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What to Do When Someone Takes Your Parking Spot

From georgiana, Featured Contributor
Posted on September 17, 2008

Someone parked in my spot last week, and I was shocked by how much I resented it.

I live in a condo, and we all have designated parking spots with our addresses painted in them, making it fairly easy to figure out which space belongs to which unit. I wasn't so much annoyed at the driver since we all make mistakes, but I gave that car a look that should have made its paint peel. I shouldn't be so petty. It’s not like there wasn't an open spot at the end of my block, but in my defense I was coming home from the laundry in the middle of Tropical Storm Hanna and wanted to get my nice dry clothes inside while they were still nice and dry.

I was curious about other people's reactions to having their precious parking snatched away from them so I poked around a few message boards and blogs to get some advice. Here were the suggestions:

  • Have the car towed

    While some debate the legality of calling the towing company and having the offending vehicle towed away, most people think it's fine, so long as your spot is clearly marked as yours. One woman says she keeps the towing company on speed dial, which is a bit scary if you ask me.

  • Key the Car

    I was stunned by how many people suggest doing this. I even read an article written by a woman who said she would be inclined to key cars for parking crooked. Really? Can't you be subject to both criminal and civil penalties for keying a car? Doesn't that seem like a small overreaction?

  • Call the Police

    Some guy said he called 911 when he found someone sitting in his parking spot. I can imagine how well that went over at dispatch.

  • Leave a Note on the Car

    While this isn't as immediately satisfying as some of the other suggestions, it's probably the one most conducive to neighborhood peace. Although that depends on what you write in the note, I suppose. Most people suggested saying this time is a freebie but next time you'll have the car towed.

  • Knock on the Owner's Door and Make a Fuss

    This one can be a bit tricky. How do you know which house or apartment to knock on? I was tempted to do this when my own spot was taken but I had no idea who owned the car. I thought about standing in the middle of the lot and yelling until the owner came out but decided that wasn't the best solution.

  • Park the Car In

    This one is awfully tempting. Why not inconvenience the person who inconvenienced you? It's poetic justice or karma in action. Unfortunately it's also probably illegal so maybe not the best choice.

  • Hope for the Best

    Finally you can do what I did. Go take care of another errand and maybe they'll be gone when you get back. That's what happened to me. Sometimes, patience pays off!

    • Read More:

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Comments for this article

Displaying 1-22 of 22 comments
  • Flag
    From Fred Cox
    Commented on September 18, 2008

    Oddly, some people seem to consider certain spots theirs, even when they have no claim on it. For instance, someone in the office building I work at got freaked out when someone else parked in the spot he usually parks in, even though no one has assigned parking.

    Then, in the suburbs, many people seem to consider the curb in front of their house to be "theirs."

    I know of places in San Francisco where people have painted the curb red or put out cones or sawhorses to keep people from parking in front of their houses. Of course, this means nothing, but you have to think twice about parking somewhere that someone might key your car.

  • Flag
    From Anonymous
    Commented on September 18, 2008

    I usually carry a pair of wire cutters and snip the valve stems off of two of the tires.

  • Flag
    From Anonymous
    Commented on September 18, 2008

    If its a hot day and you have a package of bologne handy (who doesnt right?) toss a few slices on the hood. If its hot enough the bologne makes big green spots on the paint job, that is almost impssible to remove without taking off paint.

  • Flag
    From savagemike
    Commented on September 18, 2008

    Here in Los Angeles stealing someone's parking space is tantamount to murder. If you've gotten as many parking tickets as I have (I've even been towed by Parking Enforcement) you'll realize how precious a good parking can be. I actually got into a shouting match with a man who parked his motor scooter(!?!?!) in such a way that he used up 15 ft of curb space, Moron! I could've parked my car there and he could still fit his stupid scooter behind or in front of it. But no, he's right in the middle of the space. So I had to park over a block away. Of course, he was just visiting a neighbor of mine and left about an hour later. But before I could even move my car the space was gone!

    To sum up, please be considerate when parking.

  • Flag
    From Anonymous
    Commented on September 18, 2008

    Murder... always the BEST solution. Try It!

  • Flag
    From kidpinkers
    Commented on September 18, 2008

    I usually leave a note for people who park incorrectly or take spaces that don't belong to them. Public parking is exactly that though. The curb in front of your house does not belong to you, it belongs to the city so that means it is game to anyone who parks there. Destruction of property only makes you lower than the person taking your spot or parking to close to your car. Write a note or park behind them so that they are forced to seek you out. When they do, tell them that you apologize but that you had an assigned space and it was taken. Taking any other space would have inconvenienced some other home owner. Stand up for your rights but don't be destructive for it. Donna

  • Flag
    From Anonymous
    Commented on September 18, 2008

    Do what my wife does, she keeps a few panty liners in her glove box for sticking notes on jerks windows

  • Flag
    From LaurenG
    Commented on September 19, 2008

    Wow, maybe all these angry people should be riding bikes...

  • Flag
    From Anonymous
    Commented on October 26, 2008

    CALL FOR A RENTAL FORKLIFT AND PICK UP WHATS SITTING IN YOUR PARKING SPOT AND SET IT THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET AND PARK.

  • Flag
    From Anonymous
    Commented on December 20, 2008

    Good tips, yet I had someone park in my spot today, the temperature outside is minus 40....and to top it off they had their car plugged in adding to my electrical bill. Not very nice, eh?

  • Flag
    From hari001
    Commented on December 27, 2008

    New Cars

  • Flag
    From Anonymous
    Commented on January 2, 2009

    you could egg the car

  • Flag
    From Anonymous
    Commented on January 8, 2009

    This is happening to me. I live in Canada, and it's winter. But our Condo #'s are displayed on a pole infront of each parking, so it's clear where the lines are that separate each outside parking. While we have 2 spots, one outside, and one inside, (we park inside), it's the principal. 2 separate cars have been parking in my spot since December 20, 2008, so it's more that 3 weeks now. I left a (polite) note on the car last night, and, but the car is still there. Some people have no respect! If I Were to do that to ANYONE ELSE, they would scream at me! I hope the note will work!

  • Flag
    From Anonymous
    Commented on January 8, 2009

    ...continued.... their car is back, still in my parking spot. I guess they ignored my note. What do I do????

  • Flag
    From Anonymous
    Commented on January 9, 2009

    ...continued... ok, it's ok now!

  • Flag
    From Anonymous
    Commented on January 13, 2009

    ...continued.... no, actually... no, now it's ANOTHER CAR that is on my spot. Some people are so unaware of where they park it gets me so concerned!!! I left 3 NOTES on their car, so HOPEFULLY they will get the message!!!! And, if next time they do it again, I will call the police. This is life living in a condo where people think they can do whatever they feel like doing.

  • Flag
    From Anonymous
    Commented on March 14, 2009

  • Flag
    From Anonymous
    Commented on April 7, 2009

    This is why I hate rude people. People that take your parking place should be beaten with a stick full of Aids blood. That's putting it lightly yes. Don't take someone's space. It's cause for a psychotic meltdown that you do not wanna bring on yourself. Props to anyone out there that's done just harm to the person that takes their parking space.

  • Flag
    From Anonymous
    Commented on June 10, 2009

    We have 1 assigned parking spot at my apartment. there's nowhere else to park, either. I kind of understand visitors having no place to park, but jesus christ i pay $1k/mo for this damn place, now gtfo my parking spot!

    It's always the black neighbors too...

  • Flag
    From amanor409
    Commented on June 11, 2009

    If you live somewhere you have to pay for a spot then have their car towed. It's not different than somebody sitting on your couch. I had a house where the neighbors would constantly park in my driveway. I had asked them nicely several times to have their guests park at their own house but they would keep parking in my driveway. One day I had just called the tow company and had their car towed out of my driveway. After that they had stopped using my driveway.

  • Flag
    From Anonymous
    Commented on June 19, 2009

    Move it with a forklift. I found out that you can move someone's car with a forklift in front of a fire hydrant and it isn't illegal. I know, because it happened to me and the cops did nothing. Oh and you can have as many witnesses as you want to because that doesn't matter; Just be willing to pay for damages,

  • Flag
    From Anonymous
    Commented on September 13, 2009

    Somone parked in my spot since Friday(live in condo), and I park in visitor parking since, I put a note on the car to remove , wrong spot , but seems they are gone for weekend.I wait until Monday when I will come home from work , and then if still there no choice but call parking enforcement !

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