My neighbor has a garage and a 2 car driveway. There is ample additional parking in the community lot about 75 yards away. His driveway is filled with his cars and his garage is his storage unit. His housemate parks on the street, blocking the fire hydrant. He parks there every day, and he rarely leaves, thus his vehicle is parked in front of the fire hydrant 24-7. This has been going on for quite some time and is not an isolated incident.
It bothers me. If there was an fire emergency, seconds matter in getting help. I think it is rude that the housemate does this but that the homeowner also approves of it.
With an emergency, like all emergencies--you never know when there is going to be one. With the holiday season approaching, fires in the fireplaces, Christmas trees, etc., it makes me even more uncomfortable.
I do not feel comfortable playing the neighborhood cop and asking him to abide by the law and to park LEGALLY. But this aggravates me. Would it bother you? How would you handle it? Or am I just a Grumpy Gus?
Thanks
I'd call the non emergency police number, inform them the hydrant is blocked and let them write as many tickets as it will take to fix the problem.
Or if and when there is a fire and they trash his windows and car to attach the hose you better believe he wont ever park there again.
I've witnessed a firetruck breaking out a vehicles windows in order to get the hose to the hydrant. If there is a fire, don't worry, the dept is trained for such incidents. Happens all the time. And the cars owner will ultimately be billed by the city for the disruption. Worry about other stuff, not this.
EDIT... I actually had one of our local fireman tell me not to worry about illegal parkers because they LOVE when they get to batteringram a vehicle out of the way, and they do it in a split second, lives are NOT lost due to this type of thing. They evaluate the scene the minute they enter the environment, and do not hesitate to jack up a car while in the process.
To save your neighbors car, please do contact the sheriffs, you are a good neighbor for doing so.
Just call the police, when they get enough tickets they will stop.
If it bothers you that much complain to the police. If he starts getting tickets maybe he'll move.
Call the fire department. If he gets a ticket he'll walk 75 feet.
it wouldn't bother me as my SIL is a firefighter..if a car is parked in the way - they break windows, push it, turn it, whatever they have to do to get to the hydrant...one day this person is going to come out to find their car towed or damaged and the city won't owe them a dime for their (the car owners) negligence.
If you are uncomfortable, call the fire department and tell them what is happening...our fire marshal does routine checks in our city...if your car is parked in a fire zone or in front of a hydrant..it WILL get ticketed and towed at the owners expense..
If there's an emergency, they will bash in his windows to run the hose from the hydrant to where it is needed, tow his car or otherwise teach him not to park there.
If you see this often, you might want to call the local police station's non-emergency line and ask them about it.
I'd call the fire Marshall and complain, they can say they got an anonymous complaint and they need to move it or the police will give them a ticket.
I would call the police non emergency line (or the fire one if your city has one) and ask what the laws are involving parking and fire hydrants in residential areas. I would likely causally mention to the neighbor that I heard that the fire department was having an inishitive about it and you heard about it on the radio or something. After that I would just call the police and report (don't give your name as it will be recorded).
I know when we lived in Kansas city if a tow truck saw yourmparked illegally they would report you so theymcould get the ok to tow you!
.
You should not have to "play" neighborhood cop, nor do you have to!
Why haven't you called the police department?
Seriously, you don't need to get personally involved, but this is clearly a safety issue. How would you feel if there as a fire on your street and someone's house burned completely or (God forbid) someone dies?
Call the authorities. You're on borrowed time.
We had the same problem where we lived previously, and with a young child and elderly parents I concerned myself about this as well. I would call the police non-emergency number, and they would always tell me they'd send someone out. It was usually an hour or two before someone came out (maybe they were hoping it would be gone, lol) but they always wrote a citation.
When a car caught fire down the block one fall night 2 years ago, and the fire department pulled up in front of our house to hook up to the hydrant there was a police motorcycle parked in front of it, he'd been first on the scene. The captain asked whose motorcycle it was, the officer responded, and the captain told him to move it before they did. So it applies to everyone.
people are not suppose to have any vehicle blocking a fire hydrant as someone else said call the non-emergency line and they will fine them and may tow their car off.
I agree that you should call the police of fire department and let them deal with the matter.
Doesn't that stuff drive you crazy? It does me. Simple rules that aren't followed make me bonkers. Not the big, lose my mind kind of bonkers. Just the grind my teeth, want to kick their tires kind. Arrrghh!
You need to call the police and have then start ticketing him. I can't believe it hasn't happened yet. There's no way anyone would get away with that where I live, it's at the top of the "YOU DON'T PARK HERE" list in the city. Likewise for blocking driveways or parking facing the wrong direction. Your car won't last 5 minutes without a ticket for those.
feel free to call the non emergency police.
In Phoenix?
I'm surprised law enforcement or the fire department hasn't noticed.
Call a non-emergency number and ask about it.
I had a BF back in college who was studying fire science and was to become a firefighter. They know how to work around the vehicles. Would they rather they werent there? Yes. But are they prepared for when they are? Yes.
Neighbor would get a FINE though for being parked in front of a hydrant. You should call your local Hwy Patrol and alert them, not the cops, the cops couldn't care less
I would tell them to park somewhere else because if you had a fire, noone could get to the hydrant, and the fire wouldn't be put out soon enough. If they don't stop, then call the police.
the police have a non-emergency line, call it and talk to them about it.
If what you say is true, you must have a pretty lax police department. If it really bothers you this much, you can make a call and request NOT to be identified.
Blessings...
