Illegal Parking Fiasco: Two Wrongs Don’t Make a Right

Our parents always told us that two wrongs don’t make a right. Watch how this plays out in this illegal parking fiasco.

The video shows a vehicle parked in front of a residential driveway. It is also blocking a fire hydrant. The illegal parker is on the scene arguing with the man whose driveway she blocked.

Based on the conversation and the car’s positioning, it’s clear that the man became so frustrated about his blocked driveway that he hit the woman’s car. So, who is liable for this legal parking fiasco?

What Can You Do if Someone Blocks Your Driveway?

The woman parked illegally, but no driver could hit another person’s car. So, how could the man have handled the legal parking fiasco better?

The best solution is to try to find the person who parked the car in your driveway and ask them to move it.

If you are unable to locate them, you can call the police. The police will typically call a towing company and have the car towed.

If the illegal parker does not show up to move their vehicle, authorities will tow it. They will need to retrieve it from the impound. They must also pay for their violation and the towing and impound fees.

Going this route can be frustrating. It can take hours for the police to come and tow the car, so if you need to get somewhere, you may be out of luck.

You can sue the illegal parker for missed work and other losses. However, it’s rarely worth the time and effort. Moreover, hitting the person’s car is never a good solution.

Illegal Parking Fiasco Includes Fire Hydrant Violation

The illegal parker also parked in front of a fire hydrant, a second violation. Many states, like California, have specific laws that dictate parking distances from fire hydrants. For example, it is illegal in California to park within 15 feet of a fire hydrant, regardless of whether the curb is painted red.

Fire hydrants save people’s lives. Firefighters cannot access the water source if a fire breaks out and your car is parked in front of a hydrant. Maneuvering the hose over, under, or around the vehicle could crimp and restrict water flow.

Firepeople may have to break your car’s windows and feed the hose through to enable lifesaving efforts- which is exactly what happened in this viral news story.

Parking your car in front of a fire hydrant could result in it being ticketed or towed.

Hitting a Person’s Car is Never the Answer

It is a crime to cause a car accident purposely. If you cause an accident that does bodily harm to another person, you could face jail time and punitive damages. You would also need to cover damages and injuries.

Fortunately, the man in this video did not cause bodily harm to the woman. He knew she was not in the car when he hit it. However, he is still guilty of malicious mischief to a vehicle.

This crime is a misdemeanor and is punishable with fines, jail time, and reparation damages. The punishment terms are generally minimal and vary from state to state.

Who is Guilty in the Illegal Parking Fiasco?

So, who is responsible for the illegal parking fiasco? Both parties could face consequences. The woman might receive a ticket for blocking the man’s driveway and the fire hydrant, while the man could face fines and jail time for intentionally hitting the woman’s car.

It may be frustrating to wait for the police and have the car towed, but it’s better than fines and jail time.