to think you don't resort to criminal damage (parking)?

[fanfrickintastic]

I work for the local authority. The 'town hall' e.g main office, employs around 500 people. It's a fairly residential area and we have 2 largish car parks, with approximately 120 spaces. There are also 2 pay and display car parks holding about 40 cars (but these can also be used by the public).

The car parks are permit only, which we pay for. Anyone employed by the council can get a permit, a permit doesn't guarantee a space. There are considerably more permit holders than spaces.

I have a contractual obligation to take my car to work. I go out of the office on appointments regularly (several times a day). At least 3-4 times a week I don't get a space in any of the car parks, either at the beginning of the day or when I have been out on an appointment.

So we have to park on the street. The streets closest to the town hall are resident permit only, and we can't park in them, further away (5ish minute walk) aren't so we have to park there.

Today I had to park on the street. I parked legally on a residential street, outside someone's house (the only option), partially on the pavement but with plenty of space for people, including wheelchair users, to pass and space for cars to pass in the road. My wing mirrors were in and I wasn't over a dropped curb, a driveway, disabled space or by a pedestrian gate. I wasn't on a grass verge that someone could consider 'theirs'.

I got back to my car and someone has deliberately and severely keyed my car, all down the passenger side. I'd like to say this is a one off but it isn't, we (my colleagues and I) are regularly subjected to such criminal damage. I get it's annoying not being able to park right out side your house, but we literally have no choice. Most of the houses have driveways!

AIBU to think that instead of committing criminal damage they could petition the council to make their street permit only? Or leave a note? Or just deal with it?

Can't you just get to work earlier to secure a parking space?

I agree, criminal damage shouldn't be the answer. Perhaps invest in a dashcam with 360 visibility so you can catch them at it

Can't you just get to work earlier to secure a parking space?

Op clearly says she has to go out on visits and then return to the office several times per day.

And I'm pretty sure if there's was a safer spot 7 minutes away she'd prob use it

OP you're NBU - people are dicks. Are you and your colleagues reporting to the police? It might be that a PCSO could knock on a few doors and put the wind up the locals

Yanbu. And I say that as someone who usually has someone parking outside my house. Criminal damage as such is wrong. They could leave a note but they probably aren't that type of person. Can you park somewhere even further away where you are not likely to get keyed ?

It's not a question of getting to work earlier though is it? You can get there early in the morning, but if you have to go out for appointments, when you get back, every space will have been taken.

I feel your pain, because I used to have a job that meant I often had a ten minute walk from where I could park the car to the office. I did someone a favour one evening, attending a meeting and returned to my car to discover it had been keyed all down the driver's side and a nasty note left.

I can't get excited about people parking outside my house, but I hate it when people park on the pavement - could it be that that's the problem?

smeaton I said 'approximately 5 mins' they are 5 mins away and further, it depends on where is free. I can't go too far away as I can't spend half my working day walking to and from my car.

chevit I regularly arrive at 7.45 (most people start at 8.30) and the car park is usually about half full, but when I go out to my first meeting it is completely full and it's hit or miss if there is space when I get back.

veterinari I'll talk to my colleagues and maybe we can start doing that.

Wouldn't it be easier to park a 7 minute walk and have a safer car? Or am I being dim?

So the OP should give in to aggression and intimidation, park somewhere else and hope there's not someone there who also objects to her parking legally, and takes a wing mirror out or smashes a window or slashes the tyres?

morethan it could, but everyone on the street does, including residents. The road isn't wide enough not too really - the bin truck would struggle for example.

YANBU but why are you parked on the pavement? Are there signs telling you to do this?

Absoloutely no reason for why you can't park outside someone's house. They don't own the road!

Xpost :)

If the road is not wide enough to park without illegally going up on the pavement, you should not park there. If you are on the pavement at all, you are not parked legally regardless of whether others are doing it. Unless three are signs telling you to do so.

Which is still no reason to damage someone's car.

What soupdragon said.

I agree criminal damage is not the answer but I think you'd be naive to think it will stop. I think you should speak to your employer and tell them they will either have to provide you a parking space that is just yours or provide you with a company car and accept that it will be damaged regularly. I would also tell your employer if they refuse any of these things you would expect them to pay for the damage to your car which is happening whilst you are on their time. Unless you actually catch someone at it, it's unlikely you'll every find out who is causing the damage to the cars. Although I might be tempted to chap a couple of the nearby doors and ask if they had seen anything, obviously it'll be one of them and their reaction should be enough to confirm who's doing it. That might be enough to prevent it happening again. The police can even speak to a few neighbours to look for witnesses but it might put someone off doing it again.

If you and your colleagues are repeatedly getting your cars damaged.... Why are you still parking there?
Wouldn't it be easier to park a 7 minute walk and have a safer car? Or am I being dim?

Why should she, she not doing anything illegal. Op put a sticker on your window that says monitored by cctv

YANBU. Some people are dicks and so entitled.

soupdragon is perfectly legal to park on the pavement in my authority.

www.askthe.police.uk/content/Q387.htm

Yanbu. You should report it to the police. I saw on crimewatch where they had footage of a dickhead man keying a car on two separate occasions at the same location. The cctv footage was very clear and the man got prosecuted for criminal damage.

It's criminal damage, therefore you - and your colleagues - should report it to the police

It's just awful isn't it, I've had my car deliberately keyed and I'll be honest I didn't want to have the car anymore, it was the drivers side so I saw it every time I used my car.

Can your union help at all OP.?

If you are contractually obliged to take your car to work, I just wonder if you employer has any additional responsibilities? Assuming that not everyone has to take a car to work - could those of you who are out and about on visits be given priority in the car park, and those who don't need a care be encouraged to use alternatives?

Caveat - I know nothing but share your frustration and am trying to think laterally.

I think you should speak to your employer and tell them they will either have to provide you a parking space that is just yours or provide you with a company car and accept that it will be damaged regularly.

Meanwhile, in the real world...

That sucks OP.

Could you look into renting a space on someone's driveway? I rent out my space - there are lots of websites that do this.

@Kokusai employers who require there employees to use their car for work, provide them with a place to park it in my experience