'[My] driveway is constantly blocked': Brooklyn resident infuriated by people parking in their driveway

Author image for Remy Millisky
Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
May 9, 2023 5:00 PM EDT

New York parking is no joke. It's a battle at the best of times.

If driving stresses you out, don't ever drive in New York City! It's super stressful, and it's nearly impossible to ever find parking. Even in Brooklyn, where traffic tends to be lighter, parking problems still arise. 

One Brooklyn resident shared that they live near the beach (Maybe Coney Island? It's a popular tourist spot, though the OP didn't specify). Random people will constantly park in the OP's driveway. It must be infuriating to deal with! So the OP went to r/Brooklyn to get some advice on how to deal with these randos stealing their precious space. 

Commenters left suggestions, both ethical and less-than-ethical. The person who suggested putting lentils on the tires — just why? However, some suggestions were more constructive, like telling the OP to invest in a jersey barrier or become friendly with local organizations that might be able to help. Then, check out another story here. 

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  • 01
    Font - r/r/Brooklyn Posted by u/kgawds 17 hours ago Suggestions needed. What would you do if your driveway is constantly blocked? A little backstory, I live a few blocks from a beach and right around the corner of a busy street and my driveway happens to be the first one after making a turn into my block.
    via u/kgawds
  • 02
    Font - For selfish reasons, some people feel it's okay to block my driveway and then walk away to do their errands. They would leave their car unattended anywhere from 10 minutes to hours, creating a nuisance for when I need to leave or come back home.
    via u/kgawds
  • 03
    Font - I've called 311 many times. Maybe 1 out of 5 times the police would show up before the car leaves and ticket them (usually the police shows up an hour or two later). To ensure people know it's a driveway. I have signs that say no parking, painted the curb, and drawn lines out to the street to indicate it's a driveway. Sometimes I would confront or leave a note on their car if I'm home. It doesn't help the situation but makes me feel a bit better that I did something. =\
    via u/kgawds
  • 04
    Font - I spoke to a neighbor that would leave cones out on the street when they leave so they can come back to a vacant driveway. Even then, some people would throw the cones to the sidewalk to make way for their car. What else would you do if you're in my situation? Creativity are always welcome
    via u/kgawds
  • 05
    Font - MLuka-author 15 hr. ago For everyone here you cannot just tow the car, even if you are friends with benefits with tow truck driver. Cars parked on street blocking the driveway need a ticket from NYPD first. That is why people just leave their car because they know they will come back faster the NYPD if they decide to respond.
    via u/MLuka-author
  • 06
    Font - I have a neighbor who uses water filled Jersey barrier. It's large and weight 100+ pounds. It's been doing the trick, he would leave it out so that car would end up being double parked and not even able to go half way in. Also hydraulic car dollies take 2-3 mins to move the car. Put it on 2 wheels and just swing the car out and leave it like that. Don't put it back.
    via u/MLuka-author
  • 07
    Font - kgawds OP 14 hr. ago Yup you're absolutely right about the tow. That's why they take advantage of how long it takes the PD to respond. I will consider the barrier. Thanks!
    via u/kgawds
  • 08
    Font - toochtooch 4 hr. ago I used to work at a car shop back in the 90s and this is exactly what my boss did whenever someone blocked our driveway. He would swing the back out onto the stree using the dolly leaving room for customer cars to leave/enter the shop. We saw a few cats get tickets as a bonus. It was also entertaining to watch faces of the offenders once they came back to their cars.
    via u/toochtooch
  • 09
    Font - SharpAndCunning. 1 hr. ago Are you absolutely certain that there are no exceptions to this? There was a town ordinance in the town that I grew up in that said this, but the exception was the property owner could have a sign posted something to the effect of "assigned residents parking only" and they could be towed without a ticket. The problem with the hydraulic jack, is if you move the car, they could claim damages.
    via u/SharpAndCunning
  • 10
    Jaw - Chappin 56 min. ago Wow. NY, y'all are screwed more than I originally thought. Sorry to hear that.
    via u/Chappin
  • 11
    Font - PROXISTECH 3 hr. ago You're saying they can't tow the car, but you're willing to take it upon yourself to put it on a lift and have it stick out in the street where it could possibly cause an accident! That's a great way to end up in a lawsuit or a physical altercation with the owner when they return and you're in the middle of doing that
    via u/PROXISTECH
  • 12
    Font - ffzero58 13 hr. ago. edited 12 hr. ago Put heavy weights in the cones and slather some grease on them. Record the hilarity that ensues when you see drivers trying to move them.
    via u/ffzero58
  • 13
    Font - taywray 14 hr. ago One time I parked in the wrong spot at an apt building and they put this large orange sticker on my window saying "You have violated our parking policies, yada yada yada." The thing was, that sticker was backed with like some kind of insane industrial adhesive or something, and it literally took me the better part of an hour scraping the window with razor blades to get it all off. It's not a preventative solution, I know, but if you can find a stack of those and slap em
    via u/taywray
  • 14
    Font - chargeorge 16 hr. ago Kensington Park your car in the spot instead of the driveway. Runs the risk of being blocked while you are out but now they can't block you in.
    via u/chargeorge
  • 15
    Font - partypantaloons - 12 hr. ago Buy a big package of cheep bologna. Throw a few pieces on the hood when you see them park and one on the roof. Even if they take it off when they get back, unless they wash it soon it will eat away at the paint in a nice circle.
    via u/partypantaloons
  • 16
    Font - The Swoley_Ghost 11 hr. ago Someone in my neighborhood did this to another person's red mustang after the young guy who owned the mustang declined to stop at a crosswalk and threatened to run them over prior. He had a polka-dot mustang after that for a bit and he had beef with enough people locally that he had no idea which one of his enemies did it. He might have been "got" a few times.... I remember find it very amusing to see as a pre-teen.
    via u/Swoley_Ghost
  • 17
    Font - oy_says_ake 15 hr. ago Put lentils in their tire valves and crack eggs into the wiper wells of their windshields. 35 Reply Share kgawds OP 15 hr. ago I like your style
    via u/oy_says_ake
  • 18
    Font - Onk Highplowp 13 hr. ago Could you get a 3 ton floor jack and move the cars yourself? That's what we do since it can take a week and many calls to get an abandoned car properly towed. Besides the threat of the owner coming, I wonder what the police would actually do if they got involved? I had some moron get his car stuck literally in my driveway behind my car when I was trying to leave for work. He was eating breakfast in his car. Baffling
    via u/Highplowp
  • 19
    Font - kgawds OP 12 hr. ago Yeah I'm thinking of wheel Dollies as another person mentioned. You will be surprise how entitled and inconsiderate people can be. A person told me it was ok for him to park on my driveway since I'm not using my car at that moment. Lol. He seems to be forget that I will still be here when he walks away from his car.
    via u/kgawds
  • 20
    Font - S thespis42 16 hr. ago I feel like I always see "Car will be towed at owner's expense" signs. I wonder if that's something you could actually do after posting a sign. I'm sure your local tow shop would love the business.
    via u/thespis42
  • 21
    Font - Certain_Month_8178. 13 hr. ago Right after you call 311, call your local precinct and ask them to come ticket the car. It might expedite the process
    via u/Certain_Month_8178

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driveway beach brooklyn driving advice new york parking cars
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