Neighbor Tells Woman She Doesn’t “Own” Her Driveway, Then Gets Upset When She Blocks It Off

Some people only understand the language of force … Or at least only harsh, sharp arguments. If you hesitate with a harsh reaction, it is seen as a sign of weakness, and in the future you will probably have to deal with more and more audacity from these people.

The story we are going to tell you today, from the user u/LesleyGemz, once again proves the correctness of this point of view. The author, faced with some kind of entitled behavior from her neighbors, didn’t take action immediately, but waited a few days – and this only complicated the situation. Okay, let’s now take things in order.

More info: Reddit

The author of the post lives in a cul-de-sac with limited parking and has her own wide driveway

Woman and man having a serious conversation at a metal gate, illustrating a neighbor property dispute scenario.

Image credits: korrawinj / Freepik (not the actual photo)

Two cars can easily fit this driveway, and the neighbor’s 17-year-old son recently started parking his car there

Teen parks on neighbor’s property causing conflict, and his mother fiercely defends him in the parking dispute.

Text excerpt describing a teen parking on neighbor’s property without permission and causing ongoing issues.

Text showing a neighbor politely asking a woman to tell her son to stop parking in the driveway.

Image credits: LesleyGemz

White electric car parked on neighbor's property with a blue car behind it in a residential street setting.

Image credits: Aaron Luckie / Unsplash (not the actual photo)

Neither the teen nor his mom actually asked the owner’s permission – so she decided to talk to the mother over this

Text excerpt showing a dispute about property use involving a teen parking on neighbor's land.

Text image showing a neighbor confronting a teen about parking on their property and a mother defending her son.

Text on a white background stating an explanation about private property usage and permission requirements.

Text quote displaying a conflict, saying don’t expect us to be friendly anymore, from a teen parking on neighbor’s property story.

Image credits: LesleyGemz

Man with beard looking thoughtfully out window, symbolizing teen parks on neighbor's property conflict and his mom’s defense.

Image credits: prostock-studio / Freepik (not the actual photo)

However the neighbor claimed that the author’s driveway was a kind of ‘community resource’ and got livid over her demand to stop her son parking there

Text describing a neighbor's dispute involving a teen parking on private property and efforts to block and monitor the space.

Alt text: Note accusing teen of being petty and unneighborly after parking on neighbor's property, highlighting a family dispute.

Text message conversation about a teen parking on neighbor's property and a mother defending him fiercely.

Image credits: LesleyGemz

The author had to install a camera and ‘No parking’ sign there – and she ended up getting a hostile note from the neighbor

So, the Original Poster (OP) says that she lives in a cul-de-sac with limited parking. However, all the neighbors have their own driveways. The author’s driveway is so wide that even two cars can easily fit there. So it was precisely the free space that the OP quarreled with her neighbor over.

The author noticed that her neighbor’s 17-year-old son had left his car in her driveway overnight. At first, she thought it was just a one-off and said nothing – neither to him nor to his mom. However, night after night, the boy’s car ended up on the OP’s property. In short, the teen clearly began to consider her driveway his own dedicated spot…

Considering that none of the neighbors had asked her for permission to park in the open space, our heroine walked over to the neighbor and asked to talk to her son so that he would stop doing it. But then the author faced an unpleasant surprise – the neighbor immediately made it clear that she considered the OP’s driveway a kind of  community resource.

Realizing that words won’t help here, the OP then moved to action. At first, she blocked the space with traffic cones, but the neighbor simply pushed them away to let her son park again. The author had to fork out money to install a security camera and a ‘No Parking Private Property’ sign. Now the illegal parking has stopped – but the neighbor still left a note plastered to the author’s door, calling her ‘petty’ and ‘unneighborly.’

Suburban house exterior with driveway where a teen parks on neighbor's property, and his mommy defends him fiercely.

Image credits: Curtis Adams / Pexels (not the actual photo)

“Many people, unfortunately, consciously disregard the norms of social behavior when it comes to their own comfort or benefit,” says Maria Kryvosheeva, a psychologist and NLP coach, whom Bored Panda asked for a comment regarding this described situation. “They try to manipulate the people around them, trying to make them feel guilty if they catch them in bad behavior or actions.”

“In the described case, it’s simply the ignorance of the neighbor, multiplied by the so-called ‘policy of double standards’ on her part. However, if something had happened to the car when it was parked in this woman’s driveway, there is almost no doubt that in the neighbor’s mouth it would’ve been private property, and not a ‘community resource.’”

“In such cases, the only thing left to do is to minimize communication with such kind of people, and always justify your words with undeniable facts in any disputes with them. Well, and even better – delegate these powers to the authorities. For example, the police or maybe a towing company,” Maria sums up.

By the way, people in the comments also claimed that the original poster should’ve immediately called a towing company and left the entitled neighbor and her son to deal with the consequences. Responders also believe that the author could have parked her car in the center of her driveway or just diagonally. In any case, the opinion of the commenters is completely on the author’s side – and what about you, our dear readers?

Commenters unanimously sided with the author, saying that it was actually worth calling the cops or the towing company from the very beginning

Screenshot of an online discussion about a teen parking on a neighbor's property and the mother's strong defense for him.

Screenshot of an online discussion about a teen parking on neighbor's property and his mother defending him.

Screenshot of an online discussion about a teen parking on a neighbor's property and his mother defending him fiercely.

Screenshot of a social media comment about parking strategies relating to teen parking on neighbor's property issues.

Comment text on a white background discussing a car being towed from property related to a teen parking on neighbor’s land.

Comment about teen parking on neighbor's property highlighting a dispute and protective parent involvement.

Screenshot of a Reddit comment saying You’ve posted the signs Tow it, related to teen parking on neighbor’s property dispute.

Comment discussing ownership dispute over private property after a teen parks on neighbor’s land, sparking a heated argument.

Comment discussing parking advice related to a teen parking on neighbor's property, mentioning a mother defending him.

Teen parks on neighbor property, his mommy defends him fiercely in a heated dispute over parking rights.

Comment discussing towing a teen's car parked on neighbor's property and the mother's defensive response.

Text post highlighting a neighbor dispute about a teen parking on property and the mom defending him fiercely.

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