The Straight Dope

Go Back   Straight Dope Message Board > Main > The BBQ Pit

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 06-18-2007, 03:44 PM
danceswithcats danceswithcats is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Voting anti-obamanation
Posts: 10,300
Public Service Rant

Perhaps this has been done before, and if you're not a guilty party, kindly disregard, thanks.

Today's activities included a trip to the parcel store where I drop off items sold on eBay for FedEx shipping. I parked in the lot and carried a few large boxes, one at a time, into the store, waved to the counter folks, and headed out the door. At this point, I observed Fuck McTard parking in the FIRE LANE before entering the same store to stand in line with a few items no larger than a shoebox. Although he looked to be at least 20 years my junior, I guess he couldn't manage the 30' walk from proper parking spaces.

At my next stop, I park in the mostly empty parking lot and walk past an idling, empty Acura, again located in the FIRE LANE. Inside the store is a dimwitted bitch who thinks rules don't apply to her, completing her oh-so-important transaction.

For the sake of review, here are the rules:
You may park in a FIRE LANE if you are
1. Fire apparatus, including engines, trucks, Chief's cars, and so forth
2. EMS equipment-ambulances and such
3. Police cruisers, marked and unmarked
the above three predicated on being at that occupancy for official business-not picking up your lunch, shopping there, or other unofficial bullshit. If you're doing that, stop it! You're a fuckwit who makes the rest of us in emergency services look bad.

If you're a member of the general public, it's fine to pause in a fire lane to drop off or pick up 1 or more passengers. Unless it's posted as a loading zone, don't use it as such. Additional do nots include
1. Waiting for someone while they shop
2. Sleeping
3. Reading
4. Repairing your car
5. Just running in for one thing
6. Just running in for a minute
7. Just thinking you're better than everyone else

If you do any of the above, Fuck You! Fuck you in the asshole with dried corncobs! This self-entitlement makes my anger blaze with the heat of a turpentine enema! I don't give a flying fuck if you're young, old, rich, poor, skinny, fat, male, female, GLBT, black, white, or motherfucking paisley- park your goddamned shitmobile in the proper fucking space and walk to the goddamned store like you should have been taught. If your parents were too dismally stupid to teach you that, then fuck them, too.

If you disagree with my thesis, then I pray your dog vomits something nasty and staining on your new berber carpeting, paranormal forces bend all of your teaspoons, wild pigs empty their bowels into your chest of drawers, and your significant other leaves you to join the circus, along with posting your private video on YouTube, such that you become the subject of derision at your workplace.

*whew* That felt good!

The preceding is a public service rant. Please don't behave like an asshole, e.g. you're better than everyone else, and the world will be a slightly better place. Thank you.
__________________
Crows. Keeping our highways clear of roadkill for over 80 years
Reply With Quote
Advertisements  
  #2  
Old 06-18-2007, 03:51 PM
D_Odds D_Odds is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Queens
Posts: 9,557
It's been done before, but it is one of those rants that needs an annual refreshing.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 06-18-2007, 03:51 PM
Billdo Billdo is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Delectable City of Gotham
Posts: 4,683
A question for the public service ranter:

I always understood (at least in New York) that you could "stand" in fire lanes, that is to say stop the car and wait with the driver in it (or immediately adjacent to it), so that if the emergency vehicles showed up you could immediately drive out of the way. Similarly, you can "stand" in front of hydrants. Just this weekend, I did this while my passenger ran into a store for a couple of minutes.

Does your rant extend to those of us who "stand" in fire lanes, ready to immediately vacate the area for emergency vehicles?

Last edited by Billdo; 06-18-2007 at 03:52 PM. Reason: darn typos.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 06-18-2007, 03:53 PM
Lord Ashtar Lord Ashtar is online now
Guest
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
It's still okay to park in the FIRE LANE if I turn my hazard lights on, right?
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 06-18-2007, 03:57 PM
gazpacho gazpacho is online now
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Oct 1999
Posts: 4,896
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lord Ashtar
It's still okay to park in the FIRE LANE if I turn my hazard lights on, right?
No. The proper use of hazards is to just pull up next to the parked cars so that you are slightly out of the main lane but not usefully out of the main lane and dash in to make your delivery.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 06-18-2007, 04:10 PM
Anne Neville Anne Neville is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Pittsburgh
Posts: 11,578
Don't use the handicapped spaces for such purposes, either. If there is any justice in the universe, people who abuse handicapped parking spaces will someday get some horrible disease or injury such that they really need those spaces.

Likewise, people who abuse fire lanes will have their car or house catch on fire and the fire department not be able to get to it because the fire lane is blocked, in addition to all the other things the OP mentioned happening to them.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 06-18-2007, 04:33 PM
cher3 cher3 is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Apr 1999
But FedEx trucks are emergency vehicles, right? At least they seem to think so around here.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 06-18-2007, 04:48 PM
Risha Risha is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Columbia, SC
Posts: 1,996
I'm terribly sorry. I missed the entire second half of your (I'm sure accurate and worthy) rant because my brain was busy replaying Airplane.

Male announcer: The white zone is for immediate loading and unloading of passengers only. There is no stopping in a red zone.
Female announcer: The white zone is for immediate loading and unloading of passengers only. There is no stopping in a red zone.
Male announcer: The red zone is for immediate loading and unloading of passengers only. There is no stopping in a white zone.
Female announcer: No, the white zone is for loading. Now, there is no stopping in a RED zone.
Male announcer: The red zone has always been for loading.
Female announcer: Don't you tell me which zone is for loading, and which zone is for unloading.
Male announcer: Look Betty, don't start up with your white zone shit again. There's just no stopping in a white zone.
Female announcer: Oh really, Vernon? Why pretend, we both know perfectly well what this is about. You want me to have an abortion.
Male announcer: It's really the only sensible thing to do, if its done safely. Therapeutically there's no danger involved.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 06-18-2007, 04:54 PM
gotpasswords gotpasswords is online now
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Mar 1999
Location: Charlotte
Posts: 13,625
Just playing devil's advocate here - are these marked fire lanes, or are these unmarked / virtual / defacto / everyone knows it's a fire lane even though there's no signs or red markings on the curb / super-secret fire lanes?

Only wondering as some places have plainly marked fire lanes with signs, red curbs and pavement hatching, and other places have no markings of any sort, apparently trusting people not to park there and clog up the whole parking lot.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 06-18-2007, 04:54 PM
danceswithcats danceswithcats is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Voting anti-obamanation
Posts: 10,300
Quote:
Originally Posted by Billdo
A question for the public service ranter:

I always understood (at least in New York) that you could "stand" in fire lanes, that is to say stop the car and wait with the driver in it (or immediately adjacent to it), so that if the emergency vehicles showed up you could immediately drive out of the way. Similarly, you can "stand" in front of hydrants. Just this weekend, I did this while my passenger ran into a store for a couple of minutes.

Does your rant extend to those of us who "stand" in fire lanes, ready to immediately vacate the area for emergency vehicles?
A fair question, Sir. My home state is Pennsylvania.
Title 75 PA C.S., Chapter 33, Subchapter E (Stopping, standing and parking)
§3353. Prohibitions in specific places
(a) GENERAL RULE. -- Except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or to protect the safety of any person or vehicle or in compliance with law of the directions of a police officer or official traffic-control device, no person shall:
(1) Stop, stand or park a vehicle:
(B) Standing or parking for the purpose of loading or unloading persons or property may be authorized by local ordinance, but the ordianance shall not authorize standing or parking... {not relevant}
(x) At any place where official signs prohibit stopping
(2) Stand or park a vehicle:
(viii) At any place where official signs prohibit standing.

Italicized for emphasis.

Being ready to immediately vacate the fire lane is a great concept, but having witnessed firsthand what occurs when I roll up in response to an automatic or manual fire alarm at a mercantile occupancy, the vehicle operators typically freeze and return a deer-in-the-headlights look, not knowing whether to shit themselves or wind their watch.

In such a situation, pedestrians are *hopefully, but not likely* auto-evacuating the structure, and they don't need vehicles sitting in the fire lane which impede their egress.

Logically, you're sitting in or standing by your vehicle. Are you going to hear the building alarm system? Summertime-windows up, A/C on, chatting on your cell phone while your friend shops?

Next thing you know, two engines, a truck, a Chief, and two patrol cars are converging on the occupancy, and it's NOW that you want to attempt to safely move, without endangering pedestrian traffic? File that under Plan, Bad.

You're better in the lot to begin with.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 06-18-2007, 04:56 PM
danceswithcats danceswithcats is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Voting anti-obamanation
Posts: 10,300
Quote:
Originally Posted by Risha
I'm terribly sorry. I missed the entire second half of your (I'm sure accurate and worthy) rant because my brain was busy replaying Airplane.

Male announcer: The white zone is for immediate loading and unloading of passengers only. There is no stopping in a red zone.
Female announcer: The white zone is for immediate loading and unloading of passengers only. There is no stopping in a red zone.
Male announcer: The red zone is for immediate loading and unloading of passengers only. There is no stopping in a white zone.
Female announcer: No, the white zone is for loading. Now, there is no stopping in a RED zone.
Male announcer: The red zone has always been for loading.
Female announcer: Don't you tell me which zone is for loading, and which zone is for unloading.
Male announcer: Look Betty, don't start up with your white zone shit again. There's just no stopping in a white zone.
Female announcer: Oh really, Vernon? Why pretend, we both know perfectly well what this is about. You want me to have an abortion.
Male announcer: It's really the only sensible thing to do, if its done safely. Therapeutically there's no danger involved.
I AM serious, and don't call me Shirley.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 06-18-2007, 04:56 PM
Liberal Liberal is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Nov 1999
Quote:
Originally Posted by danceswithcats
4. Repairing your car
So, the guy's oil light comes on. He stops because he must. Happens to be in a fire lane. Should he pour in some oil and go on, or wait for the tow?
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 06-18-2007, 04:59 PM
danceswithcats danceswithcats is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Voting anti-obamanation
Posts: 10,300
Quote:
Originally Posted by gotpasswords
Just playing devil's advocate here - are these marked fire lanes, or are these unmarked / virtual / defacto / everyone knows it's a fire lane even though there's no signs or red markings on the curb / super-secret fire lanes?

Only wondering as some places have plainly marked fire lanes with signs, red curbs and pavement hatching, and other places have no markings of any sort, apparently trusting people not to park there and clog up the whole parking lot.
A valid query-I speak of those spaces which are properly signed.

Unfortunately, we live in a society where signs need to be posted so folks can ignore what they should have been taught at home.

Nice try-swing and miss.
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 06-18-2007, 05:08 PM
danceswithcats danceswithcats is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Voting anti-obamanation
Posts: 10,300
Quote:
Originally Posted by Liberal
So, the guy's oil light comes on. He stops because he must. Happens to be in a fire lane. Should he pour in some oil and go on, or wait for the tow?
He must? Since when does his vehicle service immediacy trump public health and safety? If the light is on, and it still runs, it will travel another 50 feet to a legal parking place.
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 06-18-2007, 05:50 PM
Liberal Liberal is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Nov 1999
Quote:
Originally Posted by danceswithcats
He must? Since when does his vehicle service immediacy trump public health and safety? If the light is on, and it still runs, it will travel another 50 feet to a legal parking place.
Let's say it won't. Or if you prefer, let's say it happened as he was waiting for a pickup, which you stipulate is okay. Now, if you're going to claim it is impossible ever for anyone to be in a situation where his car is broken down in a fire lane, just let me know and I'll leave your thread alone so you can pretend things without further hassle. I'm just wondering what a person is to do if he cannot repair his car (your number 4). It seems silly to make him wait for a tow, when a quick can of oil will get him on his way. I mean, what with public health and safety and all. He gets out of the fire lane much quicker by repairing his car. And you get your public health and safety.

Last edited by Liberal; 06-18-2007 at 05:51 PM. Reason: added clarity for the purpose of King George III's redemption
Reply With Quote
  #16  
Old 06-18-2007, 05:55 PM
The Hamster King The Hamster King is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 8,750
Is it okay to park in the fire lane if your car is on fire?
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old 06-18-2007, 05:57 PM
Anne Neville Anne Neville is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Pittsburgh
Posts: 11,578
I'm willing to cut people with malfunctioning cars some slack. The other situations mentioned in the OP... no.
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 06-18-2007, 06:21 PM
boytyperanma boytyperanma is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Quote:
Originally Posted by Liberal
Let's say it won't. Or if you prefer, let's say it happened as he was waiting for a pickup, which you stipulate is okay. Now, if you're going to claim it is impossible ever for anyone to be in a situation where his car is broken down in a fire lane, just let me know and I'll leave your thread alone so you can pretend things without further hassle. I'm just wondering what a person is to do if he cannot repair his car (your number 4). It seems silly to make him wait for a tow, when a quick can of oil will get him on his way. I mean, what with public health and safety and all. He gets out of the fire lane much quicker by repairing his car. And you get your public health and safety.
Is he also incapable of pushing his car to out of the way?

I suppose we could run around finding exceptional circumstances to the don't park in the fire lane rule. What if your driving across the fire lane and a alien comes out of nowhere and hits your care with a super slowing ray gun. all that is needed to stop the effect is it ok to park your car get put and get back in?

How about people don't park there cars in the fucking fire lanes and do everything in their power to avoid finding themselves parked in the fire lane.
Reply With Quote
  #19  
Old 06-18-2007, 06:37 PM
danceswithcats danceswithcats is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Voting anti-obamanation
Posts: 10,300
Quote:
Originally Posted by Liberal
Let's say it won't. Or if you prefer, let's say it happened as he was waiting for a pickup, which you stipulate is okay. Now, if you're going to claim it is impossible ever for anyone to be in a situation where his car is broken down in a fire lane, just let me know and I'll leave your thread alone so you can pretend things without further hassle. I'm just wondering what a person is to do if he cannot repair his car (your number 4). It seems silly to make him wait for a tow, when a quick can of oil will get him on his way. I mean, what with public health and safety and all. He gets out of the fire lane much quicker by repairing his car. And you get your public health and safety.
It's a source of amazement to me that no matter how closely framed an issue can be, some sonofabitch, in this case, you, will create an unlikely circumstance, just to be a contrary cocksucker.

You win. Contrary Cocksucker of the Day award goes to Liberal. Your award is a quart of oil. Push your fucking shitmobile into a legal parking place and add it there.
Reply With Quote
  #20  
Old 06-18-2007, 06:59 PM
Frank Frank is offline
Charter Member
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Kettering, Ohio
Posts: 16,947
Actually, my oil light came on this morning and I had to drive two miles to get to the store. Where I parked in the fire lane while I went in to get some oil. (I'm not serious; I parked in the spot reserved for Starbucks customers.)
Reply With Quote
  #21  
Old 06-18-2007, 07:20 PM
SkipMagic SkipMagic is offline
Twee Varmint
 
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Up The Wrong Twee
Posts: 6,769
Quote:
Originally Posted by Liberal
So, the guy's oil light comes on. He stops because he must. Happens to be in a fire lane. Should he pour in some oil and go on, or wait for the tow?
Shoot the hostage.
Reply With Quote
  #22  
Old 06-18-2007, 07:26 PM
Guinastasia Guinastasia is online now
Squirrelly Wrath
 
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 44,765
Quote:
Originally Posted by Liberal
Let's say it won't. Or if you prefer, let's say it happened as he was waiting for a pickup, which you stipulate is okay. Now, if you're going to claim it is impossible ever for anyone to be in a situation where his car is broken down in a fire lane, just let me know and I'll leave your thread alone so you can pretend things without further hassle. I'm just wondering what a person is to do if he cannot repair his car (your number 4). It seems silly to make him wait for a tow, when a quick can of oil will get him on his way. I mean, what with public health and safety and all. He gets out of the fire lane much quicker by repairing his car. And you get your public health and safety.

And oh my god, what happens if his car starts shooting poisonous venom everywhere, and a giant rabid grizzly crawls out of the truck and aliens land and start disecting everyone?!

Reply With Quote
  #23  
Old 06-18-2007, 07:32 PM
D_Odds D_Odds is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Queens
Posts: 9,557
Quote:
Originally Posted by danceswithcats
You win. Contrary Cocksucker of the Day award goes to Liberal. Your award is a quart of oil. Push your fucking shitmobile into a legal parking place and add it there.
Didn't he already get a Lifetime Achievement Award for that? If so, that makes him ineligible for the daily awards. Sorry.
Reply With Quote
  #24  
Old 06-18-2007, 08:30 PM
Captain Carrot Captain Carrot is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Quote:
Originally Posted by Guinastasia
And oh my god, what happens if his car starts shooting poisonous venom everywhere, and a giant rabid grizzly crawls out of the truck and aliens land and start disecting everyone?!

Where is that thread with the ridiculous hypotheticals that Kel Varnsen started?
Reply With Quote
  #25  
Old 06-18-2007, 08:42 PM
Frank Frank is offline
Charter Member
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Kettering, Ohio
Posts: 16,947
Quote:
Originally Posted by Captain Carrot
Where is that thread with the ridiculous hypotheticals that Kel Varnsen started?
Would you shoot child and kill your child in this situation?
Reply With Quote
  #26  
Old 06-18-2007, 08:57 PM
Bryan Ekers Bryan Ekers is online now
Guest
 
Join Date: Nov 2000
What if it's a fire sale? I mean, c'mon, cut us some slack.

Last edited by Bryan Ekers; 06-18-2007 at 08:58 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #27  
Old 06-18-2007, 09:01 PM
askeptic askeptic is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Why do you care where people park? If they get a ticket what is it to you? If an actual emergency occurs they deal with the consequences. How does the fact that they parked in a fire lane affect you? Unless you work in Emergency Services, then disregard.
Reply With Quote
  #28  
Old 06-18-2007, 09:11 PM
Merijeek Merijeek is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Quote:
Originally Posted by Guinastasia
And oh my god, what happens if his car starts shooting poisonous venom everywhere, and a giant rabid grizzly crawls out of the truck and aliens land and start disecting everyone?!

Then I suggest you just lay back and enjoy the anal probe - because it sounds like the most pleasant thing that's going to happen to you that day.

-Joe
Reply With Quote
  #29  
Old 06-18-2007, 09:53 PM
Morgyn Morgyn is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: In the time stream
Posts: 3,281
Quote:
Originally Posted by askeptic
Why do you care where people park? If they get a ticket what is it to you? If an actual emergency occurs they deal with the consequences. How does the fact that they parked in a fire lane affect you? Unless you work in Emergency Services, then disregard.
danceswithcats is a long-time volunteer fire-fighter.

And people should care about things like this. It's because everyone thinks "why should I care?" that things like this have become so bloody common that no one thinks it's worth caring about. More importantly, parking in a fire lane is a Public Safety Hazard and is against the law.
Reply With Quote
  #30  
Old 06-18-2007, 10:06 PM
danceswithcats danceswithcats is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Voting anti-obamanation
Posts: 10,300
Quote:
Originally Posted by askeptic
Why do you care where people park? If they get a ticket what is it to you? If an actual emergency occurs they deal with the consequences. How does the fact that they parked in a fire lane affect you? Unless you work in Emergency Services, then disregard.
Why do I care? Because it's fucking wrong, that's why! Why does anyone care about the things they bring to the Pit? Why do I have to have a dog in the fight in your opinion for my upset to have validity? That's a ludicrous presumption! I haven't exactly hidden the fact that I'm a firefighter. Even if I wasn't, it would still be my purview to bitch about it, with or without your permission, thank you very much.
Reply With Quote
  #31  
Old 06-18-2007, 10:14 PM
EddyTeddyFreddy EddyTeddyFreddy is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Exurbia, No'thuh Bawst'n
Posts: 12,300
Quote:
Originally Posted by askeptic
Why do you care where people park? If they get a ticket what is it to you?
Oh, might be more than a ticket. (Note the shout-out by Gunslinger to the SDMB.)
Reply With Quote
  #32  
Old 06-18-2007, 10:33 PM
BiblioCat BiblioCat is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Quote:
Originally Posted by askeptic
Why do you care where people park? If they get a ticket what is it to you? If an actual emergency occurs they deal with the consequences. How does the fact that they parked in a fire lane affect you? Unless you work in Emergency Services, then disregard.
I care. For one thing, it's against the law to park in a fire lane. I see this kind of thing every day at work - clearly marked fire lanes, and clearly marked ambulance bays. If an actual emergency occurs, they'll deal with the consequences? What's that supposed to mean? They'll start paging the owner to please move his car? Yeah, like that'll work.
How about when fuckwads have parked all over the firelanes and blocked access to the ER bays?
What about when an ambulance is already using the fire lane for an emergency and some jerkoff parks right behind it and blocks access to the back?
Fire engines also need plenty of room, both to manuver and to get hose and tools off the sides and back. They can't just slip into a spot left open. They need the whole damn fire lane.
In some cases, parking in a fire lane blocks the egress and line-of-sight for emergency vehicles. They're not quite like driving a Honda Civic. They're big and unwieldy.

It just doesn't matter, though. Some people feel it's their right to park anywhere they damn well please, even in a spot outlined in red and marked "Ambulances Only."
__________________
I'm not great at the advice. Can I interest you in a sarcastic comment?
"I tried doing that once, making every minute count. It gave me a headache." - Adrian Monk
Reply With Quote
  #33  
Old 06-19-2007, 12:37 AM
St. Urho St. Urho is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Quote:
Originally Posted by BiblioCat
It just doesn't matter, though. Some people feel it's their right to park anywhere they damn well please, even in a spot outlined in red and marked "Ambulances Only."
When I worked 24-hour shifts we'd frequently come back to the station and find cars parked in the "Ambulance Parking Only" spot. Those people were frequently parked in until the tow truck got there.

And while we're at it, PULL TO THE RIGHT, SHIT-FOR-BRAINS! Not the left, not directly in front of me, and for the love of god, don't just stop in the middle of the damn road.
Reply With Quote
  #34  
Old 06-19-2007, 01:06 AM
t-bonham@scc.net t-bonham@scc.net is online now
Guest
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Quote:
Originally Posted by Anne Neville
Likewise, people who abuse fire lanes will have their car or house catch on fire and the fire department not be able to get to it because the fire lane is blocked.
No, that doesn't stop the Fire Department.

I once saw a car parked in a fire lane, directly in front of the fire hydrant, at my apartment building, when a small fire occurred in one apartment, the alarm went off, and the Fire Trucks arrived. They didn't hesitate at all, they simply put the big bumper of a fire truck up against the vehicle, put the truck in low gear, and pushed that car out of the way. Even though it's parking brake was on and it's transmission in park, it didn't matter -- the fire truck moved that car easily. Even from 5 stories up, I could hear metal transmission parts snapping, and could see the skid marks of rubber from the locked tires.

They pushed it out of the fire lane, out of the parking lot, and right into the middle of the street. A police patrol car was already on the scene, he got out and started writing out tickets for the car. And he must have called a tow truck too, because one arrived very soon thereafter and towed it away.

It didn't delay the Fire Department more than about 20-30 seconds.

But the owner of that car got several tickets, a trip to the impound lot and the $140 fees there, plus some definite damage to their vehicle. That should have been enough to teach them not to park in fire lanes, you'd hope.

Last edited by t-bonham@scc.net; 06-19-2007 at 01:07 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #35  
Old 06-19-2007, 01:25 AM
EddyTeddyFreddy EddyTeddyFreddy is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Exurbia, No'thuh Bawst'n
Posts: 12,300
Heh. That reminds me of when I lived in Boston's North End, with its narrow streets and too many cars for not enough legitimate parking spots. One smart guy had parked his car right on the corner of an intersection, completely past the "No parking beyond this point" sign. A fire truck needed to make that corner but the car was in the way of a clean turn.

The car looked mighty crumpled by the time the fire truck finished plowing over it.
Reply With Quote
  #36  
Old 06-19-2007, 07:30 AM
Sailboat Sailboat is online now
Guest
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Quote:
Originally Posted by askeptic
Why do you care where people park? If they get a ticket what is it to you? If an actual emergency occurs they deal with the consequences. How does the fact that they parked in a fire lane affect you? Unless you work in Emergency Services, then disregard.
If Liberal can make up reasons the car cannot be moved, I can make up six dead children who burned because the fire lane was blocked. Fair's fair, after all.

Those poor children!

Sailboat

Last edited by Sailboat; 06-19-2007 at 07:31 AM. Reason: bolding a username
Reply With Quote
  #37  
Old 06-19-2007, 07:47 AM
Cheesesteak Cheesesteak is online now
Guest
 
Join Date: Jan 2001
Quote:
Originally Posted by askeptic
How does the fact that they parked in a fire lane affect you? Unless you work in Emergency Services, then disregard.
The fire lane isn't there to make life easier for Emergency Services personnel. It's there (usually*) to ensure they can provide life saving services to other people, without having to circle the block looking for a parking space. We are all affected when people disregard fire lanes. Not to mention that this practice often fouls up traffic patterns in the parking lot, as the illegally parked cars have to be avoided.


* Across the street from my old High School, they designated a bunch of fire lane areas around empty lots so that the students wouldn't be able to park there.
Reply With Quote
  #38  
Old 06-19-2007, 08:12 AM
Fetchund Fetchund is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Not only for emergencies...

The fire lane is usually right in front of the store, between the store and the parking lot. Where lots and lots of people are trying to cross through the traffic. Having folks (or LITTLE KIDS!) dodging out between cars isn't a great idea either. And here, where we get our fair share of snow, folks will park there and make it nearly impossible to pass them to get to other parts of the lot.

Around here, if the curb is painted yellow or red, you best not park there!

I'm with you, danceswithcats. Nice rant!
Reply With Quote
  #39  
Old 06-19-2007, 08:27 AM
tdn tdn is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Feb 2000
It's my car and I'll park wherever the hell I want. Why should "emergency" vehicles trump my right to convenient shopping? People entering those buildings are taking a risk of fire, they should know that going in. I'm not about to give up my right to shop because those idiots can't own up to the risks involved.

SPOILER:
That's my attempt to out-stupid Lib and askeptic. How'd I do?
Reply With Quote
  #40  
Old 06-19-2007, 08:31 AM
Maus Magill Maus Magill is offline
Not a real doctor.
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Charlotte, NC
Posts: 5,763
One of the finest moments of schadenfreude I'd ever experienced was when a very large and very solid fire engine totaled a Corvette in a fire lane while the EoW ran into a store to "pick up one thing."

Ah… beautiful day.
Reply With Quote
  #41  
Old 06-19-2007, 08:41 AM
D_Odds D_Odds is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Queens
Posts: 9,557
Quote:
Originally Posted by tdn
SPOILER:
That's my attempt to out-stupid Lib and askeptic. How'd I do?
You failed. Too obvious.
Reply With Quote
  #42  
Old 06-19-2007, 09:04 AM
ZipperJJ ZipperJJ is online now
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Northeast Ohio
Posts: 16,538
Man, I'm glad no fires or emergencies cropped up in this store while you guys all sat around in the FIRE LANE trying to decide who has the right to be here!
Reply With Quote
  #43  
Old 06-19-2007, 09:19 AM
tdn tdn is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Feb 2000
Quote:
Originally Posted by D_Odds
You failed. Too obvious.
As I feared.
Reply With Quote
  #44  
Old 06-19-2007, 10:19 AM
WhyNot WhyNot is online now
Guest
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Quote:
Originally Posted by t-bonham@scc.net
No, that doesn't stop the Fire Department.

I once saw a car parked in a fire lane, directly in front of the fire hydrant, at my apartment building, when a small fire occurred in one apartment, the alarm went off, and the Fire Trucks arrived. They didn't hesitate at all, they simply put the big bumper of a fire truck up against the vehicle, put the truck in low gear, and pushed that car out of the way. Even though it's parking brake was on and it's transmission in park, it didn't matter -- the fire truck moved that car easily. Even from 5 stories up, I could hear metal transmission parts snapping, and could see the skid marks of rubber from the locked tires.

They pushed it out of the fire lane, out of the parking lot, and right into the middle of the street. A police patrol car was already on the scene, he got out and started writing out tickets for the car. And he must have called a tow truck too, because one arrived very soon thereafter and towed it away.

It didn't delay the Fire Department more than about 20-30 seconds.

But the owner of that car got several tickets, a trip to the impound lot and the $140 fees there, plus some definite damage to their vehicle. That should have been enough to teach them not to park in fire lanes, you'd hope.
sniff

*wipes away a tear of joy*

Makes me want to become an arsonist, that does. Only in buildings with cars parked in the fire lanes, of course. And only small fires.
Reply With Quote
  #45  
Old 06-19-2007, 10:22 AM
RTFirefly RTFirefly is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Maryland
Posts: 24,486
Quote:
Originally Posted by ZipperJJ
Man, I'm glad no fires or emergencies cropped up in this store while you guys all sat around in the FIRE LANE trying to decide who has the right to be here!
You are a fluke of the universe.
You have no right to be here.
Reply With Quote
  #46  
Old 06-19-2007, 11:41 AM
t-bonham@scc.net t-bonham@scc.net is online now
Guest
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cheesesteak
* Across the street from my old High School, they designated a bunch of fire lane areas around empty lots so that the students wouldn't be able to park there.
Now that's just stupid! What a way to teach those kids to be dishonest.

They could just as easily have simply designated them as "No Parking" spots.

But like most cities, they probably get more money from a Fire Lane ticket than a simple No Parking zone ticket.

So the city is both dishonest and greedy!
Well, I suppose this did teach those students something about how the world works. But not a good lesson.
Reply With Quote
  #47  
Old 06-19-2007, 12:10 PM
Merijeek Merijeek is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Quote:
Originally Posted by tdn
It's my car and I'll park wherever the hell I want. Why should "emergency" vehicles trump my right to convenient shopping? People entering those buildings are taking a risk of fire, they should know that going in. I'm not about to give up my right to shop because those idiots can't own up to the risks involved.

SPOILER:
That's my attempt to out-stupid Lib and askeptic. How'd I do?
I think it's clear that the free market should determine things. Really, if your store has a fire lane and that other guy's doesn't, I'm more likely to die a screaming, painful death in his store. So I'll shop at yours.

See, the free market fixes everything!

-Joe
Reply With Quote
  #48  
Old 06-19-2007, 12:47 PM
VarlosZ VarlosZ is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Manhattan
Posts: 5,105
When it comes to hydrants and fire lanes, I think I'm in favor of the following policy: "you parks your car, you takes your chances." If you're parked in one of these spots and your car is actually impeding the fighting of an actual fire, you can be sure that the firemen will effectively destroy your car in their effort to move it out of the way as fast as possible. Here in NYC, at least, I think we're better off accepting the 20 or 30 extra seconds it would take the FDNY to respond to fires in exchange for the tens (hundreds?) of thousands of extra parking spaces.

ETA: you could even give the FD special car moving equipment. Maybe some kind of giant lever that flips the car over into the street, where it can be pushed out of the way (upside down) by the fire engine.

Last edited by VarlosZ; 06-19-2007 at 12:52 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #49  
Old 06-19-2007, 02:01 PM
GrizzRich GrizzRich is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Dec 2000
Quote:
Originally Posted by Guinastasia
And oh my god, what happens if his car starts shooting poisonous venom everywhere, and a giant rabid grizzly crawls out of the truck and aliens land and start disecting everyone?!

I wish to state, for the record, I have never done such a thing.
Reply With Quote
  #50  
Old 06-19-2007, 02:03 PM
Jodi Jodi is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: May 1999
Quote:
Originally Posted by GrizzRich
I wish to state, for the record, I have never done such a thing.
The guilty ones always deny it.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:50 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.3
Copyright ©2000 - 2013, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.

Send questions for Cecil Adams to: cecil@chicagoreader.com

Send comments about this website to: webmaster@straightdope.com

Terms of Use / Privacy Policy

Advertise on the Straight Dope!
(Your direct line to thousands of the smartest, hippest people on the planet, plus a few total dipsticks.)

Publishers - interested in subscribing to the Straight Dope?
Write to: sdsubscriptions@chicagoreader.com.

Copyright © 2013 Sun-Times Media, LLC.