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Crazy Jeep parking situation

4K views 58 replies 32 participants last post by  alphasurv 
#1 ·
Really want to get your opinions here: (long post)

Situation: Great weekend and we have a season pass to a local large amusement / water park located in PA (but near NJ & NY). Went on Sunday in early afternoon with occasional dark passing clouds w/ sprinkles and clear all around. Chanced it and took 13 y/o daughter in Jeep Sahara w/no top. Main parking was VERY full and we ended up getting directed to start filling the most remote lot. Took a spot way out in the LAST row of the empty paved lot where it was at an angle and backed up under a tree that was in the island behind me. Also had a tree to my pass door on row-end island. Everyone here knows that a regular TJ is a bit short & I was in the back half in the spot - the main row double started at my driver door and behind. I looked at it and the thought crossed my mind that someone may initially"think" it could be a spot - maybe I should come forward a bit? A BIG dark cloud and some more sprinkles convinced me it was fine & a GREAT spot - folded the seats forward and left for the waterpark.

We come back around 6:00 and as I am walking back I see the lot is full and they used the very back grass field as overflow (which was not full) Now I was on the end, directly next to the access road and should be able to see the Jeep & can't (getting a bad feeling...). Daughter then states the obvious that someone parked in our spot in front of us. Now it WAS a great day and I am very proud of the fact that I actually kept quiet walking up - rapidly assessing the situation. Car is a somewhat older bigger Kia and about 3" off my front bumper sticking way out in the row (which was facilitated by the fact that that end was blocked off with traffic cones to help with incoming flow. So - I have a large tree in back tailgate center in a landscape island; large tree to right off pass door; car in my space in front and car in double row diagonal to back. Do a walk around and fortunately the car that was directly to left off driver door side was already gone. I think I would be able to back & forth out: either to that side or probably could barely squeak between the trees over the island hump.

HERE'S my major dilemma - this remote parking lot is basically deserted and beyond any view of the main parking area (park closes @ 10:00PM). Now, I also plow snow & jeep has the push pads and a full square bar plow mount attached low on the frame, big tires etc. Only thing VIVIDLY running through my head was putting it in low and the calculation that I would have NO damage at all when I enthusiastically shoved this car back out of MY spot. I am getting more steamed by the fact that this imbecile parked there knowing they were gone for the day and I was FULLY BLOCKED IN when they left their car half in the spot.

1) I could have involved the cops or security and had them towed (my time & hassle, but their $).

2) I easily could have shoved it back out but suspect that even this remote lot might have cameras and then it's on me (if caught)

So I settle for first getting free with my daughter spotting and then turn off and get a drink of water, lock up the back (towels & phone were in lock trunk part.) Gives me time to think and assess the situation again. I am really PISSED thinking about the type of idiot that actively chooses to do this (not exactly a stock vehicle & look either).

Conclusion: While I am a definitely a car /jeep respecting guy and have taught my kids to be the same, in my younger years I mostly likely would have retaliated in some permanent & creative fashion TBD. However, this is really not an option here or a good example for my kid. SO, I quietly explain to my daughter that this was very rude and ignorant & also against "the rules". That they knowingly did this and it would have been a pain for us to get them towed as they deserved.
However, I still wanted to send a message and ultimately settled for placing a half dozen of the very large traffic cones not so gently on their hood, roof and trunk - not the most mature thing but oh my god, it felt better than doing nothing!

Thoughts, advice, any similar situations?

I can see it sometimes getting tight parallel parking but this was extreme BS in my book...
 
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#3 ·
Completely genius.... do potential damage to a car and post details about it on a public forum.... now all you need is for them to do a google search and maybe you can get the joy of buying them a free paint job....
 
#5 ·
You did the right thing. You set a good example to your daughter. As for the 4Lo idea, yeah it's a nice idea, but imagine if the owner came back while you were doing it?

Another thing, it's easy to assume the other driver is ignorant, but what if there was a real good reason they parked there? An honest mistake maybe?

I used to get mad all the time on the roads when someone infringed upon my use of the road. Honk the horn, give em the bird, etc. Getting angry doesn't change anything other than the outcome becoming possibly escalated further than you want it.
 
#6 ·
Good on you OP. It is more important to make the right decision than an emotional one. Thats what differentiates a man from a boy.

Your daughter learned a good lesson that will stay with her. Imagine if you did what every guy would want to do in your situation... which is retaliate. Your daughter would of learned a nasty trait.

The cone thing is ok I guess.. but if your going to waste time doing that, then just call the cops.
 
#7 ·
How is piling a bunch of traffic cones on the car the right decision?
That's criminal mischief.
 
#24 ·
More importantly, it's confusing. I'm sure the owner came back wondering why there were a bunch of cones on his car. Just like someone wondering why their tailpipe is filled with foam. Or kicking your dog hours after it took a dump on the floor. There is no clear connection between events and no lesson learned.
 
#8 ·
I looked at it and the thought crossed my mind that someone may initially"think" it could be a spot - maybe I should come forward a bit?

Thoughts, advice, any similar situations?
My thought is your first thought was your best thought & my advice is you should always pull up flush with the edge so there is NO doubt the spot is taken, this carries with it the added bonus of blocking anyone from 'taking' the back half.

Years of parking Harleys taught me one thing, visibility of your ride is critical due to the staggeringly high percentage of numbnuts whipping into parking spots they assume are empty because they don't see a giant SUV occupying the spot from a mile away. It's up to you to visibly stake your claim or suffer the consequences as occurred here. My fear was never someone blocking me in but someone flattening my bike then rolling away unseen... the same fate potentially awaits a short hidden TJ
 
#9 · (Edited)
I have to admit that I would have been a little more aggressive than you were in this situation. Push his car out in 4 low? Probably not but I have a can of spray foam insulation in the back of my Jeep that probably would have been used to seal his exhaust shut! A can of wheel bearing grease that would have been put under all his door handles and maybe I would air down 2 of his tires with my ARB Deflator. Why 2? Cause he doesn't have 2 spares....

Is that the right thing to do? Nope... Would it have felt good doing it? Yup!

Lesson to daughter? Stand up for yourself and don't take crap from anyone!

Needless to say if I did get to meet the driver of the other vehicle the lesson to my daughter would have been the same. It would not have been an "Oh, excuse me sir. Could you please move your vehicle?" type of conversation...
 
#10 ·
Thanks all - As I told my daughter, that 4Low would have been a "bad" bad idea
Not that there is ever any "good" bad idea ;)


There is NO way that this was unintentional and options were available closer (on Grass). While the cones were pretty immature and certainly not the best example there is a lesson in "wrong is wrong" and not putting up with crap.
 
#14 ·
I was in a similar situation once, blocked in. My only 2 options were to wait for an hour or two in hopes the blocker would eventually move his/her vehicle...or 4Lo. I chose the 4Lo option and had to "lightly tread" through/over some shrubs to get out.
 
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#16 ·
I always park at the outside of a space. I've been fooled by small cars in spaces as well and don't trust someone isn't gonna ram into me and run.
Really like the expanding foam idea. I would've probably went with the 4lo idea and pushed it outta my way but it's understandable why you didn't.
 
#20 ·
Cones don't HAVE to damage the car.... they just have to give a judge reason to rule against you..

I wouldn't have blocked you in like this idiot... who just MAY have been some sweet little old lady who was just about past her driving days or someone's teenage kid who just never considered the effect on you.... it IS actually possible that they simply made a mistake....

All that said, if I caught someone doing that to my ride I promise they'd think twice next time.

There are people WAY WAY WAY crazier than me out there..... getting aggressive toward someone's car could put you and your daughter in danger..... don't you ever watch cops?

There was a guy that stabbed his own brother over the last peice of pizza.....

First you should have parked better and you knew that when you did it and second you suffered because of your OWN foolishness.... your only correct recourse other than just wiggling out and leaving was to call the police and a wrecker..... 20 minutes and you'd have been free
 
#21 ·
Again REALLY...?

I have handled frivolous lawsuits, but what here makes you think this gets in front of any judge and in what court?

However ignorant, it was no mistake or accidental blocking - clearly one spot with a vehicle in it.

I assessed & reassessed especially because I had my daughter; have the experience to handle myself just fine legally or otherwise and harmlessly retaliated.

I think you need to go back to your cops episodes.
 
#22 ·
You brought this on yourself. Buck up and get over to.
 
#23 ·
In assessing accidents or driving infractions such as this... a cop has to always ask "Who had the opportunity to avoid this situation?"... and more often "Who had the best/first opportunity to avoid this situation?".

This Kia guy could very well be posting on his forum "Look at this asshat Jeep guy that parked like a dick just to be under a tree"... and bragging about how he pinned you with his crap-mobile.

If someone blocks you in because of bad parking, your legal options are to have a licensed tow company remove them. If you push, pull or whatever their car... especially ramming it... you are now into the realm of criminal mischief (in Canada)... It just never sounds quite as good in court...

"So, Mr. X, this person obstructed your parking spot... you had access to a phone, weren't in an emergency... and rammed their vehicle and caused $3000 in damage?"

"Ummm... yup, that's about it"

"And... you are pleading not guilty because?"

"Ummm... because the other guy was an asshat"

"Ok then... I'm not finding any case law on 'asshats' so I'm just going to go with 'guilty as charged'"

One person's mistake, poor decision, whatever... doesn't give anyone any 'rights' to retaliate. That's how all these road rage things get going. People are shooting each other in the face for getting cut off in traffic. Really? Does that make any sense?

You did the right thing... fantasized about all the stuff you _could_ do, then did the right thing.
 
#27 ·
Wow, I just finished reading this whole thing and I think you'd be hard pressed to find another thread that has more wildly differing opinions over something so simple.

My own opinion:

In what world could a reasonable person think that the OP was a fault because somebody blocked him in? I suspect the answer is nowhere outside of the internet.

Putting traffic cones on some beater's hood is criminal mischief? Really? does anyone in the real world buy this?

OP- good on you for setting an example for your kid.
 
#31 ·
I can't speak for your state but as a rule there are no "legal" ways to park in a private lot space. Ergo, there is no "illegal" way either. Rude certainly but not illegal. That being said I can't think of a tow service that would tow a vehicle parked in a spot on a private parking lot at the direction of somebody other than the owner. And if they DID, you'd be on the hook to pay them up front. Next time park to the front of the space. Carry a trail cover to throw on in the event of rain maybe. And maybe, rather than figure out a way to exact retribution just slap your forehead and tell yourself, "Here's your sign". Guaranteed nobody else will think, "Now how will this person get out?" They're there for the same reason, to have fun. Not engage in critical thinking skills.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
#32 ·
Is this thread still going on? I'm sure it was obvious to you that you were surrounded by trees, but clearly not to the driver of the Kia. He likely saw a single vehicle in a row which accommodated 2 everywhere else and tried to squeeze in. Only a person wishing to at best have his car towed and at worst vandalized and then towed would do it on purpose.
 
#34 ·
The best part is that the OP starts with "really want to get your opinions here" but obviously has no interest in anything except arguing his own opinion. LOL
 
#35 ·
You need to go crawl back under your bridge and continue watching cops!!

I did ask for opinions and appreciated them. Couple of key points:

1) It was VERY OBVIOUS that there was a vehicle was in the ONE spot, would be CLEARLY blocked in. I am the one coming back to my Jeep finding it messed with.

2) There was no way that it was done unknowingly - the car was over half blocking the driving part at the EXIT of a long row. ANY driver no matter how clueless can see this (or they really shouldn't be driving which could be the point also!). If you do this, eventually you WILL come back to a trashed car - period.

3) There were PLENTY of other spots in open field that were closer and being used for parking.

4) I know you have to plan for the lowest common denominator & I did not because of the rain factor.

You all have jeep TJs (of some length anyway) and I thought others might have similar situations - thus the post. I frequent other forums and have rarely encountered this kind of BS. I have been reading here for quite a while and occasionally contribute but am rethinking that.

Is this attitude from Gottagofast representative of the majority or just an outlier?
 
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