to think that you can't block someone's driveway?

[DancingLola]

Apologies, it's a parking one!

Just about to go to bed & looked out the front window to see a car parked completely across the dropped curb of our driveway blocking our car in. Not sure when it was parked there, must have been in the last 2 hours. Don't recognise the car, and it's a bit late to go knocking to see if the neighbours do!

DH leaves for work at 5:30am & is worried that if the car will still be there. We had this happen once before, but it was a much smaller car & luckily he managed to manoeuvre through the small gap that was left, but there would be no chance this time.

Would it be unreasonable to report it?

And now it's 9.30 and still no one has come to pick their car up? How rude I don't even drive and this has wound me up ! I hope the owner has a hefty fine!

Imagine the puzzled face when they get back . 'I'm sure I left the car here.' OP, I wouldn't be too bothered about giving them details, I'd let them figure it out.
I do love a parking thread!
Some people are unreal. I can't imagine deciding to park across someone's drive, just because!

Just keep an eye out, they'll probably drop a bollock thinking their car had been nicked.

I doubt that they will dare to knock on OP's door and ask where their car is. They've probably already discovered their car is not there but think it is stolen and will contact the police. It serves them right!

I would love to see their face when they come to get their car. Good for you op

Let us know when they come back!!

I blocked someone's drive on my driving test. The examiner told me to pull over, as they do. So I did, but then realised I hadn't pulled forward enough, then panicked as I'd already stopped the car. I spent a few seconds wondering if I was allowed to move it forward again (well duh, why wouldn't I be allowed?!) Then by the time I'd made up my mind that I should move it, he told me to carry on driving when it's safe to do so and I didn't get the chance. I still passed luckily.

I'm wondering if they've already contacted police, as residents parking is between 9-5 here & they didn't have a visitor pass. Plus would you really block a car in this late on a weekday?

Wow - this happens to us occasionally, usually people visiting the village pub. Whenever challenged they were always only going to be 'a minute'. But to leave a car there all night?

Well done - I've always secretly wished to get people blocking ours towed.

Am I right in thinking if there isn't a dropped kerb, the 'driveway' owner has no legal right to cross the pavement and therefore if you park in front of their 'driveway' you are not committing an offence?

I am just wondering because of pp and because we nearly bought a house without a dropped kerb once and our solicitor was telling us something about having to have one put in. I wouldn't deliberately block someone's car in even if they didn't have a dropped kerb as I am a normal considerate person.

OP- are you watching out of the window to update us??

OP I hope you have someone around to do the afternoon school run for you so that you can spend all day gazing out the window watching for rude person to return.

Ooer, not just a parking thread but a parking mystery!

QuillPen - as far as I understand if there is no dropped kerb then there is nothing to stop you parking across it. People across the road have paved over their front garden but not paid for the kerb to be lowered. They use the dropped kerb next to their house for access which is a bit dodgy. They have so many cars that one is always parked across blocking their own 'driveway' in anyway!

Still no sign, and I've got to go out soon. DH keeps texting me for updates.

I wonder if it's one of the students and they're still in bed.

Maybe they came and went while OP did the school run?

I live beside a school ( parking 'mare indeed) and I'm glad to hear you can put your car in your garage and still have the right to exit as Id always wondered about that.

What about gaining access if you've been out though? Several times I've come home to my driveway blocked and drivers who move v begrudgingly.

My circumstances have changed recently and I'm coming and going more at school times, I have on occasion taken a pic of the reg and parking on my phone and told them if they don't move I will report it.
Considering printing out the relevant sections of the Highway Code for distribution to offenders! (Grumpy old woman that I am!)

One persistent offender suggested that I just don't come home/leave the house at certain times

One persistent offender suggested that I just don't come home/leave the house at certain times

That would really annoy me!!! What did you say to that?!

One persistent offender suggested that I just don't come home/leave the house at certain times

Fucking hell!

Not that im advocating this, but on another parking thread, someone suggested getting stickers printed that say something along the lines of 'do not park here' or using a lipstick or a sharpie to write on the windows as a deterrent as they are a pain in the bum to clean off but cause no permanent damage to the car.

I quite liked that and could see myself doing something similar if I needed to. fortunately the only person who parks across my drive is DH!

OP - any sign of the car's owners yet? I'm imagining their faces when they come back to find their car gone

Well this was after she denied it was her car, then that it was her first time, then that she needed to park there to supervise her children entering school (she is a member of a religious group that aren't allowed to mix with non members much) even though she had left the car (she was standing with a group) all of which I pointed out, then she suggested it would be easier to not leave/return at certain times.
Tbh I was flabbergasted, but I just told her that I would not be accommodating her and that further instances I would be directly contacting the police if she was going to be discourteous and uncooperative. Inside I was seething! Tbf she hasn't done it again as far as I know.

So, maybe 10 mins after I last posted I went out. Was just locking the door when random man I've never seen before walks up my path. Conversation went roughly as follows:

RM: Where's my car?
Me: What car?
RM: It was parked there last night (points to end of driveway)
Me: Oh, the car blocking our driveway? My husband reported it this morning as he needed to get to work & it was towed. You'll have to call xx to sort out getting it back.
RM: What the fuck? I need my fucking car now!
Me: What exactly did you expect to happen? You blocked the driveway, no note to say what house you were at. Why should he have to wake up the whole road at 5:30 because of your inconsiderate parking?! He needed to get to work.
RM: Well I didn't know that.
Me: Which is precisely why you shouldn't have parked there.

Brief stand off where we just stared at each other, then he stomped off to a house a few doors down. So, mystery solved... sort of! I vaguely know the woman who lives at that house, she moved in earlier this year, but he definitely doesn't live there. I wonder how much it's going to cost him to get his car back...

I would of been so tempted to say "Car ? What car ?"

Oh yea. . . . . that told him.

Inconsiderate Git