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Driveway Blocker
updated: Jul 31, 2012, 12:29 PM

By Edhat Subscriber

I live in a sort of duplex, where the property has a house at the front of the driveway and a house at the end. The driveway is straight, pretty long and the end goes right to my garage. The front house has a small 1 car garage that they must turn into after going about half way down the driveway. So the problem is that multiple times a day, my neighbors have their car sitting in the driveway, forcing me to honk and wait for them to move. I've asked them nicely if they could try and get out of this habit and its still been going on for a few years. Any thoughts on finding a solution? Thanks

Comments in order of when they were received | (reverse order)

ROGER DODGER	2012-07-31 12:31 PM
Wood Chipper..
COMMENT 303330	2012-07-31 12:38 PM
Move or get them to.
COMMENT 303333	2012-07-31 12:47 PM
We used to have the same problem at our other house. Call the cops, what they are doing is illegal, the cops will handle it.
COMMENT 303336	2012-07-31 12:48 PM
Call a tow truck.
COMMENT 303337P	2012-07-31 12:48 PM
If they're not receptive to a cordial discussion then I'd bring in the landlord unless you all own the units. In that case, you might have to "kick it up a notch." Good luck & keep us posted to the outcome.
COMMENT 303342	2012-07-31 12:50 PM
If you are not willing to get more pissed off at them and start screaming and yelling at your ingrate neighbors until they stop or you are forced to take an ice pick to their tires, then the only solution is to move.
COMMENT 303346	2012-07-31 12:55 PM
333 - if they are not on public property (aka the street), the cops can't do anything about it. OP - your property manager can contract with a towing company. The towing company will come and post no parking signs where needed. You can then legally have violating vehicles removed. Most people only need to get towed away once to get the message. This is an agressive move but it sounds like polite requests are not working. Wish you luck - stuff like this is difficult.
COMMENT 303350P	2012-07-31 01:01 PM
I like 346's advice. If it was me, I'd probably borrow a friend's monster truck and push their car out of the way.
COMMENT 303353	2012-07-31 01:05 PM
I would take a photo and send to your landlord every time your access is blocked. Hopefully your landlord will deal with the situation, or reimburse you for the lack of on site parking.
COMMENT 303354	2012-07-31 01:06 PM
I like Rogers idea...
COMMENT 303355P	2012-07-31 01:06 PM
They may think the 'system' that you just honk is working fine (for them!). I'd let them know it's not just an inconvenience - it's a safety issue. You don't feel safe that if you had some emergency and needed to leave, you would be obstructed. From this angle, you're wondering what your next step is - landlord, cops - what would they most prefer if it happens again? Give them a choice - and then stick to it if it happens again.
COMMENT 303368	2012-07-31 01:28 PM
How about the next time you drive in and see their car gone, you back in and park nose out at the very front of the driveway, blocking their access to their usual parking space? If they honk, make them wait a bit. A shared inconvenience might make it easier to highlight the problem and find a solution. Another choice might be to ask the landlord to help you create a new dedicated parking space somewhere along the driveway if there is sufficient width.
COMMENT 303402	2012-07-31 02:33 PM
Enough with the polite honks, lean on the horn (they can go for quite a while) if there's a next time slowly push their car with your bumper. When they come out explain that next time you'll be driving straight through. You've asked and been patient, time to turn the tables.
COMMENT 303405	2012-07-31 02:40 PM
368 for the solution! Park at the very edge of the driveway near the street, if they complain, explain that this is the only way you can be sure of being able to exit. And be prepared for this to escalate, next it will be trash cans and complaints about pets, and loud music ...
COMMENT 303413	2012-07-31 02:53 PM
Communication.... as 3355 noted if you haven't talked to them before and they believe the system of you honking works better than having to park their car correctly you need to let them know it is not working for you. Be cordial. It's only because you've bottled it up so long that you've created such a charge around this. They may be totally oblivious to your frustration because you haven't let them know. Talk to them before you jump to conclusions of how they will react. Remember courtesy begets courtesy and respect towards neighbours begets same. If it doesn't then their disrespect and discourtesy should beget a return on their investment, with interest.
SUSIECHAOS	2012-07-31 03:04 PM
Strangely, we recently had a very similar problem with our new neighbors. Turned out they didn't realize it was so inconvenient for us to go to their door, knock, and wait for them to come out and move the car. Strange but true! (Maybe not...they're really young.) But also, seems like it might be against some ordinance or other to block the exit from a home...maybe your landlord could tell you. If so, the neighbor could be cited. Good luck!!
COMMENT 303436P	2012-07-31 03:20 PM
Rog, You must have access to one of those seriously industrial wood chippers. Ever see the TV show where they had the HUGE shredder that would gobble things like couches, small cars, refrigerators and the like. It's amazing! Here it is link for your "dining & dancing enjoyment." Seeing that baby show up at the OP's place would send the blocking neighbors into the hills - pronto! Right on!
COMMENT 303441	2012-07-31 03:37 PM
Since there is more than one residence using the driveway, perhaps it could be posted and designated as a 'fire lane', do not block. That might give you the legal hammer you need. Sorry your neighbors are so rude.
COMMENT 303455	2012-07-31 04:14 PM
303441 - Sounds like the same landlord owns both properties and the driveway. There might not ever have been an easement officially granted. Call the landlord and ask if it OK that you post a sign right outside your neighbors garage that states "DO NOT BLOCK DRIVE". That way they will see it every time they enter the driveway. By any chance do you live on Veronica Springs Rd? This story sounds familiar.
COMMENT 303470	2012-07-31 04:47 PM
I agree with others about trying one more time to kindly explain to them that it is very inconvenient and never ok for them to block the driveway and make you wait after honking your horn. If/when that fails, post a "no parking" or "do not block" sign. Then the next time it happens, simply call a tow truck. After the first tow, I guarantee that it won't happen again.
COMMENT 303510	2012-07-31 06:43 PM
Sorry, I failed to notice you had already talked to them. Why not block them in or out? Remind them when they come to you that you've been tolerating this for a few years and now it's their turn to get a taste of what selfish neighbours they've been.
COMMENT 303524	2012-07-31 07:20 PM
Agree the most with 303355P. Another conversation is definitely in order, as much as you don't want to have it.
COMMENT 303562P	2012-07-31 10:08 PM
Ugh. Good luck. I hate stuff like this.
COMMENT 303590	2012-08-01 07:32 AM
We had the same problem for years. Start blocking them. Leave you car behind there's and go inside and relax. Make them start honking and running to your door to get you when they want to leave. Be sure to take your sweet time when going out to move your car so they can begin to see out inconvenient it is to have someone blocking them. Best of luck.
COMMENT 303601	2012-08-01 07:57 AM
Call the cops, get it on record and ask for advice, you are being politically correct in going to them first. Then talk to your landlord or property manager and explain the situation and tell them the police already know about it. What drastic measure should YOU do next? Landlord/property manager want to keep happy, happy (I am assuming) and will handle the situation. If not, cops again and request towing or other measures. It sounds like a long road but this might take place within a few hours and you will get the reward of not having the car there anymore in a peaceable manner. And a legal one. I'm with you on this one.
EDSUP	2012-08-01 09:52 AM
303355P is right on! Especially about giving the neighbor's a choice. "What would you like me to do? This or that?" Then, when infraction occurs again, OP can comply with neighbor's choice. "But this is what you chose . . . " Then the neighbor can only be angry with themselves.
COMMENT 303646P	2012-08-01 10:21 AM
Bad neighbors can never be fixed. You will probably have to move, or put up with it. Passive aggressive is the worst, ugh. I bet they know what they are doing. But if this driveway is the only access to your house for fire or emergency, what SusieC and 441 said is right: the driveway is a fire lane and blocking it is illegal. I would think the landlord would want to enforce this to avoid major liability. A pullout or passing lane is a great idea, though it sounds like all this is squeezed right up against the edge of the property.
COMMENT 303658	2012-08-01 10:41 AM
Next time they block you in, walk up and down the driveway cursing and acting like a lunatic. Be sure they know it's all about them and their obnoxiousness. Make a scene they never want to see again!
COMMENT 303724	2012-08-01 02:06 PM
Talk to them and explain the problem again. Ask for their email addess. Send them a link to this thread. Ask them to choose what method they would use if your car was blocking the common driveway. Then, when you find their car blocking the common driveway, perform their selected action. Because bad neighbors can only be fixed by education (IF they realize it's education and become educated) and not by bad behavior, it's probably a bad idea to run up and down cursing and acting like a lunatic. They may call the cops on YOU!

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