Aibu for removing tyre caps (PARKING THREAD!)

[JackieakaBritney]

Background, live in converted 3 flat house for 6 years odd, we are attic flat.

Been here since 2015, bought car 2017, previous neighbour had a defunct car on drive which he moved when he moved out late 2017

Since then I've parked my car on drive at least overnights, during day (pre Covid) was parked at my work, insurance detailed the same.

However since beginning of 2020 we have had two different neighbours move in on the middle floor flat and ground floor flat. Neither of the houses moved in with an existing car

Since the two flats have moved in, there has been an constant influx of visitors (particularly during lockdown) but also pretty much every weekend and these visitors decide to block me in, over a dropped curb. It's not the
Same car each time, it's a rotation of 4 or 5 different ones?

I ignored it to the best of my ability during lockdown as we weren't supposed to really go anywhere but then why is ok for them to block my car in?

Then when restrictions eased my husband put a note on one of the cars saying "illegal to park on dropped curb/driveway. Park somewhere else." This was ignored
The next time a car blocked me in by a visitors there was a note saying.

"If I've blocked you in call...."

Tonight I've come home and I'm blocked in again. Tbh I've kinda lost my rag and taken off two of the tyre aircaps. Aibu??

I am sick to death of worrying about asking neighbours To move their visitors cars during the last year especially when I might need it in an emergency etc and they have been asked for their friends/visotors not block me in previously?

You're all bonkers.

They shouldn't be blocking you in, but that doesn't make removing their tyre caps a reasonable or proportionate response.

Careful with removing caps of tyres. someone in Italy did it like you out of frustration over carparks and ended up in a 5 year battle in court of law www.repubblica.it/motori/attualita/2010/07/01/news/l_incredibile_caso_del_tappo_della_gomma-5252128/

mybrainhertz Read it. It's all about debris in the valve stem when you inflate tyres. It doesn't say your tyres will suddenly lose pressure while driving.

@ThursdayWeld

Wake up *@LatteLoverLovesLattes*. Tyre caps are a back up.

🤣🤣🤣🤣

You might want to calm yourself down & understand stupid links & who has written them.

Dust caps on tyres are about as much use as band aid on a severed limb and the lack of a dust cap causes about as much air loss, as a lack of a band aid causes bleeding.

Tbh I would probably cut the tyre valve. Each and every time they park there.

Make a point and park your car on the road, across the dropped kerb and leave the parking space empty.
Do you have a management company who can sort the visitors out?
Put up a cctv camera and signs to warn them they are being filmed for parking illegally.

The dust and debris can interfere with the seal and cause air to escape causing the tyre to lose pressure.

A close friend had people block her drop kerb. She called the policw. They came out and told her it was an offence to block someone getting off their drive, but not blocking an empty drive.
Give local police a call for advice and then warn neighbours you will be following their advice

Wow, how can anyone believe it's okay to interfere with tyres?

@JackieakaBritney

I did mean to add that your neighbours don't need to own a car to use the shared driveway, they're permitted to allow friends/family etc to use it.

You could ask the landlord for sole use of it, but I imagine he'd expect you to pay extra so he can compensate the others for losing their right to use it.

I get you are pissed off, I would be too...but I'd ph police or council...whichever enforce parking in your area. I wouldn't interfere with someone's car. YABU

I wonder if anyone noticed you doing this. The first thing they'd do is film it. I wouldn't be at all surprised to find the police at the door. In my community, they'd be all this. You wouldn't think they have the time but this is tampering with someone else's property in a way that could be dangerous. They seem to have no lower threshold for how interested to be in something like this.

OP, I'm guessing others in the building think you should sometimes park elsewhere and let them have a turn by allowing their guests to use the space, and this is their way of communicating it.

This has made me laugh.

You're sharing that you've committed a criminal act and have (after quite a few attempts) uploaded photos. Are you sober?

And a thank you to those who think that tyres immediately deflate as soon as you take off the dust caps.

No it really doesn't because physics. Still I trust you carefully check the presence and integrity of your DUST caps before each and every journey.

potential OP: AIBU - my neighbours’ visitors keep blocking my dropped curb
= helpful answers (probably involving penguin bollards, notes and/or the police)

actual OP - I’ve done something dangerous to my neighbours’ car
= put the fucking tyre caps back on

If you want reasonable advice, ask a reasonable question!

You are being unreasonable to remove the caps. Either contact the police/ council ( I’m not sure what the Uk process is) or else have an emergency at 3am and bang on their door.
I would knock their door everytime your drive is blocked and ask them to move it.

I can’t believe people have a problem with you using the drive.

Are you expected to leave it free incase someone else wants to use it or only use it a third of the time.

You haven’t said anything about having a problem with anyone else using it.

One thing I can’t understand is why you are happy to be blocked in by your neighbours, but not their visitors

OP, I'm going to ask again. What did you hope to achieve by removing the tyre caps?

Ues they are wrong. But that doesnt mean you can vandalise their car.

What did you think removing the tyre caps would do?

If nothing dangerous, why do it?

If something dangerous, why do it?

Genuine questions as I'm having difficulty understanding your motivation.

Either way, you've broken the law I think...

Good on you OP, YOU showed THEM!

Ugh, I always wondered what motivated people to nick valve caps. Every time DH put slightly decorative ones on the car, they would vanish. We have a driveway so don't block anyone in, but if we had given a neighbour the hump over something, I can see now that it could have been them instead of the local dickheads. It's annoying to be blocked in (my driveway is blocked regularly) but it wouldn't occur to me to vandalise their car (however slightly).

Someone will have security cameras and recorded this happening.What a barmy thing to do.

I am just here in the hope for salty popcorn

Have you actually knocked on your neighbours door and spoken to them about it civilly face to face and explained the issue, rather than just leave notes and fuck about with the tyres? What did they say?