He Simply Wanted His Driveway Clear, But the Neighbors' Retaliation Was Beyond Belief.

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In the heart of midtown, where driveways stretch deep into properties and curbside parking is non-existent, an unassuming conflict over shared driveway space unfolds between the Original Poster (OP) and his neighbor, a kindly, elderly couple with limited English proficiency. A tense standoff involving an inexplicably parked car and the threat of towing unfolds.

The Disputed Driveways

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OP’s life is disrupted by frequent gatherings at his neighbor’s house, where the guests regularly leave their vehicles in OP’s driveway. This inconvenient parking situation has forced OP to request the removal of the vehicles, an unwelcome task after a long workday.

Not Just A Parking Issue

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Not only do the neighbor’s guests overstay their welcome, they are often loud and drinking heavily until late in the evening. Sometimes there are up to 7 vehicles in and around the home.

After Midnight Revelations

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Late one night, OP returns home to find another car parked in his driveway, the offending vehicle positioned such that OP can’t maneuver around it. No one responds to his knocks or honks, leading him to make the uncomfortable decision to either call a towing service or endure the inconvenience.

Out Of Options

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Having a car in your own driveway is bad enough. However, with the location of the home being on a very busy street with no parking allowed, OP is left without many options to park at his own home.

Language Barrier

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To make matters worse, the neighbors are an older couple with limited English proficiency. Although some family members are fluent in English, the couple struggles to communicate effectively with OP, causing misunderstandings and further frustration.

No Room For Confusion

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The neighbors have separate driveways that run right alongside each other. It is still clear that they do not belong to the same home because of a grass strip separating the two drives. This makes it harder for OP to believe this was an honest mistake.

Neighborly Tensions

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Despite the annoyances caused by the neighbors’ inconsiderate parking habits, OP holds back from reporting their behavior because of their generally kind disposition. He doesn’t want to live in a hostile environment.

Age Gap

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The couple’s age and the language barrier cause OP to hesitate before resorting to severe measures like towing. It didn’t seem fair to get the cops involved in case they didn’t understand his original complaint.

Shifting Work Schedules

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OP’s work hours complicate the situation further, as his late shifts align with his neighbor’s disruptive festivities. Because of his sleep schedule, conversations about the parking issue are delayed until late in the day, meaning that the car could be blocked in with no way to get out.

Potential Showdown

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On a particular day, the car left in the driveway belongs to a guest who hasn’t returned, and OP’s patience is on the brink. OP is considering taking drastic measures to reclaim his property. After a long day at work, coming home to this is extremely frustrating for OP.

Towing Away

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OP would love to call the cops and have the vehicle hauled off. However, he knows that can be very expensive and would create tension with his neighbors, which he wants to avoid at all costs.

The Unanswered Dilemma

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The problem remains unresolved, with OP torn between wanting to maintain a cordial relationship with his neighbors and the necessity to protect his space. The continued misuse of his driveway makes the situation increasingly frustrating.

A Call For Help

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OP decides to post his situation on a popular online forum. Upon doing so, he is inundated with comments about how he is being too nice. Most agree that blocking someone in and going to sleep is the best course of action. Others think towing the car off is the only way they will learn a lesson. OP is left to decide how to handle the situation.

Was Blocking Their Neighbor’s Car In Appropriate?

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The readers in the forum had a lot of mixed views on the matter. Here are some of their responses:

Forum Responds

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One reader said, “It doesn’t matter how nice or old they are. If you’ve had a conversation with them and the problem is still occurring, they can pay for the towing and storage fees themselves.”

Another Commenter Thinks

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Another responder wrote: “You can’t park on the curb, you can’t pull around on the grass median, and you went to their door and knocked to try to ask them to move first. Your options were to block them in or have them towed.”

A Third View on The Story

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A different person states, “I personally would tow their car because no way would I want them to wake me up to let them out. Be inconsiderate and pay the price.”

A Final Perspective on the Matter

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Another viewpoint on the story: “Warn them that the next time it happens, you’ll have them towed. It’s not worth your headache to keep dealing with it.”