The woman, a city dweller who lives in an apartment and struggles to find parking on the street, found herself in a heated altercation with a neighbor who claimed that she was parked in his space, which he paid the people in the house across the street $100 a month to use.
No Parking
The woman had parked her car in front of the house that had no driveway and was a legal city parking space on a public street, despite the “No Parking” signs posted there. While she never parked in front of driveways in use, she had parked in this particular spot because the car gate was wired closed and covered with garbage bags, making it impossible for anyone to get a car in.
She’d Ignored the Signs
A while back, someone had started putting cones in the street to keep others from parking, but the woman had moved them from the public street to the public sidewalk and parked in the public space. She had also ignored the handwritten “NO PARKING” signs left on her windshield and removed the traffic cones placed on top of her car.
A Heated Exchange
Today, the neighbor from across the street came out of his house and started yelling at the woman to move her car, claiming it was his parking space. The woman argued that it was a public city street and the parking spaces belonged to everyone, but the neighbor insisted that he paid for it and that everyone on the block knew it was his space.
“Have You Seen the Signs?!”
The neighbor asked if the woman hadn’t seen the signs and cones, to which she replied that they didn’t mean anything since it wasn’t a driveway and the cones were on the public street. He called her a bad neighbor and a jerk, and the argument escalated.
She Refused
The woman refused to move her car immediately but promised to do so in a couple of days, which seemed to appease the neighbor. Reflecting on the incident, the woman wondered if she was being a jerk neighbor for disrupting a weird business transaction to “claim” a space, even though it was a public parking space and she had parked legally.
No Bullies Allowed
“I’m not someone who believes ONLY in the ‘rule of law’ over community agreements, but this just doesn’t seem fair,” she said. “There’s not enough public parking for everyone, and I’m not going to let someone bully me out of a legal spot just because they’re paying for it.”
Not Uncommon
The woman’s situation is not uncommon in cities where parking is scarce, and parking disputes can often lead to heated confrontations between neighbors. It is important for people to understand their rights when it comes to parking on public streets and to be respectful of their neighbors. While community agreements can be helpful in certain situations, they cannot override the law, and everyone has the right to park in a legal parking space on a public street.
A Strange Claim
The woman’s neighbor’s claim that he paid for the parking space raises questions about the legality of the arrangement. It is unclear whether the people in the house across the street have the right to charge for a public parking space, and if they do, whether they are doing so legally. The woman’s refusal to move her car and her assertion that the arrangement was a scam could potentially lead to a larger investigation into the legality of such transactions.
Alternate Parking
As for the woman, she may want to consider finding alternative parking options to avoid further confrontations with her neighbor. While it is her right to park in a legal parking space on a public street, it may not be worth the stress and conflict that comes with parking in a disputed spot. She could also reach out to her local government to advocate for more public parking options in her area.
Urban Living Struggles
Overall, the woman’s situation highlights the challenges of urban living and the importance of understanding one’s rights when it comes to parking on public streets. While community agreements and informal arrangements can be helpful, they cannot override the law, and everyone has the right to park in a legal parking space on a public street.
The Internet Responded
This commenter wrote, “Once you start a feud with a crazy neighbor… It very seldom ends. I’m not saying you are not right. I’m just saying how chaotic do you want your interactions outside of your house to be?”
A Second Commenter Said
“I would consider getting the local police involved if you see the cones up again. Double-check the legality, and if he is claiming city property, then they may have something to say to him. But just be careful with him.”
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