I received a parking ticket while parked in MY driveway. Opinions?!

[teh DIRT]

Cliffnotes at end...

So I don't live at home anymore, but my parents have lived in this house for 23 years. We live in NE philly where the houses are arranged in doubles. Pairs of two, between each is a driveway that is shared by the houses on either side. For 23 years we have had atleast 6 different neighbors that we shared this driveway with, with NO issues. If they were parked in there, we wouldn't pull in behind them to block them in. They would show the same courtesy to us. If we were in there and they needed access to the garage, they could ask and we would move it. Very civil, very effective, for 23 years.

A month ago (i had already moved out), we got new neighbors. About 9 in the household, which is rented now. They instantly gave us issues with us parking in the driveway. Leaving letters on our cars saying we are not allowed to park in the driveway because it blocks access to their garage. Mind you, when we do park in the driveway, we hug the cars to our side so there is PLENTY of room to walk down and get to the garage.

My dad and them have gotten into a few times, and nothing really came of it. We've moved cars for them if asked, but they always bother with us even if they dont need to get into the driveway and we are there.


Fast forward to this weekend, I come home for the Flyers game. Get in at 2am, park in the driveway, with plenty of room on their side to walk up and down. Fast forward to this morning, I wake up to a 56 dollar "blocking the driveway" ticket on my car. Which is parked in the driveway. WTF? Is this legal? is this sane? If anyone knows where I can find the law on this it would be greatly appreciated. I could care less about the money, thats not the issue. The issue is the ignorance that it takes to pull something like this.

Cliffnotes: I got a parking ticket for parking in my shared driveway (neighbors called cops). Is this right? Legal? HELP!

_pete

[Spocknasty]

Is Pete gonna have to choke a bitch?

[DPancoast]

Is a legit looking ticket? There should be a number you can call to get information on it.

[jpalamar]

If it is a shared driveway and you blocked them, I don't see why it isn't legal to have it ticketed or even towed.

[OutToWinPAHC]

Has the property been surveyed? Who actually owns the driveway according to property lines?

[DPancoast]

I would think it depends on the garage... is there room to get a car in said garage? is that what it's for?

if one person is parked in the driveway, can the other use the garage?

Im guessing not... I guess it depends on the contract of the building and the property lines if there are any between neighbors.

[jgartland]

that sucks man. a month ago i got a 30 dollar ticket for parking out front of my house, which my parents have owned for 30 years. ive been parking in the same spot for 4 years never with any problems. i guess they dont like to tell people when they need a parking permit. still havent paid the ticket

[wheeble]

burn that mother****er down!!!!!

[max2k1]

I dunno what to do about the ticket. And for some reason I am having a problem picturing what the housing setup looks like. Any pics Pete?

But as for the aszhole neighbors. You said that rent the house. I would have your parents take up the issues with the person who owns the property your neighbors rent from. Im sure whoever owns the property doesn't want angry neighbors that can cause trouble for him. Also 9 people in 1 Philly house seems a bit excessive and possibly unsanitary. If the property owner doesn't help with the situation, you can probably have the police step in and cause them unwanted trouble, especially if they have children. So if you have to resort to it. Fight fire with fire. Sorry I couldn't give any advice on the ticket

[cookiemonster17]

park in the dam street...but im guessing there is no street parking

[OMGz Turbo]

wait till 3:30AM and then drop a 3/4 stick right next to their house..make sure there aint a car parked in teh driveway first....and after it blows up walk out front and act like WTF happened lol

[Drftpretty]

Only possible way to settlethis is with a surveyor. They'll want a a couple bennys but you can split it with the next door property owner. Then you'll know exactly who the driveway belongs to. If the driveway is yours I would put up a fence around it. Without the driveway their garage is effectively a shed and they can pound salt.

As for the ticket, challenge it. There's no way in hell the morons actually told the cop the entire situation to have him ticket your car. I'm sure they told the officer it was their drive. Or the next time they park in the drive I would call the cops on them parking in your drive. If your home at 2am and they weren't in the drive sounds like they don't need it anyway or they party harder than you lol.

If that all fails, either burn down the garage or draw a massive dick in chalk on the driveway every night they wash it off.

[FocusDude]

I think I know exactly where your talking about... My Aunt & Uncle lived in the NE a bit. At the top of the shared driveway it widens into the back yards of the houses and there is typically a garage for each unit. Your situation sounds similar, they were always civil about sharing the driveway when family and friends were over, but rarely parked on it otherwise. They would use the garage and sometimes park the smaller car tight up against it so the neighbor could still pull in to their garage.

Sounds a bit far to be getting a ticket, but I bet your not supposed to be blocking it. Just sucks past neighbors have been civil, and the new cats are D's about it.

[DPancoast]

I feel like if he brought it up with the property owner that his parents would have the upper hand after being there for so long. that sounds like the best idea so far.

[c0nfl1kt]

Slash some tyres first.

[i_ride_fieroGT]

You can always do what my buddy's dad did with his shared driveway. His new neighbors started complaning so he put up a big A** fence on the propertyline. There was nothing his neighbors could do about it either.

[teh DIRT]

Well our house is up for sale so we dont want to really do anything to depreciate the value of the property. I cant really find the laws on the shared driveway rules, but I do know there is one....just a matter of finding it. Im back in CT now, but my dad has already called his friend at L&I about the fact that they are subleting the basement to someone. BATTLE ROYALE!