A Car is Blocking the Driveway, What Should I Do?
Parking is never easy in Jersey City, that’s why some drivers violate some rules as long as they can get away with it.
Yesterday, a Ford mini-van was blocking my driveway. Whenever that happens, I give grace period by running errands (refueling, groceries, etc) hoping that the car is gone when I come back. However, the case yesterday was abusive and I didn’t want to let it go. The car – which isn’t from my neighbors – was parked in front of my driveway for more than an hour already.
Car blocking the driveway, despite the presence of a “No Parking” sign.
What Should You Do?
- IMPT: Call Jersey City Parking Authority (JCPA) at (201)653-6969
- Press “8″ for Enforcement Division (if it doesn’t transfer automatically, wait for a representative)
- Get the offender’s car specification and information (car model and color, plate number, etc)
- Ask the representative to send someone over
- Representative will ask you for the cross streets so make sure you know these.
- Wait for the JCPA Enforcement (they will arrive in 10-15 minutes depending on availability)
- Parking violator/offender will get a summon/ticket, if the offender’s car is still there.
Unfortunately for me, the driver showed up and left the spot 5 seconds sooner than JCPA’s arrival. Because of that, the JCPA officer called his office and mentioned “EOA”. Meaning, the violator left.
Despite not getting “proper” justice, I was able to talk to the driver and told him he’s not allowed to park there. I feel that these violators will continue to break the rules until they learned their lessons, so I told him that I already called JCPA and gave them his plate number.
Did I do the right thing? Was I being too sensitive and touchy?
What would you do if this happens to you? Let it go, or let JCPA handle it?
Kudos to JCPA. They took my call professionally and I was happy with the service, despite not getting what I wanted.
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I’d do what you did, there’s no excuse for parking in front of driveways, that’s just stupid. He’s lucky you didn’t tow his car away, you would’ve been justified doing that, too.
when i had a driveway, i would call the police and have them ticket it. they can’t tow it unless the car is blocking your car in and you can’t get it out.
after the first ticket, they usually stop.
I feel your pain and frustrations. The parking authorities often showed up late and the violators are long gone. And if they did show up they will not tow the vehicle away unless its an emergency situation. Last months, it happened to me twice in less than a week. The first time, half a car was blocking my driveway. I told the officer I want it towed. She replied, you can still get out by driving over the curb. I was so shocked to her reply. Then I asked her what if my house is on fire or if someone need to rush to the hospital. She replied you then call 911 and this becomes an emergency case. In other words, I have to set my house on fire or make myself sick, then call 911, then the emergency response will first tow the car that’s illegally parked before they can rescue me. By the time they reach me, I’ll be cooked and dead either way. The second time, I came home in the evening after 9:15. A car fully blocked my driveway. I can’t even drive on the curb to get in. So I call the authority. An hour later, they showed up. The officer said, we will get it tow and you can go in to your house now. In the beginning I thought they are actually helping me out. After about half an hour, the car was still there and I am still unable to get into my garage. So I went out to find out what’s taking so long. He said don’t worry we are taking care of it. Then a young girl ran to the car. One of the officer asking her what are you doing blocking people’s driveway. The way the conversation was conducted, it appeared they are related to each other. Kind of like sibling rows. The officer then told me that this is a private conversation "do you mind standing there!". I was fuming but was not going to make a scene so I went into my car and started the engine. Five minutes later, they are still arguing in front of my car, car was still blocking my driveway, no tow truck had shown up. So I stepped out and ask politely, how long is this going to take. It’s now 11:20. Another officer then raise his voice and ordered me to "stay in your car", "stay in your car". A minute later, they all left. No tow ever truck appear. My experience is, there’s absolutely nothing we can do to parking violators. The victims are the crooks. The violators are good guys. The authorities will support the violators, not the victim, although the law say differently. What should I do? I have started taken lots of photo of the cars blocking my driveway. I will start publishing them on my blog. I haven’t got a blog set up yet. But, it will be published at Google’s Blogger.com soon. Robin
That’s some bad experience there Robin. And the way I see it, you are a very patient guy. Those officers were rude to you, and they had no business telling you to stay in your car.
Btw, let us know if you finished setting up your blog.
Hi there
I came home today around 11 pm. I had a flat tire, then came up thet my spare tire is bad as well, so i had to drive really slow.
I coming home and see someone blocking my driveway. I called the cops. 1 hr later someone show up, said i will take care of it , park somewhere else.
Here comes a question:
WHY I HAVE TO PARK SOMEWHERE ELSE IF I PAYING FOR MY GARAGE ?????
What if something will happen to my car, who will be responsable for it? I’m so over it.
The same happened few weeks ago, but the cops dont ven show up.
It’s 1 am now, and the car is still blocking my driveway. Cops not doing anything. So disapointed in them
wow, reading these blogs gets me so very upset. Well a very similar incident happened to me. I have a yard that is one block from a college stadium so yea, I park cars for $20 a park. To make a long story short, I pay my property taxes with parking cars for homecoming alone. Two nights before the big game someone blocked my drive way and seemed to be having car troubles. I told her she could not park there and she said that she would have it towed by the next morning. It didnt happen. The morning before the game around 5am it was still there, so I hooked my Chevy 3500 truck to it with a heavy duty chain and I pulled it away from the gate and into the middle of the street. By 9am that game day morning it finally got moved.
I received a ticket for blocking a driveway. Usually, I am careful and be aware of my surroundings. I looked around and I really did not notice I was blocking a driveway. Absolutely NO signs appeared saying NO Parking Driveway. None what so ever. It did not look like a driveway. Is there a regulation about this? If so what is it.
I’m in a similar situation where I have neighbors constantly blocking my driveway. I’ve voiced my concern with the neighbors and my landlord, but nothing has changed for the better.
Hoping for direction, I called the police and fire department. I have not even gotten a response from them, even though I informed both that my neighbors are parking in a fire lane.
When I struggled to get out a few days ago, I was told to “Leave, just move out!” Last night, I got a note on my door stating that I make too much noise leaving in the morning.
Well, I had to creep up and back, forward and backward numerous times in order to squeeze out so that I wouldn’t be late for work since no one was coming out to move their car, and, I tried very hard NOT to damage any cars in the process of trying to get out.
There would be no problem if the neighbors would not park in this area and I think this could be resolved by the landlord, police or fire department if “anyone” would just take the time to help.
Evidently in virginia if someone is parked in the road following the flow of traffic, it does not matter if the car is blocking your driveway from what the police told me. Technically if they are not blocking the street, and they are not on your property just in front of it, then they are not breaking any laws here so they can not have it towed. I asked him if I could have it towed and he said that he did not know if i was allowed to legally have it towed from in front of my driveway. I couldn’t believe the cop actually showed up, within like ten minutes of me calling it in too, just sucks he couldn’t do anything about it. I plan on renting some car jacks to move it if nothing happens, just to fuck with the person who parked it there.