Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to block in school mums parking on my driveway?

895 replies

Applepiesmum · 23/03/2023 10:49

i live down the road from a school and during the school rush parents park everywhere it normally worse in the afternoon at 3pm

I work from home and usually park in the visitor pay outside my house so my partner can park on the driveway he gets home 3.30-4pm

however recently people have been parking on my driveway last week I caught someone pulling in knocked on their window and they argued with me saying they need to pick up their child eventually they did move but moved to where they were just half way blocking my drive way and halfway blocking my neighbor so no one could access it!

I didn’t bother confront them again but in future I’m just thinking to block them in… is that too petty

I have reported it to the school but all they’ve said is they’ve already asked parents not to block residents in so I’m not sure what else to do.

(if I did block anyone in it would only be for 30 minutes to cause a bit of stress and a lesson learned)

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
kay1bee · 27/03/2023 22:00

@drpet49absolutely!

They have no business with the owners - and, even if they did, you don't park on someone else's drive unless you are a friend or family - so what on earth gives them the right to park there? Imagine if the OP followed them home, clocked where they lived, and parked on their drive another time to go shopping? Not one of the offending drivers would be okay with that.

If any damage occurs to their car whilst on the OP's drive, they'll be quick enough to try and claim off the OP's insurance.

Those of you saying the OP should block her own driveway to prevent this happening appear to be on the side of the offending driver. One should be able to park on one's own drive at any time, regardless of where one lives. Why should she inconvenience herself to keep out the arrogant entitled?? You'll be saying next that, if the OP leaves her front door ajar (whilst in the house), anyone can go in and make themselves a cuppa...!

NewCarOldCar · 30/03/2023 10:40

Coming back to update @Applepiesmum ?? Or just leaving the thread annoyingly hanging?

KatysMumJen · 31/03/2023 14:49

Tinypetunia · 23/03/2023 10:51

Blocking someone in could lead to a very aggressive situation, so I wouldn't. You say 30 minutes just to cause inconvenience, but what if the parent has an appointment somewhere and they can't get to it?
Can you put a bollard or similar to stop the parking?

Perhaps said parent with the appointment should learn consideration for other people or manage their diary differently.

OoooohMatron · 31/03/2023 16:43

redskylight · 24/03/2023 12:35

I'm surprised no one has questioned why the OP even needs a car when she works at home and her partner gets home at 3.30pm.

If she wasn't so entitled as to insist on having one, she wouldn't need a parking space ...

Absolutely none of your business why OP has a car.

MandieM · 05/04/2023 16:39

Not only would I block them in I would leave the vehicle stuck there until the offender had to call the cops & let the cops explain to them what they have done wrong. Lick your front door tho because it's likely going to get worse before it gets better.

MXVIT · 05/04/2023 16:45

i fully would

i can't even look at my neighbour the same and all I did was catch them using my drive to TURN AROUND (but when i say this, they pulled their car all the way up to my house and waited for me to leave until doing so..)

Devoutspoken · 05/04/2023 17:03

Ooohmatron, what actually is our business on an anonymous forum? I'm not sure you can police what aspect of a post people choose to comment on.

Phoebo · 06/04/2023 01:52

Yep I'd block. I'd be tempted to famahe their car too but you'd probably get in trouble for that

Stewball01 · 06/04/2023 19:08

Take pictures of the numbers and send them to the police.

lsanny · 06/04/2023 19:21

Stewball01 · 06/04/2023 19:08

Take pictures of the numbers and send them to the police.

Do you really think wasting police time is a better solution than OP parking on the drive herself?

Grrrrdarling · 14/04/2023 02:33

Applepiesmum · 23/03/2023 10:49

i live down the road from a school and during the school rush parents park everywhere it normally worse in the afternoon at 3pm

I work from home and usually park in the visitor pay outside my house so my partner can park on the driveway he gets home 3.30-4pm

however recently people have been parking on my driveway last week I caught someone pulling in knocked on their window and they argued with me saying they need to pick up their child eventually they did move but moved to where they were just half way blocking my drive way and halfway blocking my neighbor so no one could access it!

I didn’t bother confront them again but in future I’m just thinking to block them in… is that too petty

I have reported it to the school but all they’ve said is they’ve already asked parents not to block residents in so I’m not sure what else to do.

(if I did block anyone in it would only be for 30 minutes to cause a bit of stress and a lesson learned)

Take pictures of the offending vehicles & pass to parking enforcement at your local council. Sadly parking on your drive is totally legal but if I arrived home home & found someone parked on mine I’d definitely have to park like a tw@t & block them on my drive to get the message across that their parking on my drive wasn’t acceptable. Alternative is that you come to an agreement with the cheeky Parker that they pay you each time they use your drive on the school run. £2 per stop would suffice then you are getting something from the arrangement.

Grrrrdarling · 14/04/2023 02:35

Stewball01 · 06/04/2023 19:08

Take pictures of the numbers and send them to the police.

Nope you send to parking enforcement at your local council. The parking is a civil matter & police won’t get involved.
The cheeky Parker can actually legally park on whoever’s drive they want. What they can’t do is park in a way that prevents OP from leaving their drive so that is where the offence is committed.

Bagwyllydiart · 14/04/2023 06:34

A neighbour once had this problem with a CF parking on his drive. He put out cones but CF just drove over them.

So I suggested he fill the cones with concrete. Result! CF destroyed the underside of his car and never parked there again.

(Police were called but no offence committed by neighbour)

DaSilvaP · 16/04/2023 23:57

Grrrrdarling · 14/04/2023 02:33

Take pictures of the offending vehicles & pass to parking enforcement at your local council. Sadly parking on your drive is totally legal but if I arrived home home & found someone parked on mine I’d definitely have to park like a tw@t & block them on my drive to get the message across that their parking on my drive wasn’t acceptable. Alternative is that you come to an agreement with the cheeky Parker that they pay you each time they use your drive on the school run. £2 per stop would suffice then you are getting something from the arrangement.

Show quote history

"Sadly parking on your drive is totally legal" ???

Where from did you get this TOTAL NONSENSE?

Fence or no fence, it's still someone's private property.

Is that what you say to yourself when you park on other people's private property, whenever it suits you?

ButterCrackers · 17/04/2023 16:27

Bagwyllydiart · 14/04/2023 06:34

A neighbour once had this problem with a CF parking on his drive. He put out cones but CF just drove over them.

So I suggested he fill the cones with concrete. Result! CF destroyed the underside of his car and never parked there again.

(Police were called but no offence committed by neighbour)

Result

NewCarOldCar · 17/04/2023 22:13

Bagwyllydiart · 14/04/2023 06:34

A neighbour once had this problem with a CF parking on his drive. He put out cones but CF just drove over them.

So I suggested he fill the cones with concrete. Result! CF destroyed the underside of his car and never parked there again.

(Police were called but no offence committed by neighbour)

Brilliant!!😂

Original poster
Applepiesmum · 18/04/2023 20:08

NewCarOldCar · 30/03/2023 10:40

Coming back to update @Applepiesmum ?? Or just leaving the thread annoyingly hanging?

@NewCarOldCar sorry quite a boring update, I’ve since installed cameras on my drive and house but it hasn’t happened since I posted this!

so for now problem solved.

OP posts:
NewCarOldCar · 20/04/2023 09:47

Thanks for the update! Good to know it has been resolved for now 👌

Weenurse · 23/04/2023 06:06

Hope it stays this way

Helleofabore · 23/04/2023 07:18

Comedycook · 23/03/2023 10:59

But they're just dropping their kids off and they'll only be a minute 😉

Some one did this to me when they parked across my driveway. Said it was just for a minute. It was 20 as the teacher wanted a chat with them. They meanwhile had blocked in a plumber on my drive that I had to pay for as he was waiting to go get a part to finish fixing something.

Another time some one did it and i had to take my child to a medical appointment. They were also gone 15 minutes and we missed the appointment of course.

It is always just for a minute, isn’t it.

Snugbug0214 · 23/04/2023 23:46

I don't know if anybody suggested this but here goes. Is it possible for you to park down at the end of your driveway, partially on your driveway and partially on the street in the area where people would park but not so far out you interfere with traffic), and then move your car when your partner gets home? If you place your vehicle here, no one can park in your driveway and no one can park on the street blocking your driveway. I would certainly try doing something like this rather than verbally confronting people. If this is not an option, I highly recoamend going further up the chain of command at the school, potentially addressing the school board/superintendent if necessary.

Helleofabore · 24/04/2023 00:22

Would this then block the footpath? In my Borough that is a fineable offence. is that consistent across all councils?

DownNative · 24/04/2023 16:40

Snugbug0214 · 23/04/2023 23:46

I don't know if anybody suggested this but here goes. Is it possible for you to park down at the end of your driveway, partially on your driveway and partially on the street in the area where people would park but not so far out you interfere with traffic), and then move your car when your partner gets home? If you place your vehicle here, no one can park in your driveway and no one can park on the street blocking your driveway. I would certainly try doing something like this rather than verbally confronting people. If this is not an option, I highly recoamend going further up the chain of command at the school, potentially addressing the school board/superintendent if necessary.

Awful, awful "advice"!

You cannot park vehicles on a public footpath - partially or fully! Pedestrians, including wheelchair users, have a right to pass unobstructed. And without going out into the road.

Do read the OPs update...🤦‍♂️

Rosscameasdoody · 24/04/2023 17:13

DownNative · 24/04/2023 16:40

Awful, awful "advice"!

You cannot park vehicles on a public footpath - partially or fully! Pedestrians, including wheelchair users, have a right to pass unobstructed. And without going out into the road.

Do read the OPs update...🤦‍♂️

Show quote history

Not to mention a hefty fine if she blocks a dropped pavement meant for wheelchair access.

Blondeshavemorefun · 24/04/2023 18:36

If happens again and yes I know you have cameras

But take a pic and give registration to school office

There is nothing like being named and Shamed in the weekly school letter !!

Swipe left for the next trending thread