Hostile note left on my windscreen

[Whatsgoingon777]

For the past week I have been working in a different town. It is temporary, and I will return to my usual workplace by Christmas.

Parking in town is very expensive, so I have been parking in a quiet cul de sac about a 10-15 minute walk from my work.

Every house has a drive way and I’m parked right at the end away from their homes, and there is always plenty of space for anyone else wanting to park there.
I also have a tiny car.
I would never park here if it seemed like I would be inconveniencing the people who live there. My car is doing no harm there and is in the way of no one!

Anyway I return from work this evening to find a note saying ‘TRY A CAR PARK’

It seems utterly pathetic to me, but they clearly think I’m in the wrong.

AIBU thinking about parking here still?

If there's a residential street where there are a number of uncontrolled parking spaces that constantly get filled up by commuters all day and it is causing an issue for residents who no longer have the ability to park near their houses, the council will usually be open to a residents consultations on a controlled parking zone.

But in many of the cases where people moan about this kind of thing, this isn't the case. They just don't like it because they are small minded nutters who just don't like looking at someone else's car or want private road privileges without paying for private road upkeep.

A road being a cul de sac is irrelevant, unless people are parking in the turning circle or close to the junction with the main road. A lot of the time it is the exalted cul de sac residents that block up their own turning area making life more difficult for delivery drivers, carers and other visitors.

I also find it hard to believe that these people always park in a car park themselves if they are ever visiting elsewhere or are outside the area where they pay council tax.

Their “home” street! 😂

The street doesn’t belong to the residents.

Crack on, op. Continue to park legally wherever you like. You’re doing no harm.

Is it legal to park where you parked yes
Why are you blocking anyone? No

there we are.

Yanbu, but I wouldn’t park there again, only because people like this who are so angry that they post an aggressively written note on your car, are also probably capable of keying it or slashing your tyres.

You seem to think she should be harassed or intimidated into not doing something that is entirely legal

Made up twaddle.

Yes. Absolutely comply with the law breakers.

@Whatsgoingon777 I used to be a postie, and we have to park the van somewhere while we go round and deliver a loop of mail, then move it on to do the next loop etc—always careful not to block a drive or cause an obstruction. I once had a man come out and complain that I had parked on the (public) road outside his house for this purpose. The van was there for half an hour to an hour depending upon how busy we were.
Some people literally have nothing better to do than police the public road outside their home because they think they own it. They don’t own it, and they have absolutely no right to leave notes, vandalise or otherwise harass someone parking there completely legally.
Anyone who’s getting worked up about this perfectly legal activity should study Buddhist teachings and/or take up a meditation practice. 🙏Namaste.

I have added a picture of roughly the layout just for clarity/curiosity 😂 There is easily room for 5/6 cars to park comfortably where I am without inhibiting the junction or road.

all the houses also have large drive ways and the houses are quite set back.

Anyway, I found myself a new road today and it is long enough that I can mix up my parking a bit more! It is another 5 minutes onto my journey but I guess it will keep me fit! Let’s see if this road is more friendly 😁

A bloke in a street near me took offence to a number of his neighbours non-obstructive legal parking outside their own houses and keyed a load of cars. He ended up with a criminal conviction and lost his extremely well paid job. Some people are just weird and territorial.

Just leave a note on the inside of the windscreen

this car had cctv and is recording

anyone leaving anon notes will probably change their mind at not staying anon

I would also put a note in your windshield saying “smile for the camera”. You could also stick a little thing near rear view mirror. We’ve got an emovis tag which people seem to think is a camera 😂.
or spray paint a match box.

Keep parking there, and put in a dashcam to record who is harassing you x

We have a similar issue with none residebts on our road. It winds my neighbours up but doesn’t bother me. As long as there is still some spaces for visitors to the road and that access is not impeded you aren’t doing anything wrong. Unfortunately people who leave notes like this might key your car next time so if park elsewhere. You shouldn’t have to though.

Just because it's legal to do something, it doesn't mean it's acceptable or a good idea.

In an unfamiliar place I would follow what other people do. If no one else is parking in the street and there are public car parks available, I would park in a car park.

If you are temporarily working further away from your home than your usual place of work, your employer might compensate you for the additional cost.

Yes- ultimately- you don’t own the road / parking space near your house.
I live in a ‘Grove’ / Close - and 9 times out of 10 I’m not able to park outside my house as there are more houses than parking spaces. I often have to park on the corner or in a different road. I’m fine with it. I get my steps in!

i can imagine these residents you’ve come across are the type to say things like ‘ ooh - I haven’t seen Marjorie at number 10 prune her roses yet - disgraceful !’
I’m glad you’ve found a new spot to park in !

I’ve just googled about people putting notes on windscreens. It came up with this.
print it off and put it on your dashboard ! ⬇️

• Harassment and antisocial behavior: Under UK legislation such as the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 and the Malicious Communications Act 1988, leaving hostile, aggressive, or distressing notes can result in a Community Protection Notice (CPN) with fines reaching up to £2,000, or criminal charges.

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Why exactly would it be unacceptable or a bad idea?
Sometimes the possessive parking nuts are the ones in the wrong. People's feelings are not always reasonable or justified.