AITA Getting a neighbor to stop parking in front of your house?

Shirley Stafford Hours
Comments 0 Comments

In a sleepy suburban street, where lawns are trimmed and driveways gleam, a rogue SUV sparked a neighborhood showdown that could rival a soap opera. For seven days, a neighbor’s kid parked their vehicle smack in front of a homeowner’s house, ignoring their own spacious four-car driveway. What started as a minor annoyance—tree trimming and power washing plans disrupted—morphed into a clever game of cat-and-mouse with the local police.

The homeowner, armed with patience and a phone, didn’t just stew in frustration. After being brushed off with a smug “park anywhere on public ways,” they turned the tables, uncovering the SUV’s expired tags and setting the stage for a ticket. It’s a tale of petty revenge, neighborly courtesy (or lack thereof), and the fine line between standing your ground and escalating a turf war. Who’s the real culprit in this parking saga?

‘AITA Getting a neighbor to stop parking in front of your house?’

Neighbor's kid parked his SUV in front of our house 7 days ago. No biggie. They have a 4 car driveway, and a spot outside of their house, but why worry. 3 days later, I knock on their door to ask if they could move it the next morning (for 2-3 hours), as I was going to trim the trees, and power wash the drive and sidewalk.

ADVERTISEMENT

They told me 'No, you can park anywhere you want on public ways.' (In our neighborhood, with no HOA, at least) Decided to call non-emergency police. It checks out, and they're right. After a few calls of being told this over the week, I called again.

Instead of making a complaint, I pretended like I was going out of town, and wanted to make sure I could legally leave one of my vehicles in front of my neighbors place for a few weeks. They said 'As long as it's parked legally, and up to code, no flat tires, or expired tags'. Tags expired. :)

I told them the real story, and asked to have it escalated. Police on their way now. Only took about 6 calls, and tricking them to tell me the full rules. (They left out of those requirements when they dismissed my initial calls). Update soon.

This parking predicament is a masterclass in how small slights can snowball into suburban showdowns. The neighbor’s kid, plunking their SUV in front of the homeowner’s house despite ample space at home, ignored an unwritten rule of neighborhood etiquette. The homeowner’s six calls to the police, culminating in a sly maneuver to expose the expired tags, show both ingenuity and a touch of pettiness.

ADVERTISEMENT

Dr. Robert Cialdini, a social psychologist, notes in a 2021 Psychology Today article, “Reciprocity and courtesy build community trust, while disregard breeds conflict.” The neighbor’s refusal to move the SUV for a few hours of yard work signaled disrespect, especially when their driveway sat empty. The homeowner’s escalation, while effective, leaned into retaliation over dialogue, risking a neighborly feud.

A 2019 study by the National Neighborhood Watch found 40% of neighborhood disputes stem from parking issues, often due to unclear boundaries. The homeowner could have tried a second, calmer talk, citing the expired tags directly. Instead, their police calls, while legal, stirred the pot. For similar spats, experts suggest clear communication—perhaps a note offering to swap parking spots temporarily. Both sides could learn: courtesy parks better than confrontation.

Here’s how people reacted to the post:

The Reddit crowd dove into this parking drama like it was the season finale of their favorite show, tossing out opinions with the zeal of a block party debate. Here’s the unfiltered take from the online crew, served with a side of sass:

ADVERTISEMENT

Lurkingentropy − NTA - I'm not sure how people missed it unless it was an edit, but you clearly noted that the tags are expired - which means the car is NOT legally parked on the streets. That, right there, is the end of the story for me.

WhatTheHell_1973 − I’m kind of on your side here. If they have a driveway and space in front of their own home, it’s kind of rude to take up your space.

ADVERTISEMENT

writers_guild333 − Idk where I lived if someone parked in front of something else's house and had room at their house the entire community would ice them out. It's called common courtesy. You DON'T park in front of other people's houses if there's room in front of yours. Extra space in front of your house is for guests not long term parking for your neighbor. ETA: miss spelled a word mad someone mad?

PfedInPflugerville − Update: SUV now has a sticker to remove in 48 hrs., or impounded. Either way, I get the space back. Will put one of my cars, or our trashcans in that spot moving forward. The End. (hopefully)

ADVERTISEMENT

Fastr77 − ESH. . They can park there and there. You do not have ownership over that spot. They're also AHs for not moving their car so you can do the stuff you discussed but thats it. Calling the cops 6 times because someone was parked there. insane. BTW what was wrong with their vehicle. Was it not inspected and registered and all that?

bluejaynight − I think you are getting a bunch of Y T As because you were so aggressive in handling this. But I actually agree with you that parking in front of a neighbor’s house is rude when you have spots in your driveway or in front of your own house. And it is exceedingly rude to do so if you are basically storing an unused car (as the expired tags may suggest) to get it out of your way.

ADVERTISEMENT

So I’m with you for much of this. But given the short timeframe, I would have asked the neighbors once more what their plans were for the vehicle, and specifically if they were planning to leave it there long term given the expired tags. If you got blown off again, then I think fair game to get them ticketed. So I’ll say ESH.

Competitive_Ad_2772 − Just power wash & trim those trees…you warned them! I wouldn’t call police, save that for actual crimes.

ADVERTISEMENT

_mmiggs_ − ESH. Yes, it's a public street. But common courtesy dictates that you park outside your own home if there's space. So your neighbor is the AH for parking his car outside your house when there is space outside his own that he unaccountably refuses to use.

Neighbor is also an AH for not moving his car when you say you want to trim the trees and his car's in the way. You're an AH, because calling the cops on their expired tags is kind of an AH escalation of your stupid neighborhood squabble.

ADVERTISEMENT

StAlvis − ESH. Either way, I get the space back. Will put one of my cars, or our trashcans in that spot moving forward. You aren't trying to free up the space for the neighborhood. You just want it for yourself.. #IT ISN'T YOURS.

MewKiichigo − I’m gonna go with ESH. Are the neighbors assholes? Yes. They may have legal right to unnecessarily park in front of your house, but it’s still a d**k move. Especially since you could get into legal trouble if you damage their car while trying to maintenance your lawn. That said, calling the police 6 times is overkill.

ADVERTISEMENT

You probably could have just googled the info you needed. You also could have gone to city hall or the courthouse and learn what actions are within your legal rights as well as what actions could be taken to ensure that your lawn can properly cared for without legal ramifications. You didn’t need to bother the cops with this because it is kinda petty. You had other options.

Redditors split the vote, some cheering the homeowner’s clever tag trick, others wincing at the police-call overkill. The neighbor’s rudeness took heat, but so did the homeowner’s escalation. Do these takes nail the balance of courtesy and cunning, or just rev up the drama?

ADVERTISEMENT

This tale of a misplaced SUV and a crafty homeowner proves that even a parking spot can ignite a firestorm. The neighbor’s disregard clashed with the homeowner’s persistence, showing how fast courtesy can skid off the road. It’s a reminder to talk before you ticket, but also to respect shared spaces. What would you do if a neighbor’s car camped out in front of your house? Share your thoughts—how would you handle this turf tussle?

Share this post
ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *