It's a Parking One

[ILoveFlumps]

Ok mumsnetters I need some ideas.
I popped out for 10 minutes this morning and come home to a random car on my driveway (outside my house). This is private property and allocated parking for a New Build. The Main Street it's off is permit parking only - this car has a permit.
The only place I can park is blocking it in causing a semi obstruction which I've done.
Police won't help as a civil matter.
Note has been left on the car by me telling them it's private property.
What else can I do?! Immediate neighbours have no idea whose car this is.

OP,

I had a car park over my driveway blocking me in, so when I called the police it was a police matter as I was imprisoned. But it doesn't work the other way round, you aren't imprisoned if you're blocked from getting IN, only if you're blocked from getting OUT.
The law is an ass on this one. It was in the bbc news recently that anyone can park on your property. There is no law against it, meaning police can't do a thing. By the time you take someone to court yourself then they'd have long since moved the vehicle so everyone knows you wouldn't bother to pay all those costs, if the problem has gone away. It's this sort of thing that makes me want to key a car - unless there's a way to match it to your screwdriver then that can't be proved either? Or do they look for loose shavings on your driveway?! You can see I’ve given this a lot of thought!

Is your neighbour onside with denying any knowledge of either the random car; or your car if anyone knocks on their door?

@YouDoNotHaveTheAuthority

When did you notice the car there? Your car can't have been parked on the drive, you popped out this morning and found it had appeared while you were gone?

Do you have any nice nature walks nearby? Perhaps a dog walker.

I left the house at 7.25am and returned at 7.45am to find the car parked.

@AnotherCovidQuestion

OP,

I had a car park over my driveway blocking me in, so when I called the police it was a police matter as I was imprisoned. But it doesn't work the other way round, you aren't imprisoned if you're blocked from getting IN, only if you're blocked from getting OUT.
The law is an ass on this one. It was in the bbc news recently that anyone can park on your property. There is no law against it, meaning police can't do a thing. By the time you take someone to court yourself then they'd have long since moved the vehicle so everyone knows you wouldn't bother to pay all those costs, if the problem has gone away. It's this sort of thing that makes me want to key a car - unless there's a way to match it to your screwdriver then that can't be proved either? Or do they look for loose shavings on your driveway?! You can see I’ve given this a lot of thought!

It's shocking isn't it?! How is that even remotely ok? The law needs to change on this matter for sure.

I know you said the police can't do anything, but they might have a mobile phone number registered to the vehicle?

@dailydose

I know you said the police can't do anything, but they might have a mobile phone number registered to the vehicle?

Tried that. It's their new policy not to get involved in any civil matter. They wouldn't even call the owner and ask him/her to move.

Yeah, the law really is ridiculous in this regard. Technically if you are still blocking them when they return, they could phone the police and say they've been blocked in. You'd hope the police would give them a lecture though and they'd be suitably embarrassed.

Time for a champagne brunch?

I know you said you didn’t want to check with neighbours due to COVID, but I think in the circumstances I’d at least knock on a few doors.

Seriously annoying though.

@PuppyMonkey

I know you said you didn’t want to check with neighbours due to COVID, but I think in the circumstances I’d at least knock on a few doors.

I think you're right. If no sign by 10, I'll pop out and ask a few of the closest neighbours if they have any knowledge. I'll be sure to wear a mask and step away from the door.

@TinyCake

Time for a champagne brunch?

As much as I love this, I don't actually drink! May consider starting though

OP. When the owner eventually returns and asks you to move, please remember the Mumsnet rule.

“No” is a complete sentence.

Oh I would so love to get it towed then have my best surprised face on when they come knocking. 'What car?' 🤔

In what world did they think that it would be ok to park there! I hope you find them op!

@AlwaysLatte

Oh I would so love to get it towed then have my best surprised face on when they come knocking. 'What car?' 🤔

At £250 I decided against this idea no matter how satisfying it would be

Ha, I know I wouldn't do it either but I'd LOVE to.

Just drink a soft drink out of a wine glass. They don't need to know the truth, do they?

Grabbing a spot;I want to find out who the car belongs to now 😂

We have a oddball next door neighbour who goes nuts if anyone parks in front of their house;it's a public road and it's front of their fence and the entrance to their driveway is on the other side;apparently they don't allow their guests to use their driveway

You can tell the car owner (when they show up) you have been drinking - they don't know if you drink or not...

Ooh I love a parking thread 😂

Birdseed on the roof and bonnet and boot. Failing that, breadcrumbs. I’m sure there are lots of hungry, shitting pigeons about, waiting to peck and peck and peck...

Oh my, a live parking thread

(rubs hands together gleefully)

Hold your nerve OP! Fabulous your neighbour doesn't need to go out. Now you just wait and relax :)

Isn't it time you go out for your long marathon training run OP?

Of course, if/when CF car owner comes to ask about being blocked in, you don't know who's car's blocking them in because it's not yours and you've never seen it before in your life. In fact no-one in your house has a car or knows how to drive .

Re: the law, would this count as trespass?