Money Moral Dilemma: Should I park outside someone else's house to avoid paying?

Fitzmichael

This is a morality question; stuffy legalists are wasting time and space.
I wonder why you do it when you know it inconveniences the residents (and how you know that), as that is the point I would base my decision upon.
Near us is a day-care, walk-in centre branch of the 'local' hospital, on an otherwise residential street. There was rarely a car parked there during the day (several houses had driveways) and patients parked there to avoid the hospital's parking fees. Then the Council decided to impose parking charges, inc a long section where there were no houses on one side and houses with long driveways and garages on the other. I asked some residents if they had asked for restrictions and they said No. The restrictions meant they had to apply for a permit and a temporary one for visiting family or friends, if they knew they were coming. If asked they would have wanted the ban to stop people parking from 6-8 pm, so that they could park their own cars when they got home from work.
I despise the supposedly democratic Councillors who authorised this unnecessary restriction on our ability to park unobstructively on tax-payer funded roads, for some self-serving reason, probably to generate income for the Council, which is supposed to be done by taxation - another example of immorality.

caz32

I've used JustPark.

Maybe, for peace of mind, it's worth a try.

crmism

If you have been parking on a public highway and there are no local authority or other restrictions clearly signed, you have a perfect right to do so. It's a different matter on a private road, ie one that isn't maintained at the expense of the Council.

The local residents may indeed be annoyed but, if you are confronted by one or more of them, all you need do is politely remind them that your car is licenced to be on the road and that you have as much right as they do to park where you find a space. Obviously, don't block anyone's driveway, otherwise you'll definitely raise a few hackles.:)

Marvel1

asdesigned wrote: »

Do you have to walk for 10 minutes back to your house because of people wanting to save a fiver?

They choose to live there so yes.

Care to answer mine question?

cjdavies wrote: »

Do they own the space outside their house then?

asdesigned

cjdavies wrote: »

They choose to live there so yes.

Care to answer mine question?

No unfortunately not. However if someone was parked outside my house it wouldn't bother me as I would park elsewhere in the street. However then commuters fill up the whole street, so you have to park the next street along, then the next street and so on. I am under no illusions that you haven't the given right to park directly outside your house, but when street after street are filled up because people are too tight to pay for parking then it becomes an issue. I'm not sure why people don't think that is annoying?

asdesigned

cjdavies wrote: »

They choose to live there so yes.

Care to answer mine question?

Also I was asking if YOU had difficulty parking and had to walk a distance to YOUR house. It gives you a different perspective if you are the one dealing with it rather than the person dumping their car. I'm sure if you are saving £8 a day then of course you would feel you were right, and legally entitled to do so, screw the people that live there as long as you save your money.

Marvel1

asdesigned wrote: »

Also I was asking if YOU had difficulty parking and had to walk a distance to YOUR house. It gives you a different perspective if you are the one dealing with it rather than the person dumping their car. I'm sure if you are saving £8 a day then of course you would feel you were right, and legally entitled to do so, screw the people that live there as long as you save your money.

My bad, no because I choose to live somewhere where it's away from these things.

Also you are legally entitled to do so as the people who live there don't own the road and are no more entitled to park there.

Norman_Castle

jgriggle wrote: »

The reality is that most of the residents' cars have already left by the time the commuters' cars arrive, and vice/versa at the end of the day.

When people are looking for a home finding one with a driveway isn't always an option.

The reality is the residents have learnt to avoid arriving home too early as there will be nowhere to park.

TokSik

You're not parking "outside some's house" - you're parking on a "public road", given your entitlement to do so after having paid your road tax (just like the household occupiers - if they have a problem with it, it's up to them to raise the issue with their local council)

Aylesbury_Duck

For some areas used by commuters, it's quite simple, as I outlined above, if all residents feel the same way. Mass action by residents to ensure that all on-street parking space is filled by their own cars by the time the commuters arrive. Empty the driveways and garages and all park on the road. It doesn't have to be every day, just every now and then each week to convey the message. Commuters will get fed up of having to go elsewhere and being delayed. No one is breaking any laws, no criminal damage is taking place. Just passive, collective action to deal with the problem.

This thread will go round in circles forever stating everyone's rights to park lawfully and safely on public roads. The answer is to get there first.