Neighbors car blocking our driveway

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks everyone! The most obvious answer—to park in their driveway for the week—is what I will do.

Let them know in case they've got cameras or someone watching the house.

[Anonymous]

What kind of car? Is it light enough that you plus a few others could just push the car forward a few inches?

[Anonymous]

I’m confused. Why is the neighbors driveway empty? Wouldn’t their car be in it since they are on vacation? If not, why didn’t the family member park there?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks everyone! The most obvious answer—to park in their driveway for the week—is what I will do.

Let them know in case they've got cameras or someone watching the house.

Or just park there and when they call to ask why they can point to their blocked driveway. It’s not like they called to ask permission to block a driveway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What kind of car? Is it light enough that you plus a few others could just push the car forward a few inches?

Unless you know of a certain type of car where that's possible, I would imagine that would damage the car unless they lift up the drive wheels and place them on coasters or something like that.

Because the parking pawl and possibly emergency brake is likely engaged and trying to forcing the car to roll while it's engaged would likely break it.

A better option would be something like a "courtesy tow" that DC used to do. Where if your car was parked in an area designated in an area where you're not supposed to, ie due to street cleaning or something like that, they'd tow it and leave it an area where you're allowed to park. Not sure if they still do that.

But parking in the neighbor's driveway and making sure they know is probably the best and most peaceful solution.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m confused. Why is the neighbors driveway empty? Wouldn’t their car be in it since they are on vacation? If not, why didn’t the family member park there?

This. This just elevated neighbor to even more dick status because they parked on the street (poorly) instead of their own damn driveway. I hope you show them this thread, OP!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What kind of car? Is it light enough that you plus a few others could just push the car forward a few inches?

Unless you know of a certain type of car where that's possible, I would imagine that would damage the car unless they lift up the drive wheels and place them on coasters or something like that.

Because the parking pawl and possibly emergency brake is likely engaged and trying to forcing the car to roll while it's engaged would likely break it.

A better option would be something like a "courtesy tow" that DC used to do. Where if your car was parked in an area designated in an area where you're not supposed to, ie due to street cleaning or something like that, they'd tow it and leave it an area where you're allowed to park. Not sure if they still do that.

But parking in the neighbor's driveway and making sure they know is probably the best and most peaceful solution.

I did used to know someone who acted like they could lift the back of a car up to try to turn off a car alarm.

So if it's a light car and enough people, maybe they can lift the car off of it's drive wheels and roll it a couple of inches. But I don't think it would be okay to just roll it with all four wheels on the ground if it's currently in park of the parking brake is engaged.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What kind of car? Is it light enough that you plus a few others could just push the car forward a few inches?

Unless you know of a certain type of car where that's possible, I would imagine that would damage the car unless they lift up the drive wheels and place them on coasters or something like that.

Because the parking pawl and possibly emergency brake is likely engaged and trying to forcing the car to roll while it's engaged would likely break it.

A better option would be something like a "courtesy tow" that DC used to do. Where if your car was parked in an area designated in an area where you're not supposed to, ie due to street cleaning or something like that, they'd tow it and leave it an area where you're allowed to park. Not sure if they still do that.

But parking in the neighbor's driveway and making sure they know is probably the best and most peaceful solution.

If you have enough strong people to push the car (who kind of know what they're doing), it's probably easiest to flip the car onto its roof then push it.

Not necessarily advisable (bad relation with neighbor, criminal/civil liability), but probably the easiest way to move it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would call a tow company and not have a second thought about it.

Good luck with that. No tow company is going to touch that car just because you asked them to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Park on the street.

+1, or, you can always park in such a way as to block your own driveway, too.

Just because your driveway is there doesn’t mean you are required to use it. You can park directly in front of it. It’s YOUR driveway.





Or, go park in the neighbors driveway. They’re out of town it’s not like they’re gonna say no.

You need to familiarize yourself with your local ordinances before you park blocking your own driveway. That’s legal in some places and illegal in others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m confused. Why is the neighbors driveway empty? Wouldn’t their car be in it since they are on vacation? If not, why didn’t the family member park there?

The most likely explanation is that the extended family member parked in the street because the neighbors were driving to the airport in their car(s) and the extended family member couldn’t block the garage. Normally they probably would have moved the extended family’s car into the driveway or garage but they were probably running late or something else distracted them.

OP, congratulations for being normal person and handling this in a reasonable way instead of creating WWIII on your block over a mistake.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m confused. Why is the neighbors driveway empty? Wouldn’t their car be in it since they are on vacation? If not, why didn’t the family member park there?

This. This just elevated neighbor to even more dick status because they parked on the street (poorly) instead of their own damn driveway. I hope you show them this thread, OP!

But everybody and the OP is concerned about bothering them. Seriously stop being doormats and quiet martyrs.

I had assumed their driveway was full, which is why she asked for advice. Puzzling why she couldn’t come up with the park in their driveway solution on her own.

Op you still need to let them know that the car is blocking your driveway and you’ll be parking in their driveway so you don’t hit it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would call a tow company and not have a second thought about it.

Good luck with that. No tow company is going to touch that car just because you asked them to.

My daughter when she was first driving blocked someone’s driveway and they absolutely called the police to tow it. Rightfully so. Thankfully the police called me first (small town) so we were able to move it but I would have done the same thing.

[Anonymous]

(1) Live with it

(2) Get it towed and ask them not to say it was you who called (or have someone else call and report the illegally parked car)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Call them, they can overnight you the key to move it.

What's a car key? Seriously haven't used one in almost 5 years now.