Threatened for Parking in a Free Area

edinburghstudent

I am living in Edinburgh at university and have my car here two days a week. I cannot park it at my flat between half 8 and half 5 due to not having a permit and as a result move it to a housing area next to my uni that has no parking restrictions what so ever.
Today as I was leaving an elderly man got out of his car and started screaming at me in the middle of the street, not only is this unacceptable considering the gentleman was at least 60 and I am a 19 year old girl (wonder how he would feel if it was his granddaughter in the position).
After not being able to justify why I shouldn't be parking there and getting annoyed when I would not rise to his aggressive behaviour and apparently not understanding why it is not ok to be screaming at me in the middle of the street when I was simply trying to leave the street so ultimately made me park in 'his' space for longer than needed.. He then tried to claim that as he had a cone in front of the space so I had no right to park there, after politely reminding him that he doesn't have a right to block off those spaces from any other residents that live on the street he threatened me.
He threatened that if he ever saw my car there again he would use his car to block me in (he did not state he would phone the police and report me but I believe this was being implied) and not let me leave. As theres nothing stopping me from parking there except his bad attitude, I was wondering if I go and park in the same area tomorrow I can phone the police if he blocks me in.

Thanks!

rich13348

Yes.
Blocking the highway is breaking the law.
If he does (he probably won't) phone them and play the young female alone and feeling vunerable that he might come back and threaten violence.
They can either make him move his car or move his car by force.

Iceweasel

Definitely get the police if you're blocked in.

Don't let possessive locals intimidate you.

Just be polite and sound vulnerable.

I couldn't do that easily - I'd have told him where to shove his cone.

shaun_from_Africa

If when you arrive at the place in question there is a cone there, have a good look at it to see if there are any identifying marks on it. (Such as "Property of XXXXX council / gas board / building contractors etc).S
ome people who use these cones may have either nicked them from the rightful owners or maybe found them somewhere but however they came into their possession, if they don't legally own them then you could threaten to report them to the rightful owners.

Next time you go there, make sure that you have a mobile phone handy and if he does start ranting at you, immediately call the police.

Teapot55

Re: 'have my car here two days a week. I cannot park it at my flat between half 8 and half 5 due to not having a permit' I am wondering if it might be worth getting a permit . . . or do they not allow students to have them?

Your post seemed to say that you would leave your car near your flat & walk into uni if you could. Hope I haven't grasped the wrong end of the stick?

Mr.Generous

personally I wouldn't park there again, not because of he legal issues, but because a moron like that might well just damage the car, or let tyres down or something.

edinburghstudent

Mr.Generous wrote: »

personally I wouldn't park there again, not because of he legal issues, but because a moron like that might well just damage the car, or let tyres down or something.

I wasn't planning on parking in 'his' space again just in the same area or even the street next to him. He just seems like the type of person to look out for me and do something exactly like you are suggesting

edinburghstudent

shaun_from_Africa wrote: »

If when you arrive at the place in question there is a cone there, have a good look at it to see if there are any identifying marks on it. (Such as "Property of XXXXX council / gas board / building contractors etc).S
ome people who use these cones may have either nicked them from the rightful owners or maybe found them somewhere but however they came into their possession, if they don't legally own them then you could threaten to report them to the rightful owners.

Next time you go there, make sure that you have a mobile phone handy and if he does start ranting at you, immediately call the police.

There are several different styles of cones throughout the street that suggests they have just taken them from somewhere and decided to use them as not every space has them and they have only recently started doing this (I have university friends that have been parking there for a year on and off). I had a mobile phone today but was just so taken aback by the whole situation I didn't even think, so annoyed.

McKneff

Wait till its dark, go back and collect all the cones up, Take them to a police station and telll them you found them...

In all honesty, i would park in another street.
As for today, I would have instantly called the pollice, he was committing an offence.

Causing alarm and distress is an offence...... If he confronts you again, dont engage in conversation with him, just ring the police.

[Deleted User]

McKneff wrote: »

Wait till its dark, go back and collect all the cones up, Take them to a police station and telll them you found them...

Or place them on his cars roof .... or wrap his car in clingfilm .... you've got me going now so I'd better stop ...

[Deleted User]

Pyromania - Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyromania

1. Pyromania is an impulse control disorder in which individuals repeatedly fail to resist impulses to deliberately start fires, in order to relieve tension or for instant gratification.

Not that I'm suggesting anything of course