View Full Version : How to stop people parking in front of your garage?
Any ideas?
My garage is on a narrow road, cars parked on both sides of it and more than occasionally someone is parking their car in front of my lock up.
Well yes, I'll manage to squeeze out on the bike but there is a car parking in there as well. Today I really struggled to get out but the guy who I rent the place from was grounded.
I phoned up the non emergency police line, but got a message "they are having difficulties contacting the owner of the car and maybe I should think about getting to work by alternative measures" and they can't help me. So in short, park car wherever you want and switch your mobile off, you'll be ok :smt076
Anybody got any ideas (other than smashing windows etc) what could be done? Is it possible to get a double yellow line painted?
Cheers
Dyzio
Get in contact with a private clamping company, they'll put the obligatory signs up and if they clamp someone you'll get a cut of the profits.
Couple of firms near where i work have done it as they're hacked off with gym members using their car parks.
kwak zzr
17-06-09, 08:33 AM
keep letting their tyres down :)
clamping is illegal in scotland..
leave a polite but demanding letter informing the owner that lockup is in 24hr use
pegasus
17-06-09, 08:35 AM
just a thought but how about putting a flip down metal bollard there. follow this link:-
http://www.total-fencing.co.uk/lift-out-posts.htm
There is probably some law that says you cant have one there but if the bollard were removable you might be able to work around it....hth.
gruntygiggles
17-06-09, 08:40 AM
Don't bother with the police with this.....call your local council highways department and tell them that you are having access to your garage blocked on a regular basis and you need something done about it.
Before you call, consider this......does that car also narrow the access to the rest of the road? If it does, tell the council that by parking in front of your garage, it is also blocking an emergency access route and you would hate for an ambulance or fire engine to be blocked by it should anyone need their help.
It's horrible to turn yourself into a whining, moaning old fogie....but sometimes it's what you need to do. Take photos the next time the car is there and tell the council you need to have access to the garage 24hrs.
If you haven't done it already, put a sign on the garage door to say, "no parking, access required" and if it was me, I'd also buy one of those cheap cameras and put that up too with a sign to say, "CCTV in operation". If that doesn't stop them, sending tapes, photos and many phone calls to the council will get something done.......eventually.
Whatever you do though, don't do anything to the vehicle........you'll just get yourself in trouble.
Only other alternative would be to get the owner to park his car there so that person has to find somewhere else!
gruntygiggles
17-06-09, 08:41 AM
Get in contact with a private clamping company, they'll put the obligatory signs up and if they clamp someone you'll get a cut of the profits.
Couple of firms near where i work have done it as they're hacked off with gym members using their car parks.
+1....didn't know they would do it in the private sector.....good one Cuffy!
I would put big clear signs up saying 24hr access required. Illegally parked cars will be removed.
Ok, you wont remove the car but it would make people think twice. Alternatively put signs up and if people ignore them do your worst......I'm not one for damaging people pride and joy but pure ignorance ****es me right off.
the_lone_wolf
17-06-09, 08:44 AM
I phoned up the non emergency police line, but got a message "they are having difficulties contacting the owner of the car and maybe I should think about getting to work by alternative measures"
http://www.tankmania.co.uk/resources/tank-mania-24.png
?
;)
Get in contact with a private clamping company, they'll put the obligatory signs up and if they clamp someone you'll get a cut of the profits.
Couple of firms near where i work have done it as they're hacked off with gym members using their car parks.
Googled it found this (http://www.flashpark.co.uk/howitworks.php?gclid=COPH_NX1kJsCFZQU4wod6T0wow), Looks interesting, I'll give them a call later.
clamping is illegal in scotland..
leave a polite but demanding letter informing the owner that lockup is in 24hr use
Hope it doesn't include the previous link.
I left a nice note a few times, it helped, but someone new started using the free space.
Whatever you do though, don't do anything to the vehicle........you'll just get yourself in trouble.
You have no idea how difficult this is ;)
Thank you for that post, unfortunately, they don't block anything, apart from the way out.
http://www.tankmania.co.uk/resources/tank-mania-24.png
I'm liking this... :D
I would put big clear signs up saying 24hr access required. Illegally parked cars will be removed.
There are "no parking" signs on the door, you can't miss them, apart from that, it's a freekin' garage door, I'd think it's obvious you shouldn't park there.
if people ignore them do your worst......I'm not one for damaging people pride and joy but pure ignorance ****es me right off.
Must... resist....:smt077
Thank you for all suggestions.
Alpinestarhero
17-06-09, 09:01 AM
put cones out?
timwilky
17-06-09, 09:05 AM
Throw a brick through their window, as soon as the alarm goes off, they will soon come running.
Seriously, give it a good shake and see if you can trigger an alarm.
As for phoning the council. waste of a phone call. I regularly phone mine to try to establish why they have not emptied my bins. Usually they will start with the excuse, your bin was not out on time etc. you then point out they have not emptied anyone's bin and they go check. usually it is a vehicle blocking access.
My current bug bear is this prat parking
http://www.twsoft.co.uk/parking.jpg
And another of his is
http://www.twsoft.co.uk/parking2.jpg
gruntygiggles
17-06-09, 09:13 AM
Phoning the highways department has worked for me in the past quite weel on two ocasions when I've complained about cars that have blocked emergency access. I guess it's different councils having different priorities, but mine too is carp when it come to emptying bins and complaints about that.
That parking in the first pic is jus ridiculous!
gotta agree with Tim phoning the council was a complete waste of time for me when cars parked right outside my garage door. i left notes asking them not to do it i sounded my horn, banged on doors. all the council said was keep a diary!!.
gotta go with setting off their alarm i know its not right or clever but it works
gruntygiggles
17-06-09, 09:46 AM
gotta agree with Tim phoning the council was a complete waste of time for me when cars parked right outside my garage door. i left notes asking them not to do it i sounded my horn, banged on doors. all the council said was keep a diary!!.
gotta go with setting off their alarm i know its not right or clever but it works
Yeah......got to agree with you both if your council are not doing anything........it's not exactly criminal damage is it, so go for it and watch them come running!
Is there proper signage on the garage door? And/or any kind of line on the road? If so, start by putting cones out and setting off alarms... keep a diary and put a list of the dates etc under the wiper of any regular offenders....
Any ideas?
Cheers
Dyzio
Claymore Mines
Is there proper signage on the garage door? .
2 "no parking" signs.
Claymore Mines
http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/8720/87001702.jpg
:(
metalangel
17-06-09, 10:20 AM
A 'Garage in constant use' sign at least gives them fair warning... and then a polite note on the windshield.
If that fails, you need that tank to drive over it. Yes.
I used to have people parking in my designated spot for the flat I used to live in. I'd double park next to them (which would only make their life difficult, not any of the other spaces in the lot, before anyone asks) and put a note advising them that the number written on the space is not just for fun, it means it belongs to a certain flat. Nobody ever did it twice.
We used to have huge problems at a former workplace as it was in a business park... each unit had a parking lot around it, but the unit across from ours was an orthodontists so we'd have lots of haughty parents taking Junior to have his teeth bent the right way who would park in our spaces as it was nearer the front door as opposed to the ortho place's ones at the back.
Now, as it's a business park (Cardiff Business Park, J30 M4), EVERYONE drove as there was no bus service - in fact, I regularly gave two if not four people lift to and from work such was the remoteness. Hence, we used every space in our lot and then some, with regular car musical chairs to let people out.
So if one of these parents took a space, it left us with big problems, and if we spotted one we had to run out and tell them they couldn't park there. It fell to me one day and I jogged up to the woman as she was leaving the car and politely asked if she could move it to the ortho lot as this was our lot and it was full and hence we needed every space. She told me she didn't care what I was saying and without breaking stride marched with her kid into the clinic.
I told my bosses and they gave me the keys to the pool car and told me to block her in. We then watched and waited for her return. Needless to say, she burst into reception f'ing and blinding about how we had no right to detain her like this and 'that car had better be moved or I'll let the tires down' (oh yes, brilliant, that'll really expedite your departure, daft moo) and we told her it was our private property, we can park our cars however we like.
:D
put cones out?
Thats what i do, where i keep my bike people keep blocking the access, so put notices up, followed by notes and now cones-seems to work :cool:
SoulKiss
17-06-09, 10:28 AM
I told my bosses and they gave me the keys to the pool car and told me to block her in. We then watched and waited for her return. Needless to say, she burst into reception f'ing and blinding about how we had no right to detain her like this and 'that car had better be moved or I'll let the tires down' (oh yes, brilliant, that'll really expedite your departure, daft moo) and we told her it was our private property, we can park our cars however we like.
:D
So, how long did you leave her to stew?
amarko5
17-06-09, 10:29 AM
an accidental drop of a box of screws in front and behind the wheel, can usually get a response.
if you leave the messy screws there and drive round em yourself it will deter them in future, as nobody like a puncture or the expense of one.
metalangel
17-06-09, 10:31 AM
So, how long did you leave her to stew?
About 15 minutes... we took our time getting moving the car back out of the way.
We saw a few people actually get into their cars without noticing we'd done it, and then start bouncing up and down with rage when they realized. I think one even phoned her husband for 'help' because she thought she was trapped.
Honestly, though... the clinic tried to help and put up a big sign in their reception saying 'PLEASE DON'T PARK ACROSS THE WAY', and we had a sign put up saying 'private parking' but people just don't give a toss.
an accidental drop of a box of screws in front and behind the wheel, can usually get a response.
if you leave the messy screws there and drive round em yourself it will deter them in future, as nobody like a puncture or the expense of one.
Don't fancy doing damage (ok, I'd fancy it, just don't want to get caught).
Other than that, there's a car in there as well, so it would be a problem.
I think I'll get one of these
http://i20.ebayimg.com/05/i/001/3d/61/51bc_1.JPG
as well + print out some notes, maybe it'll work.If not, I'll be giving the Flashpark people a call.
There were cones put out earlier, but they've magically disappeared.
EDIT:
FlashPark works only on private property :/
There were cones put out earlier, but they've magically disappeared.
/
Chain/tie them together ;) harder for them to move (can you guess im good at this lol)
yorkie_chris
17-06-09, 11:39 AM
Have you got a local mate with a big motor? Just drag the offending motor out of the way. You can use a couple of trolley jacks same way if it's a smooth surface.
Have you got a local mate with a big motor? Just drag the offending motor out of the way. You can use a couple of trolley jacks same way if it's a smooth surface.
It's downhill, even better :D car bowling anyone?
We had this twice.....
First time, we dragged the car out of the way, left it down the road with a "friendly" note.. Never come back..
Next up, a Granda, the doors wern't locked, so we hotwired the bugger and drove it 500m down the road :lol:
No issues after that.
timwilky
17-06-09, 11:53 AM
We had an agreement with a garage to tow away vehicles parked on our drive. Ignorant sods would knock on the front door, have you seen anyone take my car?
Where did you park it?
Down there!
What on our drive?
No the road!
No that is our drive. We thought it had been dumped and asked a scrap yard to take it away.
Local plod knew the score and worked with us. Garage got a recovery fee. All happy but ignorant sods who parked on the drive
yorkie_chris
17-06-09, 11:54 AM
Like he says about the polite notes, different cars do it if one moves... so don't know whether this would work. Deterring one will just leave a free space for next one...
Sir Trev
17-06-09, 11:56 AM
I'd suggest setting the alarm off constantly (without causing damage of course) until the battery goes flat. Trouble is it gets bl00dy annoying for you and the neighbours, especially if it takes a while.
Can you or a mate block them in like Metal Angel did? Or perhaps build a small brick wall around the car with quick drying cement??
Spiderman
17-06-09, 11:59 AM
I'd be worried abut touching or moving the car in question tbh...you leave yourself open to all kinds of allegations of damage to the car that wasn't there before you moved it.
Firm note under windscreen wiper and take a pic of note there too. If they do it again, a much more strongly worded note, photo again. Keep copies of the notes of course too.
3rd time, i'd scatter as much sharp pointy stuff as possible around all of his wheels. Make it obvious and he wont just try driving away...he'll have to spend ages cleaning it up and hopefully in this time you can get out to have a word with the driver about his ignorant behaviour.
Letting down tyres etc may get you the same treatment and from the sound of it this person has no respect for tother so why would he not throw a brick thru your window f you let his tyres down.
if he gives you any verbal or attitude when you go out to talk to him, dont waste time and effort and risk getting into a fight, just go in and call the cops.
I'm sure they wont come but they get it on record that a 999 call was made about this person and his threatening behaviour.
metalangel
17-06-09, 12:15 PM
Yeah, there's no need to be a tosser about this at first, it's only after repeated polite attempts that you have to resort to nastiness.
From my experiences I'm the most considerate parker in the world (the street where I park, there's room for two cars each side, it boggles my mind when someone comes, parks right in the middle of the spots meaning there's only half a car's worth on either side, and then just wanders off and leaves it there for the weekend) which is all the more reason why I hate that Victor Meldrew guy further down the aforementioned street who had several goes at me for parking down there. Grrrr.
I had a similar problem when I first moved in to my current house. Builders and then the next door neighbours would park in front of the garage. I started off by looking to see if there was a car there, and then waking up the neighbours at 7 am to get them to move it. Then I stopped bothering, they didn't park there again after I took their wing mirror off with the garage door :D
grh1904
17-06-09, 12:25 PM
Have you thought of trying this: -
I'm currently on an attachment to CID, but before that I was a neighbourhood Policing team (beat bobby). Recently the government has introduced things called PACT (partnerships and communities together), that means there is a monthly meeting where local bobbies & PCSO's get together with council, social services, fire & rescue etc at a public meeting to meet residents and discuss their concers & (allegedly) act upon them.
Alongside that the top 10 or 15 problem addresses in the town where I police are dealt with as a priority, after all they are the addresses that we the Police could be called to several times a week etc, thereby being a drain on resources, tackle the underlying problem etc.
I know this drones on but bear with me.
Anyway one resident had a problem similar to yours, eventually when the Police got there (usually a foot patrol PC or PCSO who has just taken 45 mins to an hour to walk there) all they could really do was issue a non-endorsable ticket for unnecessary obstruction - the garage owner had already made their "alternative" arrangements.
Another anyway, this chap obviously knew the score - he phoned in every day someone blocked his drive - that amounted to at least 3 or 4 times per week. By the end of the month his address was the most problematic in the town, and as such the local Crime & Disorder Reduction Partnership HAD (Under these new PACT thingys) to take action.
Whenever he called in to the Police his address automatically popped up on the screen as a priority - a panda was dispatched - result being a vehicle got towed away for obstructing the highway (preventing vehicles from private land entering that highway which is open to the public). This happened a couple fo times - you'd be surprised how quickly word spreads when someone has to pay £100 to get their own wheels back.
The local council HAD to take action and introduced resident parking only etc. Result - no more problems albeit with a yearly charge (£50???) for a resident parking permit.
As a :plod: I shoulodn't really say this - but make a total pain in the butt of yourself. Every time someone blocks the drive - phone & complain.
Eventually you will become such a pain that something will be done. Wrong I know but the thin blue line just doesn't have the resources like it used to.
Bluewolf
17-06-09, 12:29 PM
Better still, get one of these...
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g257/Bluewolf666/Bikes/security.jpg
:smt077
(no, not a Gixxer ;) )
Aww both bike & dog are gorgeous hun!
Biker Biggles
17-06-09, 12:43 PM
Have you got a local mate with a big motor? Just drag the offending motor out of the way. You can use a couple of trolley jacks same way if it's a smooth surface.
Done this before and it works a treat.Especially if you drag the car out into the road and report it for causing an obstruction :smt068
Bluewolf
17-06-09, 01:50 PM
Aww both bike & dog are gorgeous hun!
Cheers sweetie :D
She'd look better in front of an R1 though... ;) :lol:
Cheers sweetie :D
She'd look better in front of an R1 though... ;) :lol:
*Quck de-rail*
Borrow Cos's (you know who i mean Bluewolf) im sure he would be more than willing
*Quck de-rail*
Oi!! ;)
Nothing wrong with the gsxr, a puppy would be nice as well ;) (what's that green in the background?)
Hmm... Could I be done for putting "Please, don't park here, 24h access required" stickers on the window? The ones that are a b!tch to take off? (not on the front windscreen).
Gazza77
17-06-09, 02:35 PM
Oi!! ;)
Nothing wrong with the gsxr, a puppy would be nice as well ;) (what's that green in the background?)
Hmm... Could I be done for putting "Please, don't park here, 24h access required" stickers on the window? The ones that are a b!tch to take off? (not on the front windscreen).
My gf's mother once got fed up of being blocked in by people parking directly outside the school where she worked. One day she stuck a notice to the screen of a skip wagon that had parked up telling the driver not to park so inconsiderately. She used superglue. :cool:
Jamiebridges123
17-06-09, 03:47 PM
-snip-
Interesting...
I'm thankful I live in a culdesac. Our neighbours are fairly considerate when it comes to respecting our drive. Happy days. :D
You live in Torry.
Couple of bottles of Bucky given to the local neds, tell them to pan the car in.
Think the guy will get the message.
All for the cost of 2 bottles of Bucky :)
SoulKiss
17-06-09, 04:12 PM
You live in Torry.
Couple of bottles of Bucky given to the local neds, tell them to pan the car in.
Think the guy will get the message.
All for the cost of 2 bottles of Bucky :)
Nothing wrong with Torry* - I used to work there (TSB Bank).
*That a couple of tons of Cemtex wouldn't fix :)
Miss Alpinestarhero
17-06-09, 04:16 PM
I have a similar problem too.
There's this lady who drops her child off to my next door neighbours house every morning, and rather than use an empty space along the road, she'l park in my driveway (even if theres an empty space to the right). Now this only takes about 4/5 minutes but it REALLY winds me up because she always arrives just as me and matt need to leave.
I havent mentioned anything so far, but its more of a problem now because we need to use the driveway space for a third car. She even double parked in front of the drive despite there being a huuuuge parking space this morning! Next time she does it, im having a word. :smt094 :smt062
She probably does it cus no one has ever said no, so now she thinks its OK.
Jamiebridges123
17-06-09, 04:28 PM
Have more than word.. bitch slap her and tell her to get stuffed lol :D
Miss Alpinestarhero
17-06-09, 04:38 PM
Have more than word.. bitch slap her and tell her to get stuffed lol :D
lol better than that....i'll judo chop her ;) ka-pow!
You live in Torry.
Couple of bottles of Bucky given to the local neds, tell them to pan the car in.
Think the guy will get the message.
All for the cost of 2 bottles of Bucky :)
Hehehe, normally I wouldn't hesitate, but if someone would see me... combine that with my nationality and now imagine the headlines :)
Samurai Penguin
17-06-09, 05:45 PM
Put up your own sign such as http://www.parrs.co.uk/product-PARRS-Wheel-Clamp-Signs-E186.htm
ethariel
17-06-09, 06:05 PM
Would it be out of order to suggest buying a 99p waterpistol and a £2 bottle of DOT4 Brake fluid?
BanditPat
17-06-09, 06:48 PM
Would it be out of order to suggest buying a 99p waterpistol and a £2 bottle of DOT4 Brake fluid?
There was a woman that used to park her car at the bottom of my grans drive, my car lives there because there's not any room on ours any how she decided to park there one day that I was going out so i touched on and pushed the car across the road and then told them when I got back, she doesent park there any more she parks over her own drive.
seedy100
17-06-09, 08:14 PM
Self adhesive label, with a nice strong adhesive, stuck on to the windscreen right in the drivers eyeline. A nice polite message like "Now **** off".
No damage but, with the right adhesive, very difficult and time consuming to remove.
Hmm.. this was brought up earlier, not sure if I could be in done for them, especially on the windscreen.
How are these super sticky labels called?
Kilted Ginger
17-06-09, 08:35 PM
You cant do it on the windscreen or front side windows mate, pretty sure it some form of offence to do with making the car undrivable by obscuring the drivers view. You are however allowed to put it on the back door windows.
I'm sure someone with more knowledge of scottish law will be along to correct me soon, but that is my understanding.
ALso as said before call police every time, taking photos of car in question. repeated calls gets action.
metalangel
18-06-09, 06:10 AM
Write 'F off you b'stard' or similar mirrored, stick it on the rear window.
Then, when they're driving, they'll look in the rear view mirror, read the message, and be so surprised/confused that they'll drive into a petrol tanker full of nuns or something and die.
Bluewolf
18-06-09, 08:37 AM
*Quck de-rail*
Borrow Cos's (you know who i mean Bluewolf) im sure he would be more than willing
More than willing to do what..? Laugh hysterically before telling me to eff off..? ;):smt043
1st time: Polite note.
2nd time: Not so polite note.
3rd time: Dog Sh** under his door handles.
He'll not park there again!
Sir Trev
18-06-09, 01:15 PM
Self adhesive label, with a nice strong adhesive, stuck on to the windscreen right in the drivers eyeline. A nice polite message like "Now **** off".
No damage but, with the right adhesive, very difficult and time consuming to remove.
The security guys at my uni used to do this to p1llocks who abandoned their cars wherever they could (never enough spaces). They'd scrape enough off to be able to vaguely see but they'd have bits of sticker on their cars for weeks!
How about putting up clamping signs and if they don't work clamping them yourself! Clamps are only fifty notes or so. Bit drastic I know but picture their face when they find it on there and the way you can lecture them before eventually taking it off!!!!!!
Spiderman
18-06-09, 01:53 PM
How about putting up clamping signs and if they don't work clamping them yourself! Clamps are only fifty notes or so. Bit drastic I know but picture their face when they find it on there and the way you can lecture them before eventually taking it off!!!!!!
:lol: If you'd bothered to read even the first 4 or 5 posts of this thread you'd have learnt that clamping of vehicles in Scotland is illegal.
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