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...
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...