Another Frustrated by Neighbor
 

I know I am a hyper-sensitive fool for getting angry over something so minor, but maybe venting here will help.

The woman that lives across the street from me and one door up has been parking her HUGE RV in her driveway in long spurts (up to 6 weeks at a time). The damn thing actually hangs out the driveway and blocks the entire sidewalk. Then, she parks her car in front of her driveway and literally blocks off all pedestrian traffic.

I checked with the city and they state that an RV cannot be parked in front of a house in view--period, But the city will only advise or cite someone if a complaint is made. I do not want to be a coward and "secretly" call the city on her.

Now, her ex-husband is parking a frickin massive enclosed racing trailer (40 footer at least, maybe more) and a dirty tow vehicle in front of her house and the neighbor's. It blocks their driveway and takes up the entire length of the house across from me. The kicker is the trailer and truck belong to his boss!!!

I am about to blow. I am close with all the neighbors immediately around me and NONE of them will step up and talk to the offenders. They all say it does not bother them that much. But, I KNOW it does. They just don't want to get involved and jeopardize the good relations they have with the offending neighbor.

I pay WAYYYYYYY too much money for my SoCal home to put up with this shyte!

What would you guys/girls do?

Mike

Move out of Southern California.

Thats very easy, pick up the phone and complain, if that is not allowed by the city case is closed.

Juan:

I would feel like a coward for not voicing my dissaproval to them first.

Mike

Seriously doubt that it would do any good.

Your tax dollars are paying for the folks that can/will come tell them to move their stuff. May as well use them.

Around here that wouldn't fly and you wouldn't have to even make the call. They have nazis patrolling in wannabe police cars issuing citations for everything that the city has an ordinance for. They even will go in your yard and look over your fence to see if you have any unregistered vehicles parked back there.

Call me crazy, but I think you should GO OVER AND TALK TO THEM. Jeezus.

If you talk to them, they will probably tell you they don't have anyplace else to park them. Maybe the woman told the "X" to park his big trailer there because nobody complains. Call the City, County, whatever.

I agree with Gogar but I would not call you or anyone else crazy until bitten. Just make sure you are calm before you go, arguments could set off long term bitterness, I live in SoCAL and have occasionally offended, but have had the good luck of having good neighbors that let me know the easy way, not the threatening way. Good luck.

Think about it for a second, Do you think they have ANY sense of consideration?
"IF" they had any they will not do things like that,

Your tax dollars are paying for the folks that can/will come tell them to move their stuff. May as well use them.

Absolutely, but thats just my opinion.

You're in the right to be pissed and I totally get it. Call the city and just calmly explain what's up, clarify what the ordinance is, and ask them to take care of it. Here's the problem...it starts with the RV, then the race trailer shows up...and if they don't have any consideration for the neighbors who knows what else will show up. Next up= outdoor vehicle lift bolted to the driveway??

That could have some benefit!;)

You could do what my next-door neighbors did, because our across-the-street neighbors keep their trash/recycle containers out (taking up parking space). They called the city to complain, but they claimed to live at MY ADDRESS, and gave the name of the previous owner of our house. :mad: Ash holes.

anything less and you just FAIL as a man.
If they fail to act, then you can be the snitch, If you want.

It's their property. Live and let live. Try minding YOUR business instead of theirs.

yup, the only way to enslave a freeman? more laws.

It has been said before (elsewhere) .....

+1

Don't be "angry" when you talk with them. Be "the friend" warning them that some of the other neighbors are getting annoyed with their parking habits, letting them know that what they are doing is actually against city regulations.

Mike,
Your patience level and threshold of acceptance is one of those YMMV issues, but since you asked; I know you will approach this calmly. It's not as though they've been notified and refused to comply. Maybe they're oblivious to the fact. It happens. Seems to afflict owners of black Audi wagons too. :) (old joke).

Since the city has an existing ordinance against RVs, maybe you can get clarification if that also includes 40ft trailers. Maybe a photo will help illustrate the exact situation to the civil service person in charge so there's no confusion. If so, you know you have legal standing.

Approach the neighbor you want to remain on good terms with ask about the race car inside; establish some common ground, then courteously mention how long they plan to park the vehicle there. If they say forever or something equivalent, tell them you think it's unsightly and blocks kids and pedestrians from using the sidewalk, there's an ordinance against it, they belong in a storage yard, etc. If they say it's only temporary, mark your calendar days.

They'll probably see your POV and comply. If he/they become defensive, shrug your shoulders and walk away. They are now the bad neighbors, the ones who aren't neighborly and courteous. Give them a few days (your call) to think about it, then call the city. If the good neighbors don't see your POV in this situation, it would have been a matter of time for something else to happen. To show your compassion, I would even apologize to them for having to turn them in. Invite them to the next block party. The result is the same as if you acted like a controlling d!ick. Since you're not and didn't, that's a plus.

Sherwood

That is most likely what will happen. Seriously... if these people think it's okay to create an industrial parking lot in a neighborhood and block sidewalks, they are oblivious, all right... completely oblivious to normal considerations to their neighbors.

Which you will probably find out no matter how calmly you ask them to stop parking all that stuff out there.

They'll be pissed... even if they don't show it.

And then there will be no doubt in their minds about who calls the cops/city inspector on them a day or two later.

And then you'll regret wanting to confront them like a gentleman.

Just make the call... and ask the cops/inspector to please not tell them your name or location in case this ticks them off.

If you try to reason with these people, you will find out very quickly they will not consider you their friend... they will most likely see you as a chicken$h!t, if you know what I mean.

Just make the call. You won't be sorry.