Why I can't get into the garage this evening

[tamaranth]

Why I can't get into the garage, a photo by tamaranth on Flickr.

Just to clarify:
- the car is not mine
- the garage behind it is (well, it's bugshaw's)
- parking on the access roads is not permitted
- the garage is tricky to get into at the best of times (see my car for details)
- my blood pressure is up and my car is parked miles away (Okay, about 0.25 miles. but still.)

Any ideas for how to stop this happening, and wreak an evil but legal revenge?

Comments

[lj_stowaway]

I have cured inveterate parkers-in-my-goddamn-SPOT by printing up a snippy note re: assigned resident spots vs guest spots - IOW You Are Not Welcome To Park In My Place! Then I take a gluestick (water-soluble, of course) and spread glue over the *entire* back of the piece of paper and affix it firmly to their driver-side window. Works like magic. *ev0l grin*

[tamaranth.livejournal.com]

I like that! Shall print off a supply and put a gluestick in the car ...

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

You might tuck a polite note under one of the windscreen wipers.
Mind you, when the equivalent of this happened to me, I knocked on the neighbours' doors and requested the car removed. Which it duly was, with apologies.

[tamaranth.livejournal.com]

Polite note has been left, but this is not the first time despite previous requests. (though it is the first time they've parked across the garage door: usually they park in front of next door's garage, not leaving room for me to reverse ...)

Doesn't fix the problem though. If the car had been in the garage and I'd wanted to get out, I'd have been stuck. I think it's time for a notice on the garage door PLEASE DO NOT PARK HERE -- GARAGE IN USE

[flickgc.livejournal.com]

Is there a drop curb? Pete applied to the council and had one, and a yellow line, put in outside his in Brixton.

[nojay.livejournal.com]

A while back something similar happened to me; it was a car parked across the boatyard gates (big sign: gates in use 24 hours a day, emergency access) next to the pub preventing me from getting out. Requests in the pub didn't turn up the owner of the car but some local rugger buggers stepped into the breech and lifted the car for me and deposited it in the ditch next to the road. I left twenty quid behind the bar for said buggers and drove home.

In your case I'd suggest buying a trolley jack and acquiring a couple of muscular friends. When it happens again, jack up the back where the wheels are locked with the parking brake and then roll the car out onto the main street and leave it there. The police/traffic wardens/local council will deal with the problem for you. Wear gloves.

[elinor.livejournal.com]

I like the way you think. Especially the glove wearing.

[darth-tigger.livejournal.com]

evil but legal revenge?

Sprinkle bird seed all over it, and wait for the pigeons...

[ivory-goddess.livejournal.com]

Who polices the non-parking in the access road? I say: shop 'em to whoever's responsible - the owners will presumably get at least a nice fine, possibly a yellow boot or even a tow ...

[major-clanger.livejournal.com]

As I'm sure bugshaw has explained, this was a problem from the outset. The estate developers promised that they'd start enforcing the covenants in residents' leases against on-road parking 'once the development is finished' but as far as I know they never have.

I'd call Cambs Police on their non-emergency number 0345 456 4564 and complain. They should either deal with it themselves or pass you on to whoever does - possibly the Council parking enforcement services.

There are legal routes to trying to deal with this sort of thing, but that could well lead to a neighbour dispute and you really don't want one of those if you can avoid it.

[hairyears.livejournal.com]

darth_tigger's reply is interesting, but probably illegal...

You really don't want to be seen doing that, it'd be like drawing "Don't park in front of my f***ing garage, pillock" in clear soap or candlewax on his or her windscreen: invisible until they drive into the sunshine.

Works on wing mirrors, too.

A thin misting of sugar solution from a plant mist-sprayer reinforces the message, but there's lots if fun things you can do with sugar solutions. Mist-spraying the windows has a delayed effect, as it takes time for dirt and insects to collect (and 'develop' any hidden messages).

Leaving a box of matches tucked out of sight under one wheel is good for a laugh, too.

However, pigeon shit under the door-handle is probably enough. Unless you have a warped sense of humour, half-eaten boiled sweets, and a Squeegee bottle full of dilute sugar solution, to run a trail to your nearest ants nest.

[pecos.livejournal.com]

You, Sir/Ma'am, have won The Internets!

I like to wedge a couple traffic cones into wheel wells for that "I drive drunk" air of class.

[shui-long.livejournal.com]

I've had some success with the printed notice (A4 size) and gluestick trick recommended by the_stowaway.

[Makes note never to cross hairyears, whose revenge is clearly liable to be inventive ...]