How To Report People Parking In Your Driveway?

It’s happened to all of us. You come home from a long day of work, pull into your driveway, and discover that someone has parked in your space. Or maybe you wake up on a Saturday morning, ready to enjoy a leisurely cup of coffee, only to find that there’s a car blocking you in. 

Whatever the case may be, finding a stranger’s car in your driveway is never a pleasant experience. So, what can you do about it?

How to Report People Parking in Your Driveway

Nobody likes finding someone parked in their driveway without permission. Not only does it block you in, but it also feels like an invasion of your personal space.

Has someone been parking in your driveway without your permission? If so, you may be wondering how to report them. Read on for a step-by-step guide on what you can do to get this situation resolved. 

Do Some Investigative Work

The first thing you should do is assess the situation. Is the car parked partially in your driveway and partially on the street? If so, you may want to call the police or your city’s non-emergency line and ask for assistance.

However, if the car is completely blocking your driveway, you can take matters into your own hands.

Start by trying to track down the owner of the vehicle. If there’s no one around, check for any identifying information inside the car, such as registration paperwork or an insurance card. 

Once you’ve located the owner, you can try calling them or knocking on their door to ask them to move their car. Oftentimes, people will be happy to oblige once they realize they’re causing an inconvenience.

Gather Information

Gather information about the vehicle. When making a report, you will need to include the vehicle’s color, make, model, and license plate number. This information will help authorities identify the car and take appropriate action. 

Take pictures of the vehicle and any parking infractions. Be sure to get a clear shot of the license plate as well. These pictures will serve as evidence in your case. 

Identify the exact location where the vehicle is parked. This will help authorities find it more easily. You should also note the date and time that you are making the report. 

Take the Time to Review Local Parking Regulations

This step is important in order to determine whether or not the person who has been parking in your driveway is actually breaking any laws. 

Call a Tow Truck

If you’re unable to track down the owner of the vehicle or they refuse to move it, your next step should be to call a tow truck. In most cases, you’ll need to give the tow truck driver proof that the car is blocking your driveway before they’ll agree to move it.

Once they’ve towed the car away, be sure to file a police report so that the person responsible is held accountable for their actions.

Call the Police

You can file a report over the phone or in person at your local precinct. The police may ticket the vehicle and/or have it towed away at the owner’s expense. 

Here’s a video with more information on how to report someone in your driveway:

Consider Filing a Report Online Instead

Fortunately, reporting suspicious or illegally parked cars is also easy to do online.

The first step in filing an online report is to visit the website of your local police department. From there, you will be able to find a link or section devoted to filing online reports. 

On the police department website, you will need to find the correct form for your report. In most cases, this will be an “online crime reporting” form.

However, some police departments may have a specific form for parking complaints. If you can’t find the right form, give the police department a call and they will be able to direct you to the correct page on their website. 

Once you have found the right form, you will need to enter some basic information about the incident, including where it occurred and when it occurred. You may also be asked to provide a description of the offending vehicle. In some cases, you may be able to upload a photo of the vehicle as well. 

After you have entered all of the relevant information into the form, simply hit “submit” and wait for a response from the police department. In most cases, an officer will be dispatched within 24 hours to deal with the illegally parked car. 

How to Stop Someone from Parking in Your Driveway 

While it may not seem like a big deal, it can be frustrating to constantly find cars blocking your driveway. If you’re looking for a way to stop someone from parking in your driveway, read on for some tips.

Talk to Your Neighbors

If you have a good relationship with your neighbors, simply asking them not to park in your driveway should do the trick. Additionally, you could ask them to spread the word to other neighbors and friends who may not be aware that they’re not supposed to be parking there.

Put Up Signs

If you’d rather not talk to your neighbors or you don’t think they’ll listen, put up signs around your property that indicate that parking in the driveway is prohibited.

You could even put up “No Parking” signs or design your own sign that specifically says not to park in your driveway. Just make sure the signs are visible and easy to understand.

Use Other Deterrents

You can also put cones or other obstacles in your driveway to make it clear that it’s not a public parking spot. If you have a remote-controlled garage door, you can close it as soon as you park so that no one else can get in.

Get the Police Involved

In some cases, the police may be able to help you if someone is repeatedly parking in your driveway without your permission. Of course, this should be a last resort and you should only call the police if you’ve tried talking to the person or putting up signs and nothing has worked.

Final Thoughts

Dealing with a stranger’s car blocking your driveway can be frustrating and time-consuming. However, by following these steps, you can quickly and easily get rid of the problem so that you can get on with your day.