# parking in someone's driveway. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 19, 2010, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parking-in-someones-driveway/561256 "2010-11-19T19:46:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2010, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parking-in-someones-driveway/561256/1 "2010-11-19T19:46:15Z")
I know that it’a illegal to park your car in someone’s driveway. I wonder if it’s illegal to block your own driveway. What I’m talking about is parking a car accross the street entrance to a private driveway. My (ex) neighbor told me that the entrance to his driveway was like having a private street parking spot that nobody else could use. No animosity here, we were just talking. But it makes me wonder. peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreasyJack)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2010, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parking-in-someones-driveway/561256/2 "2010-11-19T20:11:49Z")
Well, firstly, parking regulations are entirely done on a local level so you’ll probably have to figure out what the rules are where you live. Secondly, I have gotten a ticket for blocking my own driveway. I guess the logic is that it’s impractical for them to ticket _anyone_ for blocking a driveway if they had to figure out whether the car belonged to the owner of the driveway or not. YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![sevenwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@sevenwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sevenwood)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2010, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parking-in-someones-driveway/561256/3 "2010-11-19T20:11:56Z")
> [@mangeorge](#): > > I wonder if it’s illegal to block your own driveway. What I’m talking about is parking a car across the street entrance to a private driveway. I sure hope it’s not illegal, as this is exactly what everyone on my street does after they’ve resurfaced their driveway and are waiting for the new surface to dry. You park your car in the street directly in front of your driveway entrance to prevent anyone who doesn’t realize what’s going on from driving onto it. After reading GreasyJack’s response I should point out that I live in a suburban neighborhood where nobody’s going to issue a parking ticket unless someone complains about something first. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2010, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parking-in-someones-driveway/561256/4 "2010-11-19T20:15:33Z")
[2009 California Vehicle Code - Section 22500-22526 Chapter 9. Stopping, Standing, And Parking](http://law.justia.com/california/codes/2009/veh/22500-22526.html) > [@](#): > > 1. No person shall stop, park, or leave standing any vehicle > whether attended or unattended, except when necessary to avoid > conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions of a > peace officer or official traffic control device, in any of the > following places: > [@](#): > > (e) In front of a public or private driveway, except that a bus > engaged as a common carrier, schoolbus, or a taxicab may stop to load > or unload passengers when authorized by local authorities pursuant > to an ordinance. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2010, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parking-in-someones-driveway/561256/5 "2010-11-19T20:17:09Z")
Well, in most jurisictions I know of, it is illegal. After all, it is a public street and thus you don’t get a private reserved spot. (even tho many think that the street in front of their house is “theirs”) But, mostly, tickets for this are issued because someone called and complained (as \*\*sevenwood \*\*sez), and who is most likely to complain about someone parked in front of your driveway? _You_, of course. Thus, you can likely get away with it, assuming you are not in a area commonly patrolled by meter maids and you have no feuds with your neighbors. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2010, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parking-in-someones-driveway/561256/6 "2010-11-19T20:22:15Z")
> [@GreasyJack](#): > > I guess the logic is that it’s impractical for them to ticket _anyone_ for blocking a driveway if they had to figure out whether the car belonged to the owner of the driveway or not. YMMV. They’d run your plate, right? ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2010, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parking-in-someones-driveway/561256/7 "2010-11-19T20:28:13Z")
> [@sevenwood](#): > > I sure hope it’s not illegal, as this is exactly what everyone on my street does after they’ve resurfaced their driveway and are waiting for the new surface to dry. You park your car in the street directly in front of your driveway entrance to prevent anyone who doesn’t realize what’s going on from driving onto it. I’ve always seen people using sawhorses and the like to block it off - never cars. You don’t want people walking down the sidewalk stepping in the new surfacing either, do you? ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2010, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parking-in-someones-driveway/561256/8 "2010-11-19T20:30:03Z")
I’ve never had neighbor trouble here in the city, but out in the burbs it was much worse. I know for sure that there are people out there who would rat you out in a minute if you pissed them off. Even if it was your own driveway you blocked. I’ve never been able to figure that suburban attitude out, but I have encounterd it often. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreasyJack)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2010, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parking-in-someones-driveway/561256/9 "2010-11-19T20:31:47Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > They’d run your plate, right? I don’t think the parking enforcement people can run plates. Or at least they don’t have the computer terminal to do it automatically and would have to do it the old fashioned way by calling dispatch, who probably have better things to do. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2010, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parking-in-someones-driveway/561256/10 "2010-11-19T20:37:10Z")
> [@GreasyJack](#): > > I don’t think the parking enforcement people can run plates. Or at least they don’t have the computer terminal to do it automatically and would have to do it the old fashioned way by calling dispatch, who probably have better things to do. OK, I’m out in a rural area. “Getting a ticket” involves a police car, etc. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2010, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parking-in-someones-driveway/561256/11 "2010-11-19T20:41:13Z")
Bill Gannon got ticketed for it on **Dragnet**. Joe Friday was not sympathetic. (“But it’s my own driveway, Joe!” “It doesn’t matter, Bill.”) Is there any more conclusive proof? ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2010, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parking-in-someones-driveway/561256/12 "2010-11-19T20:58:07Z")
Berkeley is a special case, as people there park crazy, especially on student move-in day, and there are a bunch of oddities in street shape and such that are puzzlers. Parking enforcement does well, I’m sure. I wanted to make a thread on a similar topic, now I’ll just piggyback and post the unanswered part of my question. What exactly is a driveway? I have seen places where there is a dip in the curve, but the actual “driveway” only goes 2 feet before hitting a fence with no gate or a wall. Is it legal to park across here? Your jurisdiction may vary, of course. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2010, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parking-in-someones-driveway/561256/13 "2010-11-19T21:15:03Z")
> [@GreasyJack](#): > > I don’t think the parking enforcement people can run plates. Or at least they don’t have the computer terminal to do it automatically and would have to do it the old fashioned way by calling dispatch, who probably have better things to do. They can around here. They have a computer in their little trike, and it prints out your ticket right there with all your info on it, which you can pay very conveniently online. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2010, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parking-in-someones-driveway/561256/14 "2010-11-19T21:39:33Z")
It depends. From the NYC parking violation codes. > [@](#): > > 98 Standing or parking in front of a public or private driveway. The owner or renter of a lot accessed by a private driveway may park a passenger vehicle registered to him / her at that address in front of such driveway provided the lot does not contain more than 2 dwelling units and that such parking does not violate any other rule or restriction. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2010, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parking-in-someones-driveway/561256/15 "2010-11-19T22:06:27Z")
i think in many cities your property ends on the near edge of the sidewalk. the city owns and controls the sidewalk and driveway apron and you are taxed for having it. city also owns and controls the street edge to edge. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2010, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parking-in-someones-driveway/561256/16 "2010-11-19T22:07:30Z")
> [@doreen](#): > > It depends. From the NYC parking violation codes. When I was at the Navy Yard in Brooklyn ('64/'65) we used to occasionally go to a bar in Queens that served up a really nice buffet right after happy hour. I learned a couple years later that it was a gay bar, and that a couple of the guys in our group were gay. That’s probably part of why we all had so much fun. 😉 One of the nice things about New York bars was that they all had some king of food. I loved it there. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2010, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parking-in-someones-driveway/561256/17 "2010-11-19T22:25:11Z")
> [@Harmonious\_Discord](#): > > [2009 California Vehicle Code - Section 22500-22526 Chapter 9. Stopping, Standing, And Parking](http://law.justia.com/california/codes/2009/veh/22500-22526.html) Pretty much [the same language in Missouri](http://www.moga.mo.gov/statutes/C300-399/3000000440.HTM), as well. In my friendly little suburb, the cops may knock on your door to ask you if that’s your car blocking your own driveway, but that’s strictly a courtesy. Bottom line, you can’t block any driveway, even your own. ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2010, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parking-in-someones-driveway/561256/18 "2010-11-19T23:49:07Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > i think in many cities your property ends on the near edge of the sidewalk. the city owns and controls the sidewalk and driveway apron and you are taxed for having it. city also owns and controls the street edge to edge. For most public streets/roads, the street right-of way extends past the paving and curb, and across the sidewalk (if any). As you say, a portion of many folks’ front lawn and driveway apron are in the street right-of-way. A good way to estimate where the right-of-way stops is to observe where telephone pedestals or light poles are located. A private street, obviously, is different. ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_Astronaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Bad\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2010, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parking-in-someones-driveway/561256/19 "2010-11-20T00:18:21Z")
The real question is, can you drive in someone’s parkway? ---
**Author:** ![sevenwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@sevenwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sevenwood)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2010, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parking-in-someones-driveway/561256/20 "2010-11-20T01:06:42Z")
(Answering a question originally addressed to me, but since quotes don’t nest anymore I have to mention that this way…) > [@Voyager](#): > > I’ve always seen people using sawhorses and the like to block it off - never cars. You don’t want people walking down the sidewalk stepping in the new surfacing either, do you? Good point. The street/road I live on doesn’t have sidewalks so that’s not an issue I had considered. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parking-in-someones-driveway/561256.md?page=2)