Man treats neighbor's parking space like an extra spot, learns a $300 lesson when neighbor tows his in-law's car: 'Ever since then, my driveway has stayed crystal clear'

Author image for JR Atkinson
JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Sep 5, 2025 10:00 AM EDT

Dealing with neighbors is not always easy. You want to come at it from a respectful angle, but you also have to stand your ground. You might be neighbors for a heck of a long time, so you don't want to nuke your chances at a good relationship and risk your house getting egged. But you also know the saying, "Give someone an inch and they'll take a mile." If you're too lenient in the beginning, then you might end up in a situation that you'll regret. So you have to strike a balance between being firm and being kind. It's not an easy thing to do when they constantly test your boundaries, taking things from you that are rightfully yours. You might find your kindness to be mistaken for weakness. You'd hate to have to assert yourself crazy style. 

But sometimes you do. Sometimes life gives you the perfect opportunity to be kind of a petty princess. And in those moments, it's better to take it and run rather than wilt like a flower in the rain. That's what this neighbor did. 

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  • A man backs up in a car.
    via Michael Kahn

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

  • After their neighbor was constantly testing them by using a parking spot that didn't belong to them, one nurse took matters into her own hands. After a long shift at work, she had finally had enough. She might have burned a bridge with a neighbor, but it was probably worth it in the long run. Read on to see what happened.

  • Neighbor kept treating my driveway like free parking, so l taught him a $300 lesson.

    Okay so this is a bit long but I need to get it off my chest. I live in a small cul-de-sac, nothing fancy, just your average neighborhood. My driveway fits two cars (mine + my husband's) perfectly fine. For the most part everyone here minds their own business.
    via u/Gotenks972
  • Except my neighbor (let's just call him Jack). For whatever reason, he thinks my driveway is like... extra parking for his family/friends. First time it happened I thought it was a mistake. His brother's car was in there, he said it'd "just be a sec." A week later it was some friend of his "dropping something off." I didn't love it, but I figured whatever, not worth making it awkward.
    via u/Gotenks972
  • But it kept happening. I'd come home from work (I'm a nurse, so some days I'm wiped out), and there's a random car blocking me. One night I literally had to park halfway down the street and carry 5 bags of groceries because his buddy's truck was in my spot. Every time I said something, he'd do that half-smile and go, "Oh. yeah, sorry, they'll be gone soon." Like I'm the one being difficult.
    via u/Gotenks972
  • The final straw: I get home late Friday night after a 12 hr shift. Still in scrubs, starving, with takeout that's already getting cold in the passenger seat. And boom, giant white SUV just parked de d center in my driveway. Not even off to the side. Like, full on blocking me from even pulling in.
    via u/Gotenks972
  • I knock, no answer. I call Jack, he finally picks up, and super casual goes: "Oh yeah that's my in-laws. They'll only be there a couple hours. Just park on the street, it's not a big deal." That was it for me.
    via u/Gotenks972
  • I called a tow truck. (And yes, I checked before where I live if - someone blocks your private driveway, you're allowed to tow immediately.) Tow guy showed up in 20 mins, SUV was gone before I even finished half my fries.
    via u/Gotenks972
  • About an hour later, furious pounding on my door. Jack's beet red, his in- laws are yelling in the background, and he's going off about how I "didn't have to take it that far." I just said, "You told me it wasn't a big deal, so I treated it like it wasn't a big deal." Then I closed the door. They had to pay almost $300 to get their car back. And funny enough, ever since then, my driveway has stayed crystal clear. Not even for "just a sec."
    via u/Gotenks972

  • Commenters applauded her efforts.

    . opensource4747 • 2d ago Love the logic here; "just park on the side of the street, it's no big deal.". If it's no big deal, did your inlaw knowingly park in a strangers driveway instead of parking in the street? The self-entitlement here is wild.
    via u/opensource4747
  • A tow truck hauls away a blue car.
    via fr0ggy5

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

  • Lisasmith789.2d ago Congratulations, you just unlocked 'Neighborhood Parking Enforcement Officer' mode. He gambled on your kindness one too many times. Lesson learned.
    via u/Lisasmith789
  • Ameliajamess • 2d ago Blocking a nurse after a 12-hour shift? That man deserved every penny of that $300 lesson. Honestly, you had way more patience than I would've. I'd have called the tow truck the second time it happened.
    via u/Ameliajamess
  • Remote_Presentation6 2d ago The interesting part is that Jack must have been specifically telling people to park in that driveway. That must have made it extra awkward when the in- laws got towed.
    via u/Remote_Presentation6
  • uberallez . 2d ago Years ago my dad had a neighbor that did that, only it wasn't the driveway but the front grass- not a small strip either, but the entire side yard in front of my dad's living room. There was no fence between properties. So my dad got a fence guy out and the fence guy
    via u/uberallez
  • said "don't worry, we have a guy that will take care of it". The car was moved, the fence was built. Not sure what happened to the car- but we never saw that car again and the neighbor never parked on my dad's property again either.
    via u/uberallez
  • StromChaser · 2d ago • We used to have people park in front of our driveway all the time. We'd knock on doors around us to see if it was one of our neighbors friends & ask them to move. Until one early morning, hubby had to go to
    via u/StromChaser
  • work (worked in movies) and there was a car, right in front of our driveway. Called a tow truck and had it removed. After that, we called a tow truck every time we were blocked. Funny enough, it stopped happening after a bit of time
    via u/StromChaser
  • Grinzy 2d ago At my work, we have neighbors across the street that sell cabinets and have a huge showroom. They have customers pouring in all day and they sometimes block our spots for "just a sec" but it turns into hours. We put up signs and hired a tow company. Now when
    via u/Grinzy
  • they say "just a sec" I say back "hopefully it's faster than the tow truck and walk inside. Sometimes they move, sometimes they don't, but it will never be there for more than 20 minutes, one way or another.
    via u/Grinzy
  • Ameliajamess · 2d ago Good on you for standing up for yourself. Some neighbors really think kindness = doormat. Imagine explaining to your in- laws that their weekend visit cost $300 because you can't respect boundaries.
    via u/Ameliajamess
  • Rich_Season_2593 · 2d ago • Years ago a friend of mine use to drive a hummer- beast of a thing. For some reason his neighbour use to park on the street but blocked enough driveway that Joe was unable to get his "baby" in the driveway. Asking the neighbour a few times politely didn't work- Joe
    via u/Rich_Season_2593
  • hated parking on the street- and why should he when he has a perfectly good driveway. Next time he was unable to get in the driveway - Joe drove over the curb with the beast and parked right in the middle of the neighbours front lawn. I guess he figured entitlement works both ways. Worked!
    via u/Rich_Season_2593
  • NotYourNanny · 2d ago • I do hope the in-laws made Jack pay the impound yard, and compensate them handsomely for the inconvenience on top of that. Because I'll bet you dollars to donuts that he told them to park there and that you didn't mind.
    via u/NotYourNanny
  • Mediocre-Catch9580 2d ago • I've found that threats do the job as well. Similar situation, I finally told the guy, "look if you're going to block my drive way, I'm going to call a tow truck". I knew his parents and let them know as well. Actually they seemed more angry with me than the kid.
    via u/Mediocre-Catch9580
  • • Fuckfa... • 2d ago Edited 2d ago . When they asked the name of the tow company, I hope you said "oh I don't remember. It's no big deal. You'll figure it out."
    via u/Fuckface-vClownstick
  • Physion • 2d ago Man, my neighbor was having work done on their driveway and parked their car on the totally public street in front of my house and texted to apologize and offer to move their car ASAP. On a totally public street that did not interfere with my driveway in any way. This neighbor deserved to post every red cent it cost to tow it.
    via u/Physion
  • pianomasian • 2d ago The old saying stays true: "Give people an inch and they'll take a mile." Especially if they are an inconsiderate like your neighbor. Good on you OP for standing up for yourself.
    via u/pianomasian
  • Gastn_Gruvn • 2d ago It's pretty obvious that he was telling people to park in your driveway. What a neighbor.
    via u/Gastn_Gruvn
  • trapperstom • 2d ago . I have a parking spot I keep clear at the bottom of a long driveway, for winter parking when the driveway is not usable. Random people start to use it, I leave a note saying private parking... didn't work. Left a note on another random that said, Last car that parked here illegally hasn't been found yet. Word got around, no more issues
    via u/trapperstom

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