Pet Peeve #56,890: Douchebags using our private parking lot as a pick-up/drop-off area

[sniffa]

We live across the street from a major subway/bus station so everyone and their mother parks in our spots, or blocks the entryway or litters or uses our dumpster. Some people even park illegally to go take the train or whatever. Every time someone's in my spot, by the time the tow truck gets here the guy's returned and left and I have to deal with a pissed off tow truck driver.

Today I came home with my big, clunky work van and there was a chauffeur parked in the spot next to mine, crooked and hanging into my space. He was hanging outside smoking (he was so fucking trashy looking too. He also had an ugly mustache.) and watching me trying to fit my van into my spot around his obstruction. I should have dented his fucking car.

It infuriates me and I swear one day I'm going to fuck somebody up... or at least their cars. There's no need for it either since the station actually has a parking lot and a pick-up/drop-off area on the other side.

[Alexander]

1. You can always leave a friendly note on the windshield.

If that doesn't work, you can always pee on the door handle.

Or if you want to compromise, leave a friendly note that makes them think you peed on the door handle.

A crowbar works too.

[sniffa]

4. Some of the ignorant dicks

actually act annoyed/angry at me when I inform them that there parked in my spot and they need to move.

They then proceed to back out and park in somebody else' private spot (that we pay through the nose for).

I haven't blown up at someone yet but maybe it's time to start.

[Alexander]

6. Are there any signs up in those spots?

If not, you could make your own, along the lines of "Private Property. Do not park here. Your car will be towed."

I don't know how much a wheel clamp or boot costs, but if you really want to tow someone's car and are afraid of them leaving, you could always have it booted.

And you could charge a "release fee" to have it removed - you might even make money doing this.

On edit: I read your post saying there are signs. My best advice would be to get a boot, if you want to make those suckers pay without threatening them or damaging their cars.

[trof]

2. That's why they put valve stems on tires.

;-)

[Arugula Latte]

3. Do you have a reserved, specific spot?

If so, maybe you can put an orange traffic cone or two on it when you leave.

[sniffa]

5. That shouldn't be necessary

It's private property, there are several large signs saying such and that parking spots are private and you will be towed etc, and every single space has it's own "reserved parking - will be towed" sign.

People are just fucking sloths and impatient. Our side of the station is more convenient for almost any destination. The other side you have to go through an extra intersection and traffic light.

[Arugula Latte]

9. It shouldn't be necessary, but maybe a physical barrier will work better than signs.

Kind of a pain in the patootie to do that every time, though.

[flvegan]

7. Here's my idea, but remember, I'm a jerk...

I'd keep a small piece of wood with several nails pounded through it (a/k/a "Naily") handy. If someone parks in your space, call the tow truck and put Naily behind the passenger front tire. Either way, by the time the tow truck guy gets there, he's going to have a customer.

My usual fee applies.

[Alexander]

13. There's also the baloney on the car trick.

Take a slice of baloney, place it on the offender's car.

Leave it there for as long as possible.

When someone finally peels it off, the paint comes with it.

:evilgrin:

[flvegan]

18. I ain't gonna fall for no banana in the tailpipe!

[TZ]

16. Hmmm

I occasionally have the same problem with my reserved space, perhaps I will make myself a "naily" as well..:evilgrin:

[flvegan]

19. I have a boatload of dirty tricks.

[lizerdbits]

8. Could you get a towing company to patrol the lot?

And tow cars that don't belong? That might be more effective than waiting for the tow truck, but it sounds like you might have to have a truck there 24/7 which would probably be expensive.

[LeftyMom]

10. Generally the way these contracts work is that the car owner pays to get the car back.

So if you can impress upon the driver that unauthorized cars, which are nice enough that people will pay to get them back, are routinely being parked there, you should be able to get them to show.

In theory. As somebody who previously did property management my real-life experience was that getting a tow truck driver to show up the same day I called was the closest thing we ever got to good service.

[lizerdbits]

22. Our association had trouble getting a company to actually show up- even with a contract

They paid a base amount for 'patrolling' the streets but apparently never showed up so they got a new company. And the parking was bad, they could have towed 5-6 cars on my street alone each night if they bothered to show, and of course get paid for each one by the owner. There was such a difference between companies that people who got towed demanded to know why they weren't notified that the rules changed when the only difference was enforcement.

[mainegreen]

11. People do that to me. I block the fuckers in.

Want to get out? Tough shit, asswipe.

You do NOT mess with a city persons private parking space. That's a major foul right there. One of the BIG no-nos of city life.

[LeftyMom]

12. You need a big stack of these.

They're designed to be a royal bitch to remove. Stick them in the worst place you can think of. Usually on the windshield but if it's a convertible stick it to the soft top.

http://needdecals.stores.yahoo.net/pavisttowaw.html

You can probably get a stack from your management if they're cool.

[Alexander]

15. Those are perfect.

Yes, they are a pain in the ass to remove. Not that I would know from experience. O8)

Nobody will dare park there after getting one of those.

[sniffa]

20. Those are the worst

They never come off.

I like the way you think.

Most of the people who piss me off with this are in or by there cars so it won't work. :(

There's a guy that every morning comes to my lot to drop off his SO at the station. He pulls in, turns around, and parks right in the middle of the entrance for about 10-15 minutes while he says good bye or whatever. Every single morning I have to beep at him to get the fuck out of the way. You'd think he'd figure it out by now - if you're going to be a douche and use our lot don't loligag in the fucking only entry point blocking everyone.

[Lucian]

14. Next time someone does that and you've already called the tow truck...

slash all four of their fucking tires so they can't leave. That way you won't have a pissed off tow truck driver. :)

[madeline_con]

17. peeing on the door handle is fun, but not as fun as

smearing cat food on the underside. The smell will gross them out and they'll have to find a restroom to wash it off. The pee will just dry up and might go unnoticed.

[nytemare]

21. Do you live in Florida, too?

Assholes do that shit all the time here, as well. Reserved spots have giant numbers on them, and at least once a week some prickbird would be parked in my spot. About 2 weeks ago, this dickmunch parked the front corner of his car about 1/4 in my spot, and left the fucker there for a week. I was calling the local police, wondering if the damned thing was stolen. I didn't recognize it, and it seemed funny that a non-resident would just park like a shit for that long, so I wondered if someone swiped it, and dumped it there. Nope, the officer said that the owner must just be an asshole parker.

It seems as if assholiness is contagious now, really. Nobody has any sense that anybody else exists but them. I was behind a shitopotomus on the interstate today, driving in two lanes 15 mph below the speed limit, chatting away on his fucking cell phone.

People are jerks.

[Gormy Cuss]

23. My old Somerville landlord used to deflate the tires.

Not that I approve of such a thing, mind you. ;)