8:38 pm: | |
Hey Joan, That`s why she should get a police report. |
Wendyn
Citizen
Username: Wendyn
Post Number: 136
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Monday, March 1, 2004 - 10:34 am: | |
An aside to Papaya,
I think those "expectant mother" spaces at BRU would be better used for those of us with kids. Much harder carring an infant seat or a toddler into the store than hauling your big belly. And honestly most preg women are with someone...partner, mom, whoever when they are going into BRU. Unless you have a big belly AND a toddler, I've done that and it really sucks. Maybe the spots should be for "expectant mother carrying other child". |
sportsnut
Citizen
Username: Sportsnut
Post Number: 955
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Monday, March 1, 2004 - 10:39 am: | |
marian - my lovely wife went to work in NYC on Friday, went into labor on Saturday and gave birth on Sunday morning.
What I found amusing was that S was willing to walk home from the Pizza store after the fact, but couldn't walk to the pizza shop in the first place.
I showed my wife this thread last night and she just rolled her eyes. She goes to the village every saturday morning and is appalled at what she sees (in terms of driving). Funny thing is that we are both former new yorkers who moved here by way of Chatham. We had thought we left that "Me first" attitude in Chatham. Apparently not. |
Gene Z
Citizen
Username: Genez
Post Number: 18
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Monday, March 1, 2004 - 11:11 am: | |
And where were the police when this all occurred? Do we no longer have a walking patrol in the village? |
kevin
Citizen
Username: Kevin
Post Number: 210
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Monday, March 1, 2004 - 11:12 am: | |
Congrats sportsnut! Hope everyone is doing well! |
sportsnut
Citizen
Username: Sportsnut
Post Number: 956
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Monday, March 1, 2004 - 11:33 am: | |
Kevin, thanks. However, I forgot to mention that it was five years ago that she did this. |
Frost French
Citizen
Username: Frost
Post Number: 12
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Monday, March 1, 2004 - 1:00 pm: | |
I was waiting for you to say that she was back at work on Monday! Now THAT would be impressive (if a little frightening). |
tjd
Citizen
Username: Tjd
Post Number: 12
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Monday, March 1, 2004 - 2:00 pm: | |
T should definitely file a claim w/ her insurance carrier and ask that they subrogate the loss. It may take a couple months, but she should receive her deductible back, which may prevent her rates from rising. That would just depend on her carrier.
Another option is to file a lawsuit w/ the special civil part in the Superior court, but that may be more trouble than it's worth.
Please tell your friend good luck. |
Gene Z
Citizen
Username: Genez
Post Number: 19
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Monday, March 1, 2004 - 3:09 pm: | |
TJD:
Just remember that "S's" insurer would probably deny her coverage, as the damage she caused was an "intentional act." And they would be right in doing so.
This means that T's insurer would have to pursue S's personal assets. The cost of this may not be considered worth the effort.
T directly filing a civil action against S may be the best viable course; unless the damages exceed the Small Claims limits, in which case T would need to retain counsel, at her own cost.
There are no easy answers.
Z |
tjd
Citizen
Username: Tjd
Post Number: 13
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Monday, March 1, 2004 - 3:46 pm: | |
Gene Z is correct about the "intentional act." I think Small Claims is T's best bet. If S's carrier disclaims coverage, T and S will both be pro se. You can look up the forms online at njcourtsonline.com.
I am still under the belief that if the damage done to T's vehicle is less than the deductible, she should pay and file a criminal complaint. The judge may order restitution as the punishment. That was vandalism. I don't really care what the cops say about the other person making trouble. Why should this woman get away w/ being so malicious over a parking spot? |
marian
Citizen
Username: Marian
Post Number: 134
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Monday, March 1, 2004 - 10:14 pm: | |
sportsnut,
Ok, your wife wins .
Hey, wait a minute, I know a woman in town who went to work in labor (IN THE CITY) 'cause she didn't feel like sitting around at home doing "nothing." I CAN'T MAKE STUFF LIKE THIS UP!
She proceeded to work about a half day until he doctor told her he thought she should head home now. (She was in telephone contact with him, at least.)
She told me that other than having to pull over a few times during an especially bad contraction on her drive home from the train station, she made it to the hospital on time.
Now THAT is nuts! |
Joan
Citizen
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 2542
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 2, 2004 - 5:06 pm: | |
Yeah Curb, but what would the police report say if no one but T's kid witnessed the incident? The whole thing is an unfortunate mess. What can T do to force S to make restitution if S doesn't want to? |
Earlster
Citizen
Username: Earlster
Post Number: 124
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 3, 2004 - 12:01 pm: | |
I believe in case of a hit and run that your insurance rates don't go up. E.g. you come back from shopping and your car is dented. You will need to file a police report, but you insurance should pay.
If you have a perp, I would assume that your insurance still pays without raising your rates and they can then decide if they want to go after the person.
I would definitely go after the person. I can't believe a cop told her to let it gon in fear of retaliation. The police is here to protect us and enforce the laws, if we start not enforcing little thinks like that we will soon have bigger problems at hand. |
Wilkanoid
Citizen
Username: Cseleosida
Post Number: 122
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 3, 2004 - 12:24 pm: | |
So, what finally happened? |
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