# Bitchface, do not block my driveway **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 24, 2005, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bitchface-do-not-block-my-driveway/305331 "2005-05-24T21:06:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bitchface-do-not-block-my-driveway/305331/101 "2005-06-01T14:21:03Z")
> [@cher3](#): > > At our school the area right in front is reserved for buses. There are plenty of soccer moms, but I’ve never seen anybody parked to block anyone’s drive. We’re in a quiet area, though, so there’s plenty of room and most people don’t seem to mind walking a block or two. The only rudeness I’ve witnessed was the homeowner who set his sprinklers to water the sidewalk starting at precisely the time most children would be dropped off. That had to be deliberate, because everyone else in the world waters at about 6 a.m. Actually, that’s a good plan! 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bitchface-do-not-block-my-driveway/305331/102 "2005-06-01T14:56:56Z")
> [@Merijeek](#): > > Oh hell, it’s not “oblivious”, it’s “special”. > > I’m pretty well convinced that most of this world’s problems are because everyone’s mommy tells them they’re special. > > I’ll bet if ‘bitchface’ were to see someone else doing that in front of **Obsidian** ’s driveway she would have thought “what a bitch!”. However, it’s different when she does it. > > As for setting an example for her kids, she is. They’re learning exactly what she’s telling them. “We’re special!”. > > Besides, “setting an example for my children” is the biggest load of hypocritical shit in the universe. I can do whatever the hell I want in front of my kids up to and including mass murder. However, if YOU (you scumsucking bastard!) so much as use the word “crap” in front of my kids I get to start screeching about what a “bad example you’re setting in front of my kids!”. > > -Joe, two dogs I think you’re onto something here. Everything everyone does that is illegal, immoral, or just plain wrong is justified in their own minds because “I’m just running in” or “I’m late for work, so I can speed and run lights and drive like a maniac” or “I can leave my litter in the park - it’s just one little wrapper.” A great example of this is people speeding through school and playground zones. They have kids - you can see the damned baby seats in the vehicle, but there they are, driving as fast as they please through the zones because _their_ kid doesn’t go to that school. There’s some kind of disconnect in their brain between them and the rest of the world, and I think you’ve hit it - they are SPECIAL. The rules don’t apply to SPECIAL people. There’s also a healthy dose of “whatever you can get away with, and to hell with the rest of the world” involved in this kind of thinking. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bitchface-do-not-block-my-driveway/305331/103 "2005-06-01T16:25:38Z")
> [@cher3](#): > > the homeowner who set his sprinklers to water the sidewalk starting at precisely the time most children would be dropped off. That had to be deliberate, because everyone else in the world waters at about 6 a.m. > [@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor](#): > > Actually, that’s a good plan! > 🆒 I would have thought it was cool when I was a kid. I’d have had fun jumping in the sprinklers 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bitchface-do-not-block-my-driveway/305331/104 "2005-06-01T16:44:10Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > the idea of having to seek out my car and then pay a $150 towing fee would probably dissuade me from using someone’s driveway. $150? Pfft. Try $300+ total in San Francisco. ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bitchface-do-not-block-my-driveway/305331/105 "2005-06-01T16:57:48Z")
> [@lezlers](#): > > I gotta say, I’m flabbergasted at the amount of stories about people parking in other people’s driveways and carports. I’d never even consider doing anything like that. I also considered it just “not done.” Some people really do have brass balls when it comes to stuff like that, I guess. Rarely happens in my neck of the woods. I would assume a car would be “keyed” if it were in or blocking someones driveway. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bitchface-do-not-block-my-driveway/305331/106 "2005-06-01T17:11:49Z")
I am going to do a little checking, but I’m pretty sure that homeowners can have cars towed off of their own property around here. We have lots of tourist parking problems in the summer, and the towing companies do a land office business! ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bitchface-do-not-block-my-driveway/305331/107 "2005-06-01T17:26:24Z")
Here’s a little something supporting the homeowner’s right to have a car towed off property- [http://www.troubleshooterjudd.com/scam/scam\_bandit\_tow.html](http://www.troubleshooterjudd.com/scam/scam_bandit_tow.html) The salient bits- _**"Los Angeles Police Commission Response June, 2005:… California Vehicle Code (CVC) section 22658 (Removal From Private Property) states that only the property owner or their legal representative may cause the removal of a vehicle from the private property… It is the property owner’s, or their legal representative, responsibility to wait one hour before having an illegally parked vehicle towed."**_ Here’s the applicable section of the CA vehicle code- [http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d11/vc22658.htm](http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d11/vc22658.htm) \*\*\*"22658. (a) Except as provided in Section 22658.2, the owner or person in lawful possession of any private property, within one hour of notifying, by telephone or, if impractical, by the most expeditious means available, the local traffic law enforcement agency, may cause the removal of a vehicle parked on the property to the nearest public garage under any of the following circumstances: (1) There is displayed, in plain view at all entrances to the property, a sign not less than 17 by 22 inches in size, with lettering not less than one inch in height, prohibiting public parking and indicating that vehicles will be removed at the owner’s expense, and containing the telephone number of the local traffic law enforcement agency. The sign may also indicate that a citation may also be issued for the violation. (2) The vehicle has been issued a notice of parking violation, and 96 hours have elapsed since the issuance of that notice. (3) The vehicle is on private property and lacks an engine, transmission, wheels, tires, doors, windshield, or any other major part or equipment necessary to operate safely on the highways, the owner or person in lawful possession of the private property has notified the local traffic law enforcement agency, and 24 hours have elapsed since that notification. (4) The lot or parcel upon which the vehicle is parked is improved with a single-family dwelling."\*\*\* It is very clear that the homeowner can indeed have unauthorized vehicles towed away, without having to post a “no parking” sign- see (4) above. ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bitchface-do-not-block-my-driveway/305331/108 "2005-06-01T17:53:31Z")
> [@GaWd](#): > > Nope. Not as far as my experience has led me to believe. > > Towing companies have contracts with apartments and businesses. THis contract gives the company the express right to tow offending vehicles. That right unfortunately is held very closely by certain people. I know of no way to get a similar contract as a private citizen in the attempt to protect your home. You can call the police info desk and ask them about it though. > > If you own a home and some stranger has parked in your driveway, while they are tresspassing on your property, to tow them would be to violate their private property at least as much as yours is violated. THat’s why you call the police and they can figure all the legal stuff out for you without having you risk your neck over bullshit liabilities. > > Unfortunately, it probably ranks up there with getting Granny’s cat out of a tree, and I’m pretty sure it would take some time to get a response. > > Sam I’m not sure where you’re getting your information, Sam, but while it may be accurate in some jurisdictions (I don’t claim to know), it’s certainly not the case in anywhere in California that a private homeowner can’t have someone parked in their driveway towed. The relevant statute is CVC 22658(a)(4), which states: > [@](#): > > [http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d11/vc22658.htm](http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d11/vc22658.htm) > > **Removal From Private Property** > > 1. (a) Except as provided in Section 22658.2, the owner or person in lawful possession of any private property, within one hour of notifying, by telephone or, if impractical, by the most expeditious means available, the local traffic law enforcement agency, may cause the removal of a vehicle parked on the property to the nearest public garage under any of the following circumstances: > > … > > (4) The lot or parcel upon which the vehicle is parked is improved with a single-family dwelling. ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bitchface-do-not-block-my-driveway/305331/109 "2005-06-01T17:57:25Z")
You beat me to the punch, **EJsGirl**. I had a tenant stop by right in the middle of previewing before you had posted yet. Didn’t mean to duplicate your response. So yeah, Sam, what she said. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bitchface-do-not-block-my-driveway/305331/110 "2005-06-01T18:06:02Z")
Oh-the parents who drive their kids to school everyday! Gack. It is chaos uleashed at the elementary school here. Between the buses trying to pull up and the walkers AND the entitled “special” people—the property values on that street must be low, low, low. The school does send out people to direct traffic etc–but there are always those “special” people who don’t heed the rules. I send my kids on the bus (alot of moms I know won’t send their kids on the bus…"because of the ‘elements’ on the bus–whatever that means. If it means swearing and carousing–trust me, the kidlets already know about it). I did call the bus company and the school and get the bus stop changed to our driveway–we have no sidewalks on my street and my son is the only kid at the stop. They concurred. Now, at the middle school-they have a Don Knotts who prowls around and he WILL ticket you in a heartbeat, if you park in the fire lane. I can’t blame him, but it is a PIA. However, I try to be law abiding. We had a strange thing happen in our driveway about 10+ years ago. We have a very long, straight driveway–it can look like a lane (if you aren’t looking hard) I suppose. We were awakened at 0200 one noc by the disco effect of MARS lights on our ceiling (no siren, thank goodness, our daughter was 8 months old). Turns out that some teens, hoping got evade some of our Finest, had pulled into our driveway. God knows where they thought they were going–and at least they didn’t hit the garage door, but they sure looked ridiculous. They had the grace to blush and look embarassed when hubby and I appeared in our bath robes… Wth? ---
**Author:** ![GaWd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f08c70/32.png) [@GaWd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaWd)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bitchface-do-not-block-my-driveway/305331/111 "2005-06-01T18:11:29Z")
> [@InvisibleWombat](#): > > I have a hard time believing this. Can you back it up? > > If someone parks their car on my property and I give reasonable notice (either a “no parking” sign that was there when they arrived, or a note on the car for some period of time), I would feel pretty comfortable having a towing company haul that sucker out of there. No, I can’t back it up. If you’re really that interested, call a tow company. I promise you that there is no way a hook will come out and tow someone away without a police officer present. You would be violating someone else’s personal property because you would have to enter the vehicle and then put it on a hook to tow it away. A towing company won’t tow a vehicle that is not yours if you are a plain old, ordinary citizen. Hell, they won’t tow a vehicle that is yours if you can’t prove ownership(pink, sales receipt, etc.), 9 times out of 10. Sam ---
**Author:** ![GaWd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f08c70/32.png) [@GaWd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaWd)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bitchface-do-not-block-my-driveway/305331/112 "2005-06-01T18:15:51Z")
Actually, Guin and others, my “information” is coming from experience. I realize that lawfully it may be ok to do-as long as signage laws are followed-but chances of having a hook truck come out and actually do the towing are slim and none in my experience. Once it took me two weeks for some paperwork to go through before a guy could have a truck I sold to him towed home. Sam ---
**Author:** ![GaWd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f08c70/32.png) [@GaWd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaWd)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bitchface-do-not-block-my-driveway/305331/113 "2005-06-01T18:31:08Z")
OK, it appears I am wrong by law. I submit. But the one time I tried moving an illegally parked vehicle, I was absolutely unsuccessful. It was my experience that the towing companies didn’t want the liability of towing someone else’s vehicle. I apologize for disseminating my ignorance to this oh-so-astute collection of individuals. 🙂 Sam ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bitchface-do-not-block-my-driveway/305331/114 "2005-06-01T18:34:41Z")
Maybe it’s just the towing companies in your area covering themselves. I know down here, there is no problem. But it could most definitely vary by region in terms of the willingness to actually do the tow! ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bitchface-do-not-block-my-driveway/305331/115 "2005-06-01T19:32:24Z")
> [@GaWd](#): > > OK, it appears I am wrong by law. I submit. > > But the one time I tried moving an illegally parked vehicle, I was absolutely unsuccessful. It was my experience that the towing companies didn’t want the liability of towing someone else’s vehicle. > > I apologize for disseminating my ignorance to this oh-so-astute collection of individuals. 🙂 > > Sam Well I’ve never had to follow through, myself, but I can also assure you that owners of rental properties also don’t have to be under contract with any particular towing company to have an illegally parked vehicle towed. I just recently found an illegally parked car (DIRECTLY under the No Parking sign no less!) on our property (I manage a building with both commercial and residential tenants), and when I phoned the police to inquire about having them ticketed or towed, they said they wouldn’t ticket, but to just call any tow company of my choice. The lucky dog had moved his car by the time I went back out to check that he was still there before calling for the tow, though, so I’m not sure how it would’ve gone down if I’d’ve actually had to make the call. But the police didn’t say I had to provide any kind of documentation at all – just call and have them towed, simple as that. Sorry you haven’t had a good experience with having it done – I hope I never have to. ---
**Author:** ![SaxFace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@SaxFace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaxFace)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bitchface-do-not-block-my-driveway/305331/116 "2005-06-01T19:36:41Z")
Oh, I have a story, too, but my roommate was the blocker. We lived in Brooklyn and he had a car we shared and had to move about twice a week for street cleaning. Once my roommate was “out of it” and unknowingly blocked a driveway. As far as we know the police were called but they were either unable or unwilling to tow it so the owners slashed all four tires and left lots of nasty notes. Roomie had to remove and wheel one tire at a time the six blocks to the repair shop. The whole process took many good hours of his life he’ll never get back. He was truly sorry. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bitchface-do-not-block-my-driveway/305331/117 "2005-06-01T19:40:23Z")
[Here’s](http://www.thehoya.com/news/120898/news2.htm) a story of the battle between drivers (particularly, in this case, college students) who park across driveways, and the residents they annoy. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bitchface-do-not-block-my-driveway/305331/118 "2005-06-01T20:12:40Z")
Stupid girl. Of course it’s not her fault- I mean, someone else had just been parked there! How can she be smart enough to attend Georgetown? ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bitchface-do-not-block-my-driveway/305331/119 "2005-06-01T20:36:42Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Or just pull out of the spot, wait for the guy to go to work, and then just park there again after he’s gone. How fucking hard is that? How much more time did she waste being a piss-poor example to her kids, instead of acting like a reasonable, accomodating human being? Exactly. Many times, I really think that so many issues could be solved with two REASONABLE people talking. The exchange should have went like this (not to imply the OP did anything wrong, the woman was dead wrong): Op: Excuse me, your blocking my driveway. Bitch: Oh crap, sorry, I just have to drop my kids off, is it ok? ( You see at this point, she would have acknowledged HER mistake, which I think would have went a long way for the OP, instead of her, “Oh, fuck you and your driveway” response") Op: No, I have to get to work now. Bitch: Oh, is it ok if I pull back, let you out, and then pull back in for five minutes? Op: Sure, just please don’t do it in the future if you see my car in the driveway at this time because I leave for work everyday at this time. Bitch: Ok, thank you so very much, parking is a pain in the butt around here. Op: Yes, it sure is. Have a nice a day. Kids: Gee Mom, what a nice man for letting us do this. Bitch: Yes honey, Mommy was wrong for blocking his driveway, that is against the law and it is just rude. I did it to save some time because I am very busy, but when I did that, I made my life more convenient by inconveniencing someone else, that is never right. Although you will be tempted in life to do the same thing I did, you should try not to because YOU ARE NOT SPECIAL. NO ONE IS SPECIAL, YOU ARE JUST ANOTHER PERSON IN THIS SOCIETY AND YOU HAVE TO RESPECT OTHERS. But, as you can see,when reasonable adults talk, you can solve EVERY SINGLE PROBLEM that ever existed. I hope you learned from this. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bitchface-do-not-block-my-driveway/305331/120 "2005-06-01T20:51:14Z")
> [@EJsGirl](#): > > Stupid girl. Of course it’s not her fault- I mean, someone else had just been parked there! Here, if you’re trying to park in a dense/busy/touristy area, you can expect that when you see a car pulling away from the curb (and then desperately fling your car across three lanes to get at the spot), more than half the time, it won’t actually be a spot. It’ll be a private driveway, bus stop, or fire hydrant. And “more than half the time” really isn’t an exaggeration. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bitchface-do-not-block-my-driveway/305331.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bitchface-do-not-block-my-driveway/305331.md?page=7)