Neighbor declares homeowner's front yard to be a "community parking area," gets towed: 'As soon as she parked her car there again I immediately called a tow [truck]'

Author image for Brad Dickson
Brad Dickson • Managing Editor
Mar 20, 2025 7:00 AM EDT

You can't just say that something is and have it be so. 

Even when it comes to the inception of the United States itself, the Declaration of Independence didn't really do a whole lot other than making it known to the Crown that the colonies collectively weren't all that stoked about what was going on, bringing the wrath of the British down upon the colonies. It's not like the colonies were just automatically independent after that… there was still a whole dang war that needed to be fought and the colonies had to put their money where their mouth was in order to bring that declaration into reality.  

Unfortunately for this neighbor, simply declaring that her neighbor's front yard was a communal parking area (after she had been repeatedly told that she couldn't park there) didn't automatically make it a communal parking area. It also certainly didn't stop the tow truck from taking her car once she attempted to park there again after making her declaration, and she didn't really have a whole lot to back her claim up and make it a reality.

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  • Parking spaces and the way that we behave when it comes to them really need to be the topic of some deep psychological study. There's something about parking that really distills down to a primal level—like what is it about leaving your cube of painted steel in a specific or particular place that makes us so ridiculously feral?

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    "I told her I had it towed because she parked in my front yard"

    cat
    via Jose Rago

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 02

    "AITA for getting my neighbors car towed?"

    I recently bought a house and moved in. The previous owner rented the house out to students and transformed a big part of the front yard into a parking place. My front yard is basically just 4 parking spaces. I live alone and basically only use 1 of the parking spaces. But while the painters, handymen and gardeners for the backyard where there they used the other parking spaces during the day, because the nearest community parking spaces are half a kilometer from my house, so about a 5 minute wa
    via u/Unitarded_
  • 03
    When they were done and I moved in my elderly neighbor, who cannot walk without a cane, asked if she could continue the deal she made with the previous owner. She showed me the contract she made with the previous owner, that states that she can use it in exchange for a homecooked meal once a month. I told her she didn't have to give me anything as I understood her situation, but she insisted. So I signed the contract to let her use the space closest to her house.
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  • 04
    This went well for a couple of months before another house in the street was sold and the new neighbors asked if their handymen and painters could use the parking places until they were done, as it was not handy to make them walk all the way to and from their truck. It is not allowed to park on the street in my street. I told them it was fine, but only the handymen and painters can use the spaces, when they are done I don't want others I did not make a deal with using my parking spaces. As I lik
    via u/Unitarded_
  • 05
    They moved the cars and didn't use the spaces anymore for a week. As soon as she parked her car there again I immediately called a tow company and half an hour later her car got towed. The next day she can up to me asking me why her car went. I told her I had it towed, because she parked in my front yard. My friends tell me I am being a petty a_h_le for having her car towed and should apologize, my girlfriend tells me I did the right thing as they would have probably claimed my entire front yard
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  • 06
    OP has offered the following explanation for why they think they might be the a h le: I am conflicted about having towed my neighbors car from my front yard. I feel I am in the right as it is my property, but might have overreacted
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    Cheezburger Image 10482895872
    via Dillon Kydd

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 08
    QuixoticLogophile NTA It's absurd of her to claim that your private property is "community space." She's acting very entitled and you did the right thing by having her towed. H_I, if anything happened to her car and it got scratched she could sue you. You should probably put up a sign, though. "Parking only with explicit permission from the owner. All others will be towed." Maybe a camera too, just to make sure they don't try anything.
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  • 09
    jam_and_ham NTA. You warned them what would happen and they did it anyway. I don't understand why they would NEED to park there, and I don't think you have any moral obligation to let them slide. Plus them trying to claim it is community parking, despite said parking being in your yard, is just ridiculous.
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  • 10
    jpcats My friends tell me I am being a petty a h le for having her car towed and should apologize, Easy, tell your opinionated friends that they should let their neighbors park on their front lawn or driveway. Then and only then, would the advice they offer and the reprimands they give you have an ounce of worth. You are owner of your property and have a right to decide who can park there.
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  • 11
    "Community spaces" lol. The issue here are your neighbors who have no respect for your wishes and want to bend you to their desires. Continue to issue warnings and towings until the problem corrects itself. NTA
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  • 12
    TexasFord Tough NTA - the second they called it a community space that showed that they considered themselves entitled to it, despite it being your private property. You even gave them a warning beforehand. She called your bluff and lost.
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  • 13
    PlastickyConcern NTA. I think your girlfriend is right here- -they were already pushing boundaries when they parked there knowing you were only allowing their handyman to park their. you even approached your neighbor to give fair warning that you would tow her car if she parked on your property. what she did is the definition of "play stupid games, win stupid prizes."
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  • 14
    [deleted] NTA. There is no issue here and the neighbors are 100% TA. It's your property. End of discussion. You could keep the spots empty, you could decorate them with flower pots--whatever you do with your own property is none of their business and they have no right to your property without your consent. Which is why the tow company was able to tow the car. By the way, it's sweet you made that deal with the elderly neighbor. Good for you.
    via u/Unitarded_
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    LISION SPECIALISTO AMERICAN 710386-0547 60-45 FLUSHING IL MASPETH NY. SIOICE SPARE 969 K 477038
    via Giulia Lorenzon

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

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