to park in a non-permit space although I have a parking permit?

[ParkingProblem]

Have namechanged as I have mentioned this to a few people and don't want to be outed.

Around my house there are a few non-permit spaces i.e. free and available to anyone, and a few more permit-only spaces. I bought a permit (£22) so that I wouldn't have to worry about not having anywhere to park if all the free spaces were full, which they often are.

There is a particular space I like to park in because I can see my car to keep an eye on it from my house; all the others are obscured by another building. 'My' space is a free space, and it had crossed my mind that maybe I was taking a free space up that someone else could use, but I thought, well anyone can buy a permit from the council, it's not massively expensive for 1 whole year's use. I walk to work so my car often stays in the same place for days at a time.

Yesterday morning, came out to find that someone had put a note on my windscreen telling me to please 'stop hogging' a free space as I had a permit! I moved my car to a permit space (out of sight of my house) as I didn't want to risk someone damaging it.
AIBU to to feel cross about this? I am torn between thinking that it was my choice to buy one so I should make use of the permit spaces and feeling cross that I spent money on one and this other person could too if they are so concerned about having somewhere to park. I think maybe I feel cross because I am being defensive about doing something I knew was a bit wrong, but then I think, is it wrong? The free spaces are 'free', not 'non-permit holders only'.

Opinions please!

[honeytea]

I don't think yabu, anyone can park in a free space. Can you hide the permit in your glove box when your parking in the free space?

[redbunnyfruitcake]

You have every right to park your car in the 'free' space even if you do have a permit. However for the sake of good neighbour relations I would perhaps park it in a permit bay if I knew I wasn't using the car for a few days. It does make sense to use a permit space if you have one.

[JackThePumpkinKing]

Why do you need to be able to see your car from your house?

I don't know. it depends if all the other spaces are likely to be full and people looking for spaces.

[ihavenofuckingclue]

I can see both sides. You have a permit, so it is a tad selfish to keep parking in a none permit space. Essentially you are using 2 spaces. When you only have one car.

But the free spaces are free spaces.

[ihavenofuckingclue]

redbunny has it right.
It may seem unfair but compromise comes with having neighbours.
In all honesty it would annoy me.

[JackThePumpkinKing]

its like when people have a drive/marked space and insist on parking on the road. They are perfectly entitled to do so, but it can be annoying for someone who needs to park on the road and have to park further away or not get a spot.

If there are millions of spaces and there is never a shortage of parking then it doesn't really matter and I would shrug and ignore it.

[ParkingProblem]

Thanks. I will definitely be parking in a permit space from now on obviously. honeytea yes I wish now I had taken the permit off! Too late now though, they will recognise the car.

I think I know that really I was in the wrong, just feel a bit annoyed that someone else is getting away without paying for a permit, though of course no one forced me to buy one, I chose to.

Jack I just like to make sure no one's stealing it, as cars have been stolen from around here before.

[ConfusedPixie]

YABU, you have a permit so use the permit spaces unless they are full. I don't understand why you wouldn't really And why do you need to see your car?

[squeakytoy]

I can see the other persons point.. why use the space when you have a permit. Unless you spend all day and night sat looking out of your window watching your car, then you cant be sure it wont get damaged where it is anyway!

[Spatsky]

You have every right to park there, but it is a little harsh for your neighbours without a permit. That said, they do also have the option of purchasing what sounds like a cheap enough permit.

Torn.

[SpicyPear]

Watching with interest as I have a similar dilemma, but the 'free' spaces aren't free, they are pay and display or permit. I worry I am stopping visitors paying and displaying, but if I couldn't use them I'd often have to park outside the houses of my neighbours with kids so they would have to cart babies and toddlers plus paraphernalia around.

[JackThePumpkinKing]

Ah, you can't watch your card all the time. That way madness lies :)
If it gets stolen, it gets stolen. Being able to watch it from your window won't change that.

[Yokel]

OP, the chances of you happening to look out the window at your car at the precise moment it's being stolen are minuscule, no? Park it out of sight and feel your anxiety lessen....

[ihavenofuckingclue]

No one is 'getting away' with anything. You chose to buy it. It was a choice, they aren't avoiding paying.
out of interest why did you buy it if you don't want to use it?

[Naoko]

Well you have every right to park in a free space, obviously, but you have a permit, so leave the spaces for people who don't have one, like visitors and tradesmen. As for keeping an eye on it so it doesn't get stolen - presumably you sleep every now and again? I imagine most cars get stolen at night...

[Crinkle77]

YABU. You are taking up a space unnecessarily that someone else could use

[ParkingProblem]

That's it exactly Spatsky. I could easily be in the other person's position with no permit, feeling annoyed that a permit-holder was taking up free space; however I chose to buy a permit so in fact it's a bit of a waste of money for me to not park in a permit spot.

The more I think about it, the more unreasonable I feel.

[redbunnyfruitcake]

SpiceyPear I wouldn't worry about visitors being able to park to be honest. Visitors can use carparks as that is what they were intended for.

I can only use limited permit spaces, pay and display (after 6pm) or have to pay to park in the car park across from my house. I never see my car from my house, and if I come home after 7pm and have failed to get a permit place I often have to drive round and round in the morning to try to find a permit parking space before 8am before the wardens are out. I knew this when I moved here and as much as it drives me nuts at times I accept that it comes with living in a restricted area.

[ParkingProblem]

You are all right, I will try to stop being paranoid and remember that it was my choice to buy the permit. And not park in that space again of course.

[LRDtheFeministDragon]

I think to do it once or twice would be fine, but regularly, it is rude.

[ecuse]

I suppose it depends how hard the permits are to get. Where I live you can only buy one if you're a resident. This means if you have visitors, tradesmen etc they need the non-permit spaces.

[MidoriKobayashi]

When I lived in London (Zone 2) the council parking permits were only issued one per property and the car they related to had to be registered at that address therefore parking for visitors could be very difficult (there is no non-council parking in the area, presumably because land is scarce/ very expensive in London). Therefore they might not be being unreasonable to be cross about you using a 'free' space if you could have left it for someone who wouldn't be permitted to park in a permit space though I do think they were unreasonable to leave a note on your car about it!