# Do you leave notes on the windows of poorly parked cars **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 4, 2010, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-leave-notes-on-the-windows-of-poorly-parked-cars/541946 "2010-06-04T16:39:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 6
**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 13, 2010, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-leave-notes-on-the-windows-of-poorly-parked-cars/541946/101 "2010-06-13T18:38:40Z")
That’s the running joke between my husband and I when we see people doing something illegal/assholish in parking lots - “It’s okay, because they’re _just running in!_” Can someone tell me what I’m missing here? Why do people keep saying it takes more time to drive into a parking space between the lines than it takes to drive across the lines? You pull into a parking lot, you drive your car between the lines in a parking spot\*, you turn off the car and get out. How does that take more time than parking over some lines? \*I’m assuming here that people drive well enough to be able to aim their car where they want it to go - is this where I’m going wrong? ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2010, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-leave-notes-on-the-windows-of-poorly-parked-cars/541946/102 "2010-06-13T20:27:17Z")
Some people just really can’t drive for shit. Some people don’t have that basic level of control over their car that most of us have. I personally think they shouldn’t have a license. ---
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2010, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-leave-notes-on-the-windows-of-poorly-parked-cars/541946/103 "2010-06-14T00:09:03Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > I have a whole system worked out; every time you renew your plates, you get 10 special, DMV paintballs. Whenever you see someone doing something douchey while driving, you tag their car with a paintball. When they go to renew their plates, the DMV takes a look at their car and sends them to driver remedial school based on how many tags of paint they have on their car. The police may also use paint tags as the basis for keeping an especially close eye on a driver. It’s a good system. I’ll use all my 10 on yours because I don’t like your hairstyle. And my 10 friends will also use theirs on yours 'cos I’m buying the beers tonight. We’ll make sure to do so when you’re parked perfeclty well in your own driveway. See the flaw in the system? ---
**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 14, 2010, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-leave-notes-on-the-windows-of-poorly-parked-cars/541946/104 "2010-06-14T00:20:42Z")
Damn! Back to the drawing board. ---
**Author:** ![BCHH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/53a042/32.png) [@BCHH](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BCHH)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2010, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-leave-notes-on-the-windows-of-poorly-parked-cars/541946/105 "2010-06-14T00:50:05Z")
When I was about 18 I was pretty proud of my car. One time at the mall I parked it across two spots. Not being very close to an entrance and with the lot not very full, I didn’t see the harm. As I was leaving I caught a girl leaving a note on my windshield stating I was an asshole and had no reason to park that way because my car was a rusted, dented, POS. I scrawled a thank-you on the back and suggested she mind her own fucking business, then slipped it under her wiper. As I was backing out, her boyfriend came at me from behind a car. They must have been watching from a distance and came back to see why I hadn’t left yet. I don’t employ this assholish method of keeping my vehicle ding-free these days and HATEHATEHATE seeing others doing it. However I am not one to leave a note, I prefer to let karma handle it. ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2010, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-leave-notes-on-the-windows-of-poorly-parked-cars/541946/106 "2010-06-14T00:56:57Z")
> [@OpalCat](#): > > Some people just really can’t drive for shit. Some people don’t have that basic level of control over their car that most of us have. I personally think they shouldn’t have a license. Not being able to park for shit doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t drive for shit. I am probably opening myself up for flaming here, but I am parking impaired. There is some kind of malfunction in my brain that makes me not know if I’m parked crooked or straight. I can totally think that I am pulling in straight and yet, I am crooked. If it’s bad enough to inconvenience those around me, I will correct it, so it’s not like I take up two spaces or just don’t give a fuck. But I can drive perfectly fine, it’s just the parking that’s a problem. ---
**Author:** ![BCHH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/53a042/32.png) [@BCHH](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BCHH)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2010, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-leave-notes-on-the-windows-of-poorly-parked-cars/541946/107 "2010-06-14T01:39:18Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > ETA: But you’re right, **BigT** - I should politely explain to them that the law requires that you make a complete stop before driving over a sidewalk, and only proceed when it’s clear there are no pedestrians. Chances are excellent based on the level of driving here that they don’t have a clue that they’re breaking the law. Do I understand you correctly to mean a driver MUST stop before crossing a sidewalk, such as pulling into your own driveway or into a parking lot? Or did you intend to say _crosswalk_ instead of sidewalk? ---
**Author:** ![BCHH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/53a042/32.png) [@BCHH](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BCHH)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2010, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-leave-notes-on-the-windows-of-poorly-parked-cars/541946/108 "2010-06-14T01:48:37Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > ETA: But you’re right, **BigT** - I should politely explain to them that the law requires that you make a complete stop before driving over a sidewalk, and only proceed when it’s clear there are no pedestrians. Chances are excellent based on the level of driving here that they don’t have a clue that they’re breaking the law. Do I understand you correctly to mean a driver MUST stop before crossing a sidewalk, such as pulling into your own driveway or into a parking lot? Or did you intend to say _crosswalk_ instead of sidewalk? ETA: I just checked the Wisconsin motorists’ handbook and found this: “You must stop before crossing a sidewalk if you are entering or crossing a highway from a driveway, alley or parking lot.” You are correct, in my head I was only considering crossing the sidewalk the other direction. I guess because it just seems obvious that you would have to (or should) stop before entering the roadway anyhow. ---
**Author:** ![BCHH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/53a042/32.png) [@BCHH](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BCHH)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2010, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-leave-notes-on-the-windows-of-poorly-parked-cars/541946/109 "2010-06-14T02:16:46Z")
> [@picunurse](#): > > Wait, you don’t understand. I COULDN’T SQUEEZE BETWEEN THE CARS! It wouldn’t have done any good to open my door after I got in, it was too close to do any damage. Correction: You _think_ it was too close to do any damage. You need to test that hypothesis. Repeatedly.😃 ---
**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 14, 2010, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-leave-notes-on-the-windows-of-poorly-parked-cars/541946/110 "2010-06-14T02:43:27Z")
> [@BCHH](#): > > Do I understand you correctly to mean a driver MUST stop before crossing a sidewalk, such as pulling into your own driveway or into a parking lot? Or did you intend to say _crosswalk_ instead of sidewalk? > > ETA: I just checked the Wisconsin motorists’ handbook and found this: > “You must stop before crossing a sidewalk if you are entering or crossing a highway from a driveway, alley or parking lot.” > You are correct, in my head I was only considering crossing the sidewalk the other direction. I guess because it just seems obvious that you would have to (or should) stop before entering the roadway anyhow. Bingo. You would think it would always be obvious if there were pedestrians coming along the sidewalk or not, and you just stop if you see someone, but that is not actually the case. Besides, stopping across the sidewalk and making pedestrians walk around your car is both dangerous and uncool. 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-leave-notes-on-the-windows-of-poorly-parked-cars/541946.md?page=5)