Political Crossfire Forums

[Nathyn]

OK, so in my neighborhood, in our driveway outside, people have a tendency to park their cars along the driveway, so that the view is obstructed and the road width is reduced considerably. If this is only a few cars, it's not a problem, but it isn't. It ends up being so that the entire road itself is used as parking space.

Now, granted, there's a limited number of land on this Earth and tons of cars, so they'll have to park somewhere. What I object to is when a couple or single family owns four, five, or six cars and uses public roads as a parking garage (likely violating zoning laws too) and when people park their company vehicles (plumbing vans, construction vans, etc) and recreational vehicles (boats, trailers, tow trucks, etc) along the side of the road. So, I'm not asking that they eliminate everybody's privilege to park on the side of the road, but simply that they crack down on the folks using public roads as a parking garage for their boats and company cars. On some very rare occasions, I've actually seen tractor trailers on the side of the road and it's particularly dangerous.

Well, I went out to measure and here are the measurements:

The road itself is about 35 feet wide. The largest vehicle I could find out there was a trailer which was seven feet wide. Worst case scenario is that there are two trailers parked on both sides and two trailers driving both ways, which would be about 28 feet. In this case, each vehicle would only have about a foot-and-a-half of space between them. If anybody takes more than a foot-and-a-half, it subtracts from everybody else's space.

I'm planning on writing my local government, my homeowner's association, and going to my local law library to see if any law is currently being broken.

Except I'm not sure exactly how to go about it. The roads are technically governed by the homeowners' association, I believe. I'm sure I can dig up my homeowners' association's contact info, but which government official to write to? The County Council? The County Executive? The mayor's office? Perhaps I should contact the Department of Public Works and Transportation?

If the homeowners' association also refuses to comply with my request, I might also be able to file a complaint with the Office of Consumer Protection, on the grounds that lack of proper regulation of the roads is a threat to my life. Of course, in that case, I believe I'd have to go to court.

Oh, and I'm sure some of the Libertarians here might just ask, "Why don't you move?"

Not all goods are inherently subject to demand, in totality, because for practical reasons, people can't just sell their car because they find one feature is bad (not to mention the loss in value) and a person can't just up and move every time their homeowners' association is difficult to deal with. Ultimately, the argument, "Why don't you just cancel the contract and find somebody else?" ends up having the same answer as, "If you don't like this country's government, why don't you move?" That is to say, I shouldn't have to.

[Fido]

Complain to everyone if it makes you feel better that no one gives a shet. I would like to point out to you that Whigs and Abolitionists visiting the South equated the lousy roads found there with a lack of morals. They even said: Bad road equal bad morals.
Essentially it is the same. A slave owning class of wealth on top which refuse to pay taxes, and a class of working men who find no honor in working for slave wages. To fix the roads some one has to pay for it, and some one has to do it. No one who can do it will do it for nothing, and those with something will pay nothing for good roads. So your land becomes hollow, without the infrastructure to support even a small war, or the social amenities of civilization. Let's just pretend we are a rich country, when really we are a land of many kings and multitudes of peasants.

[agentkgb]

Nathyn wrote: when a couple or single family owns four, five, or six cars
:shock: Tell them to give a couple of cars to me.

I don't know who you would complain to though. I'd contact the homeowners association if they're technically in charge of the roads, but if they're in charge of them and won't do anything then it seems like no one else could either.

[Nathyn]

agentkgb wrote: Nathyn wrote: when a couple or single family owns four, five, or six cars
:shock: Tell them to give a couple of cars to me.

I don't know who you would complain to though. I'd contact the homeowners association if they're technically in charge of the roads, but if they're in charge of them and won't do anything then it seems like no one else could either.
Local governments can, I believe.

There's sort of shared jurisdiction.

[agentkgb]

Nathyn wrote: agentkgb wrote: Nathyn wrote: when a couple or single family owns four, five, or six cars
:shock: Tell them to give a couple of cars to me.

I don't know who you would complain to though. I'd contact the homeowners association if they're technically in charge of the roads, but if they're in charge of them and won't do anything then it seems like no one else could either.
Local governments can, I believe.

There's sort of shared jurisdiction.
In that case, I guess I'd try to find some law that's being broken. Otherwise I don't think you'll be able to do anything.

[Richard Owl Mirror]

Here are some other cases that might give you an idea of how to proceed.



Lake Elsinore considering change to parking laws
Quote: Parking boats, trailers, motor homes and other oversized vehicles on city streets would only be allowed for a 24-hour period under a new parking ordinance the City Council is considering.

Existing laws on oversized vehicles provide for 72-hour windows, but city officials say their increasing presence around town for such long stretches creates a public safety hazard for motorists and pedestrians ---- particularly children ---- who sometimes can't see around the big vehicles parked on neighborhood streets.

After taking a look at the oversized-vehicle issue and the city's parking laws overall, the Public Safety Advisory Commission decided last month to recommend that the council adopt an ordinance that would shorten the parking period and outline which kinds of vehicles would be restricted.


The City Council is scheduled to consider the ordinance at its meeting on Tuesday.

Public Safety Commission Chairman Ron Hewison said Thursday that, along with posing a safety hazard, oversized vehicles parked on neighborhood streets also hamper street cleaners, creating another kind of hazard.

~snip~

Petition For Parking Change
To propose a change of use for specific on-street parking spaces, print the Petition for Change to Public Parking, fill it out, and mail to:

Double-parking solutions offered
Quote: A panel charged with alleviating parking problems around D.C. churches on Sundays recommends cracking down on double-parkers.
"The current parking moratorium should be ended and ... the Metropolitan Police Department and the D.C. Department of Public Works be instructed to commence full enforcement throughout the city," the 14-member task force said yesterday.
The report recommended that each neighborhood with Sunday parking problems form its own task force, and that full enforcement begin by early April.
"Essentially, the spirit of the task force report is that each church realizing that not every community has the same parking problems, but there are problems with just there being enough space," said Henry Stewart, community affairs director for Mayor Anthony A. Williams. "Each community will be charged to work with the church and the [Advisory Neighborhood Commission] in a collaborative way."
Churchgoers have been allowed to ignore D.C. laws against double parking for at least 30 years. However, as the city's high-priced housing market drove some parishioners into the suburbs and gave way to new residents, Sunday parking in neighborhoods such as Logan Circle and U Street has become a contentious issue between residents and churchgoers.
Residents say double parking blocks in their vehicles and creates traffic-safety hazards, and that the laws should be enforced.
~snip~

Off-Street Parking Bye-Laws (Northern Ireland) 1996

~@~

I don't know if any of the above will help you.
I would say your homeowners association is the first place to start.
I would center my argument on BLIGHT, Childrens safety.
The blight argument could go along the path of depreciation of property value.
The Childrens safety issue could focus on kids on bikes not having an escape route if in trouble while riding a bike, etc...

Good Luck !

[cap'n queasy]

Nathyn wrote: OK, so in my neighborhood, in our driveway outside, people have a tendency to park their cars along the driveway, so that the view is obstructed and the road width is reduced considerably. If this is only a few cars, it's not a problem, but it isn't. It ends up being so that the entire road itself is used as parking space.

Now, granted, there's a limited number of land on this Earth and tons of cars, so they'll have to park somewhere. What I object to is when a couple or single family owns four, five, or six cars and uses public roads as a parking garage (likely violating zoning laws too) and when people park their company vehicles (plumbing vans, construction vans, etc) and recreational vehicles (boats, trailers, tow trucks, etc) along the side of the road. So, I'm not asking that they eliminate everybody's privilege to park on the side of the road, but simply that they crack down on the folks using public roads as a parking garage for their boats and company cars. On some very rare occasions, I've actually seen tractor trailers on the side of the road and it's particularly dangerous.

Well, I went out to measure and here are the measurements:

The road itself is about 35 feet wide. The largest vehicle I could find out there was a trailer which was seven feet wide. Worst case scenario is that there are two trailers parked on both sides and two trailers driving both ways, which would be about 28 feet. In this case, each vehicle would only have about a foot-and-a-half of space between them. If anybody takes more than a foot-and-a-half, it subtracts from everybody else's space.

I'm planning on writing my local government, my homeowner's association, and going to my local law library to see if any law is currently being broken.

Except I'm not sure exactly how to go about it. The roads are technically governed by the homeowners' association, I believe. I'm sure I can dig up my homeowners' association's contact info, but which government official to write to? The County Council? The County Executive? The mayor's office? Perhaps I should contact the Department of Public Works and Transportation?

If the homeowners' association also refuses to comply with my request, I might also be able to file a complaint with the Office of Consumer Protection, on the grounds that lack of proper regulation of the roads is a threat to my life. Of course, in that case, I believe I'd have to go to court.

Oh, and I'm sure some of the Libertarians here might just ask, "Why don't you move?"

Not all goods are inherently subject to demand, in totality, because for practical reasons, people can't just sell their car because they find one feature is bad (not to mention the loss in value) and a person can't just up and move every time their homeowners' association is difficult to deal with. Ultimately, the argument, "Why don't you just cancel the contract and find somebody else?" ends up having the same answer as, "If you don't like this country's government, why don't you move?" That is to say, I shouldn't have to.

What do your parents, the homeowners, have to say about the situation?

[jamesp]

you need to learn if the local parking ordinance has been violated.

IF it has been, then you must decide if you are gonna be the one who calls the Police..and then gets labled as the BAD neighbor.

The problem here is so typical in tight neighborhoods, some folks realy try to have some concern for there neighbors, others don't really give a rats butt..

That photo above with the Boat on the street speaks volumes.

Years back when we purchased our first home in a small neighborhood with a very narrow street, they did the same thing, people had 3 or 4 cars and parked them everywhere and in many cases the street was just about blocked. Well one time I recall that one of the cars got sideswiped, they called the Police and when the Police came the owner got chewed out for having the car halfway into the Street. The Police pretty much told the owner that there is nothing they could do and it would be wise if they didn't actually park in such a manner as to block the street.

Typical case of I don't care if I am blocking my neighbor but my neighbor had better be careful around MY car...