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Debate in the lot for a parking space...

D

Doboji

Diamond Member
So I park in one of the worlds largest parking lots... hundreds of rows of hundreds of cars. This morning getting back from a meeting, around 9:30, there were no spots to be found at all. So I drive around for a good 30-40minutes desperately searching for a spot.... finally as we're driving around, I spot 2 police officers leaving the building. I pull up to them, and sure enough they're leaving.

So I follow them up to their parking space.... turns out they walk up the wrong row... so I follow them around to the next row.

In the next row, are two cars waiting for parking spaces... I follow the cops to their car, and take the spot.

The two people waiting... get out of their cars, and start yelling at me. We argue for several minutes, and then me being 6'5" and well over 300 pounds... they just sit there looking very frustrated, and I go into the building.

Now was I in the wrong?

My feeling is that, there are multiple techniques for getting a spot... the only real taboo is that if someone clearly is waiting for a specific spot, and you take it. Then you are an asshat. I don't see that the wait for spot in row technique gets president over the follow person to car technique....

What do y'all think?

-Max

** UPDATE **

The car is fine, and there are cameras in the parking lot... so I win!
 
Didn't you basically get explicit permission from the cops to take their spot? I don't know parking lot etiquette but I'm sure if you promise your spot to a specific person, no one should argue that one...???
 
Originally posted by: torpid
Didn't you basically get explicit permission from the cops to take their spot? I don't know parking lot etiquette but I'm sure if you promise your spot to a specific person, no one should argue that one...???
Click to expand...

Yeah. He clearly outsmarted the other parkers. They're just jealous.
 
In principle, I agree with everyone else--if you park in the spot, it's yours. There are no rules in a parking lot.

However, in practice I would be very, VERY careful about doing this (although I live in L.A., so that might also have something to do with this). I've seen plenty of instances of situations like this, where two people argue over a parking spot. Then the person who is already parked walks into store/business/school, at which point the second person proceeds to vandalize the first person's car. I've seen things as simple as spitting on a car, to keying, kicking, breaking side view mirrors, letting air out of tires, etc. etc. IMHO if I'm about to get into an argument with someone over who had a right to a parking space, I let them have it. It's just not worth it to risk my car over a spot.
 
Originally posted by: DingDingDao
In principle, I agree with everyone else--if you park in the spot, it's yours. There are no rules in a parking lot.

However, in practice I would be very, VERY careful about doing this (although I live in L.A., so that might also have something to do with this). I've seen plenty of instances of situations like this, where two people argue over a parking spot. Then the person who is already parked walks into store/business/school, at which point the second person proceeds to vandalize the first person's car. I've seen things as simple as spitting on a car, to keying, kicking, breaking side view mirrors, letting air out of tires, etc. etc. IMHO if I'm about to get into an argument with someone over who had a right to a parking space, I let them have it. It's just not worth it to risk my car over a spot.
Click to expand...

This is what I'm afraid of.... however... this is the Pentagon parking lot, which is patrolled religiously.... sooo hopefully they won't be too stupid.

I am however quite scared... and am going to go check on the car right now....

-Max
 
Originally posted by: Doboji
Originally posted by: DingDingDao
In principle, I agree with everyone else--if you park in the spot, it's yours. There are no rules in a parking lot.

However, in practice I would be very, VERY careful about doing this (although I live in L.A., so that might also have something to do with this). I've seen plenty of instances of situations like this, where two people argue over a parking spot. Then the person who is already parked walks into store/business/school, at which point the second person proceeds to vandalize the first person's car. I've seen things as simple as spitting on a car, to keying, kicking, breaking side view mirrors, letting air out of tires, etc. etc. IMHO if I'm about to get into an argument with someone over who had a right to a parking space, I let them have it. It's just not worth it to risk my car over a spot.
Click to expand...

This is what I'm afraid of.... however... this is the Pentagon parking lot, which is patrolled religiously.... sooo hopefully they won't be too stupid.

I am however quite scared... and am going to go check on the car right now....

-Max
Click to expand...

If the lot you park in has cameras, I wouldn't worry too much, esp. considering the potential vandals probably also work there (meaning they have to go back day after day). It's a much greater danger if it's a store parking lot or somewhere where you may never see the other person again.
 
I would have did the same thing. Sitting in the row does not matter. If you are not behind the car waiting for it to pull out then you have no claim to it.

 
When I was in high school this kid with this HUGE truck (I can't believe it was even legal to drive) parked OVER (as in, ON TOP OF) a geo metro. It turned out to be a joke (geo didn't run; and they towed it there; then he ran it over and left his truck on it) but the cops ended up showing up anyway. Good times.
 
Was the police car within a few spaces of where the other two cars were waiting? If so, it gets a little touchy.
 
Originally posted by: d0ofy
Was the police car within a few spaces of where the other two cars were waiting? If so, it gets a little touchy.
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It was about 4-5 spaces behind them. So somewhat close... but I still don't see that as relevant.... I used the ask and follow technique... it worked.... I win... I think it's perfectly legit. Were I the other people, I wouldn't have said anything.

-Max
 
hmm,. im the only one thinking you were in teh wrong.

what you should have done is begged those kind offciers if you could give them a ride to their car, you do this, and basically that spot is yours no matter what.

i believe someone could call a row of cars, as long as its not a really really long row of cars. thats why on really crowded lots, ppl wait in there cars in 1 row, they are saving that row for themselves. but lets say there are no row waiters, so you drive up to the officers car but at the same time another dude from the opposite end does the same thing and you both arrive at the same time, just do a rock paper scissor, and winner takes the spot. about as fair as its gonna get.
 
Originally posted by: jjyiz28
hmm,. im the only one thinking you were in teh wrong.

what you should have done is begged those kind offciers if you could give them a ride to their car, you do this, and basically that spot is yours no matter what.

i believe someone could call a row of cars, as long as its not a really really long row of cars. thats why on really crowded lots, ppl wait in there cars in 1 row, they are saving that row for themselves. but lets say there are no row waiters, so you drive up to the officers car but at the same time another dude from the opposite end does the same thing and you both arrive at the same time, just do a rock paper scissor, and winner takes the spot. about as fair as its gonna get.
Click to expand...

There were over 100 cars in that row....

 
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