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Wannabe parking vigilantes

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I don't feel in the slightest bit defensive. Everyone I know in real life (as opposed to on the internet where it's easy to make up lies about your awesome driving skills) admits that bumping other cars while parking happens on rare occasions. In a perfect we'd all prefer not to but I'm sure as hell not going to feel guilty about tapping another car once every few months.
 
ichy said:
Car bumpers have to be able to take a 5 MPH impact without and damage
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That's not actually true. Hasn't been since 1983. The 5 mph standard only lasted for about three years (a 5 mph standard for the front bumper only lasted from about 1973 through 1983, but this only required no damage to lighting and fuel systems, the bumper could be destroyed in the process for all this standard cared, it was only 1979-1982 where damage to the actual bumper was regulated).

From 1983 onwards the standard is 2.5 mph for head-on and only 1.5 mph for corners and only covers damage to lighting and other "safety systems" not damage to the bumper itself.

That said, everyone goofs occasionally. I don't know a single person who hasn't, at one time or another, either tapped another car while parking or tapped a wall while pulling into a spot in a parking garage. I'm choosing to take the OP's story at face value and assume that he doesn't make this a habit and that it really was an anomaly with no damage.

ZV
 
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sixone said:
The other day, when I was at the post office, there was a huge red pickup truck parked diagonally across two spaces, and blocking the handicapped spot. As I'm walking out of the post office, I'm looking at the truck, noticing that the window is open, and thinking how funny it would be if I'd have lobbed my trash in there instead of taking it inside to the trash can.

Then I hear a voice from behind, "I was in a hurry!" I just looked at her and kind of laughed. My face must have said it all, because she kept muttering the rest of the way across the parking lot.
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Bleh, I hate that "I'm in a hurry, and I'm more important than anyone else" attitude. It's the same thing that gets people tailgating or weaving all over a highway, or cutting through a parking lot to avoid a traffic light.

Yeah, you're in a hurry. Good for you. If no one's going to die if you're late, then you're going to follow the rules like everyone else, because a lot of those other people are also in a hurry as well.
 
ichy said:
I don't feel in the slightest bit defensive. Everyone I know in real life (as opposed to on the internet where it's easy to make up lies about your awesome driving skills) admits that bumping other cars while parking happens on rare occasions. In a perfect we'd all prefer not to but I'm sure as hell not going to feel guilty about tapping another car once every few months.
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So now we've progressed from "everybody does it" to "rare occasions".

This IS progress. :thumbsup:
 
Here's a thought...why are bumpers made in such a way that they can be easily scuffed and damaged from very low-speed impacts?
They're plain white plastic (presumably?) with a coating of paint, right?
Sell more bumpers?

- Injection mold the plastic in a color that matches or approximates that of the vehicle. At least if it's something close, the scratches shouldn't show up quite as easily. You should be able to use the same mold, just fill the hopper with different pellets.
- Make it out of a more flexible material that can deform elastically. Bonus points: Embedded sensors that can detect deformation from strong contact.


Is it a materials limitation, due to the weight and momentum of a vehicle? Even at low speeds, stopping a 3000lb+ box on wheels takes a decent bit of force.




ichy said:
Ah, ATOT, where everyone makes $100k+, is in great shape and is such a perfect driver that they can squeeze into a narrow parallel parking spot without ever having the occasional accidental bump. I applaud your fantastic internet driving skills.
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Atoms contain a lot of empty space. If you're good enough, you can really squeeze the car in around that space. Or at least, some people consistently try to do that...
 
ichy said:
Ah, ATOT, where everyone makes $100k+, is in great shape and is such a perfect driver that they can squeeze into a narrow parallel parking spot without ever having the occasional accidental bump. I applaud your fantastic internet driving skills.
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no, many of us will force ourselves to skip that parking spot.

On busy days at dog park I am forced to parallel park quite often. I have NEVER hit a car doing it and if I had any doubt I could fit into a spot I'd park further away.

Were you one of the people saying carrying an umbrella is foolish too? Perhaps that's why you are unwilling to walk when you can't find a close space you have to force your way into?
 
Someone approaches you on the street with BS
Do respond to what they accuse you of or what they are trying to sell you.
Ask for their name and photo id.
If they ask why, tell them that they approached you and you need that info for legal reasons else the interaction will have to end.
If they continue to say no, tell them you are going to take a photo.

Good for panhandlers, salesmen and nuisances.
Them - 'Blah blah blah blah"
Me - Do you have a state issued photo id? May I see it?

If your e-penis is huge..then blind side them with kung fu epeen kick to the side of the face and scream 'Hasselhof'. Come on here and boast about your winning.
 
WelshBloke said:
Ok. You have to pay to ship your car to the UK though.

Oh, and make sure you're insured.

Plus I don't do whining like a little girls.

But apart from that carry on.
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sounds like whining here, esp covering your ass in case someone took you up on it.

lolz.

Also do you really think the OP is going to come back and say "Oh fuck guys, I parked like a dumbass again and totally split a guy's bumper...I swore I read they don't get damaged at 5MPH or below!!!!! I can't be at-fault right? EVERYONE DOES THIS!"
 
pauldun170 said:
Someone approaches you on the street with BS
Do respond to what they accuse you of or what they are trying to sell you.
Ask for their name and photo id.
If they ask why, tell them that they approached you and you need that info for legal reasons else the interaction will have to end.
If they continue to say no, tell them you are going to take a photo.

Good for panhandlers, salesmen and nuisances.
Them - 'Blah blah blah blah"
Me - Do you have a state issued photo id? May I see it?

If your e-penis is huge..then blind side them with kung fu epeen kick to the side of the face and scream 'Hasselhof'. Come on here and boast about your winning.
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You don't have to provide ID even to a cop on the street, not sure where you are going with this.
 
Im actually agreeing with Alky on this one, BS plain and simple. My 2 WEEK OLD Jetta TDI was tapped by some asshole in a prius parking in Berkeley.

I actually waited for his ass to come back and told him if he didn't give me his insurance info I'd be calling in a hit and run (i had already taken pictures of the whole scene, scuff on my bumper, etc). He told me I was crazy but I got a refinished bumper out of it.
 
alkemyst & sixone,

1. how would you have handled the situation if it was your car someone gently tapped?
2. how would you handle it if you were the tapper like ichy?
 
alkemyst said:
sounds like whining here, esp covering your ass in case someone took you up on it.

lolz.
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Well they might not be such a good driver as the OP and do some damage.

alkemyst said:
Also do you really think the OP is going to come back and say "Oh fuck guys, I parked like a dumbass again and totally split a guy's bumper...I swore I read they don't get damaged at 5MPH or below!!!!! I can't be at-fault right? EVERYONE DOES THIS!"
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What's that got to do with the subject? Obviously he would be in the wrong if he did a load of damage and took off.
 
If I had to park around idiots who think it is acceptable to hit other people's cars while parking I'd make it a point to leave the trailer hitch ball in on my truck. That way the next person to bump it would get a nice surprise and their car would be the only one to take damage.
 
Puddle Jumper said:
If I had to park around idiots who think it is acceptable to hit other people's cars while parking I'd make it a point to leave the trailer hitch ball in on my truck. That way the next person to bump it would get a nice surprise and their car would be the only one to take damage.
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Father in law has a receiver on the front bumper for positioning his boat trailer. you could put one in there as you leave, sort of like a "club" 🙂
 
It's sad that i just read 30% of people believe the 5MPH bumper was designed for 'parking' and do it.

The 5MPH bumper law is for protecting your lights, radiator, hood, fenders. The bumper cover itself is not guaranteed to withstand that especially cosmetic bumpers.
 
PhoKingGuy said:
Im actually agreeing with Alky on this one, BS plain and simple. My 2 WEEK OLD Jetta TDI was tapped by some asshole in a prius parking in Berkeley.

I actually waited for his ass to come back and told him if he didn't give me his insurance info I'd be calling in a hit and run (i had already taken pictures of the whole scene, scuff on my bumper, etc). He told me I was crazy but I got a refinished bumper out of it.
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If your bumper was damaged then the guy in question did a lot more than just tap it.
 
JimKiler said:
alkemyst & sixone,

1. how would you have handled the situation if it was your car someone gently tapped?
2. how would you handle it if you were the tapper like ichy?
Click to expand...

People have tapped my car. One dumbass pushed a shopping cart out of his way with his bumper and into my car while I was still in it.

If there is no damage, I call them a dick or similar. If there is damage I get an accident report.

I haven't bumped anyone's car, but if I did I'd check for damage and if anything leave all my info. I probably wouldn't leave my info unless I could take a picture of the bumper should there not be any visible damage just due to someone wanting to mess up their bumper and then try to get a full repaint out of me.

I have called the police many times for hit and runs like this though. Especially the big 4x4's that want to back into a spot. I have seen hoods caved in, the driver get out...see it and just park a couple spots away.

My 240SX had a brand new fender literally creased by someone throwing open their door in to it and never leaving a note. I have had bumpers that have had to be refinished because some idiot ruined them (especially with front license plates).

If I make a mistake, I own up to it.
 
ichy said:
If your bumper was damaged then the guy in question did a lot more than just tap it.
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Paint and the bumper cover can easily be damaged at just 1MPH...the cover itself is not 5MPH crash proof, the stuff it's protecting is....this is also assuming the bumpers make contact with each other and not the rest of the car.
 
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