What Are Your Options For Removing A Vehicle Blocking Your Driveway?

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If you live in a cul-de-sac, or on a street with limited parking, you may sometimes encounter the frustrating situation that occurs when a neighbor's (or visitor's) vehicle encroaches on your lawn or creeps past the threshold of your driveway. However, when this becomes a regular occurrence and prevents you from entering or leaving through your driveway, you may begin seeing red. What are your legal (and logistical) options to remove a vehicle parked on your property without your permission? Read on to learn more about when you have the right to have a trespassing vehicle towed away.

Do you have the right to order that a vehicle on your property be towed?

While your initial inclination upon encountering a vehicle blocking your driveway may be to call a towing company, like Larry Menz Towing Services Inc, there are some legal steps you'll need to take first. In most jurisdictions, you'll need to call the police to inform them of the impending tow and provide information that can be used to identify the car and track its location. Calling a tow company before taking these steps could create a major hassle for the vehicle's owner and even subject you to fines or penalties for improper towing procedures. You may also find that the tow truck operator refuses to tow the offending vehicle until you've demonstrated that nearby neighbors have been notified to allow the vehicle's owner to move the vehicle.

If your neighborhood is governed by a homeowners association (HOA), it's likely that your HOA has specific rules regarding when and how a tow can take place. You'll want to consult your HOA bylaws or covenants, codes and restrictions document to ensure that you're doing everything by the book.

What should you do if you're dealing with a repeat parking violator?

For instances in which you're legally restricted from ordering that a vehicle be towed, you may have better luck by engaging in some prevention tactics. Placing large decorative rocks or metal stakes near the base of your driveway can help physically prevent vehicles from encroaching on your driveway. You can also opt to paint the curb around your house bright yellow (assuming this doesn't violate any HOA restrictions) or paint your house's address on the curb in large font. These ownership displays may often be enough to get the message across to a clueless neighbor that you're no longer willing to lend your driveway as a satellite parking space.


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