Is taking two parking spots illegal? Ohio

Hello, my friend and I were in a Perkins parking lot parked in the very last row farthest away from the restaraunt one night. We each drove our specialty cars there to meet for a coffee. We purposely parked that far away so nobody would park close to us and open there doors into our cars causing a ding. We parked in such a way that we (collectively) took up 3 parking spots between our two cars. In other words we parked crooked in a parallel spot. We each got out of our cars to talk for a minute when a police officer working under contract by Perkins rest. approached us and asked us to park our cars like a normal person. My friend and I tried to explain why we parked our cars in this manner since he obviously didn't recognize these cars as collector cars,therefore having no common sense to figure out why we parked in this manner. He was not sympathetic to our needs so I asked how about we just leave, would that make you happier? He said how about I write you a ticket for illegal parking? So, this brings me to my question (finally). Can he write us a ticket for illegal parking in a private lot for taking 1 1/2 spots each?

Yes he can. He can also have your car towed and Perkins can file suit against the two of you for the costs involved.

reply

Well Belize, I'm afraid I need more proof than that, I find it hard to believe that there can possibly be a law for parking like an old lady (sorta speak). I mean I just need to see the writing of this law, it sounds rediculous to me.

The owner of the property can almost certainly have the vehicles towed at the owner's expense for parking improperly. Whether they can be cited or not for improper parking is questionable and would depend on the local ordinances and state laws.

However, if you are so concerned for your "collector" car, why take it out and about at all?

- Carl

But what happens if you have a huge U-Haul, or a truck with an attached trailer? Is it up to the officer's discretion? If the owner pushed for a ticket, could a vehicle like the above w/o any choice still get ticketed? Or is the only option to leave that vehicle at home?

*sigh* news to me...

04mach1 said:

Well Belize, I'm afraid I need more proof than that, I find it hard to believe that there can possibly be a law for parking like an old lady (sorta speak). I mean I just need to see the writing of this law, it sounds rediculous to me.

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I don't care if it sounds ridiculous or not. What I find stupid is to take a car that you consider a 'collector' (and I doubt it worth anything) out in public without also affording it protection.

Do you think when I take my 1959 Mercedes 190 SL out of storage and drive it that it's not covered with a padded tarp and parked where I can watch it?

If you want to play with toys, be perpared to deal with the responsibilities.

BelizeBreeze said:

I don't care if it sounds ridiculous or not. What I find stupid is to take a car that you consider a 'collector' (and I doubt it worth anything) out in public without also affording it protection.

Do you think when I take my 1959 Mercedes 190 SL out of storage and drive it that it's not covered with a padded tarp and parked where I can watch it?

If you want to play with toys, be perpared to deal with the responsibilities.

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Toot toot!

gryndor said:

But what happens if you have a huge U-Haul, or a truck with an attached trailer? Is it up to the officer's discretion? If the owner pushed for a ticket, could a vehicle like the above w/o any choice still get ticketed? Or is the only option to leave that vehicle at home?

*sigh* news to me...

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Well, in CA the owner could likely have it towed but we (the police) cannot cite for parking improperly in a stall on a private lot - unless it's in a fire lane or a handicap spot. What the police can do for parking in a private lot in OH I don't know.

- Carl

CdwJava said:

Well, in CA the owner could likely have it towed but we (the police) cannot cite for parking improperly in a stall on a private lot - unless it's in a fire lane or a handicap spot. What the police can do for parking in a private lot in OH I don't know.

- Carl

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They can cite if called by the prperty owner. And this idiot still doesn't realize this is private property.

to Carl and Belize

Mr. Belize I will assume from your rude post, pissy attitude, and car you consider a "collector car" that you have no friends and therefore have never had to meet one for coffee in a restaraunt before. Secondly, I said in my post "specialty car" so if your going to quote me do it right. Now, I do appreciate everyones input on this and it seems maybe the officer actually could have done the things he threatened to do. I was considering going back there again to test him on it if I got the answers to sway my way but it looks like I cannot challenge him on this. Oh, and Carl, I am concerned about a minor door ding that would be avoidable by simply parking it somewhat sideways, and at the very farthest away from any other cars. I do this with any car I drive as I take care of my stuff and have pride in the way it looks. I guess you don't understand that. You see Carl, I am a car collector but not the type that only "collects", I like to drive them, and most of the time race them.

I can certainly understand your consideration for minor dings and dongs in the side of your car (we have a race track here in town and we have numerous classic cars race here as well as a pretty large annual car show - so I have some familiarity with the issue). However, the property owner also has a right to presume one car in one parking space. You have no more right to take up tow spaces than the next guy that decides he wants to take up two spaces so that he can set up his barbecue.

And unless we are talking about a real popular place, I cannot imagine how this is a big problem. But, in my town we have a public parking lot that fronts numerous small businesses and some banks, and the battle for spaces can be quite heated. People parking even a smidgeon wrong or for longer than posted results in a call to the police. It CAN be an issue.

Though in CA there is little we can do about it ... though being a public lot and not a private one, we DO have a city code covering this one lot. But, park in most any other lot in town, and you could park taking up four or more spaces and all we could would be to shrug.

Around here, the collectors and enthusiasts generally either do not take their cars to the market where the rest of the world travels, or, they park a block or so away and then walk a short distance to where they want to go. Since most of them are business owners - or at least understand business - they seem to understand the need for parking to be available to customers.



- Carl

To Carl

Carl, I see what your saying, and greatly appreciate the time you've taken to answer my question on here. I would like to say that I am a business owner and perhaps think a little differently when taking up two parking places at a business that I take one of my cars too. I also want to point out that there were two completly empty rows of available parking spaces CLOSER to the entrance of Perkins. Any specialty car owner knows that no matter how far away you park from your destination somebody ALWAYS parks next to you. This is why I now park sideways, and let me say I only do it if I know there is no chance of those two empty rows filling up during my time I am spending in Perkins. I certainly don't mind the walk, infact, my wife and I purposly park far away from grocery stores and other places with the intention of excersise and letting the older folks get a closer spot.

Well, it might be best to not patronize that restaurant then. If it is an issue to them, then it might be best to comply with their desires lest they decide to tow your car (if that is permissable there).

- Carl

04mach1 said:

Mr. Belize I will assume from your rude post, pissy attitude, and car you consider a "collector car" that you have no friends and therefore have never had to meet one for coffee in a restaraunt before. Secondly, I said in my post "specialty car" so if your going to quote me do it right. Now, I do appreciate everyones input on this and it seems maybe the officer actually could have done the things he threatened to do. I was considering going back there again to test him on it if I got the answers to sway my way but it looks like I cannot challenge him on this. Oh, and Carl, I am concerned about a minor door ding that would be avoidable by simply parking it somewhat sideways, and at the very farthest away from any other cars. I do this with any car I drive as I take care of my stuff and have pride in the way it looks. I guess you don't understand that. You see Carl, I am a car collector but not the type that only "collects", I like to drive them, and most of the time race them.

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If you want pissy I'd be happy to oblige. You still fail to recognize that you entered on private property and as such, it doesn't matter if you're driving a Ford Escort, the owner has every legal right to control his property.

In other words, if he doesn't like your car, your tires or you he can tell you to move the piece of crap off his lot.

CASE CLOSED!

OP, read #4 at this site.