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Cars parking across sidewalks

Discussion in 'Broadlands Community Issues' started by Mr Rogers, Apr 5, 2010.

  1. Mr Rogers

    Mr Rogers Active Member

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    I rang my first doorbell today to ask someone to move their car, because it is illegal to block the sidewalk.

    I have decided to continue this practice.
     
  2. jamesmkelly

    jamesmkelly Member

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    Is it actually illegal, or is it just against the HOA rules and regulations ? There isa big difference between breaking a state/local law, and a rule set by an organization.
     
  3. mamatothree

    mamatothree New Member

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    From Loudoun County Ordinances: Traffic Code
    480.105 PARKING PROHIBITED IN SPECIFIED PLACES.
    (a) No person shall park a vehicle, except when necessary to avoid a conflict with other
    traffic or in compliance with the directions of a deputy sheriff or other police officer or traffic
    control device, in any of the following places:
    (1) On a sidewalk;
    (2) In front of or in any such manner which obstructs access to or from a public or
    private driveway;
    (3) On a crosswalk or within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection;
    (4) Within 30 feet upon the approach of any flashing beacon, stop sign or traffic control
    signal located at the side of a roadway;
    (5) On the roadway side of any vehicle parked at the edge or the curb of a street;
    (6) Upon any bridge or other elevated structure upon a street or highway or within a
    tunnel;
    (7) So as to prevent the use of curb ramps located on public property or on privately
    owned property open to the public;
    (8) At any place where official signs prohibit parking (Refer to Section 480.001 for
    definition of Aofficial sign@);
    (9) Perpendicular to any curb whether on roadway or dead end cul-de-sacs where not
    marked as an official parking space (Section 46.2-889, Code of Virginia);
    (10) Parking on the left edge of the roadway facing traffic;
    (11) Within 20 feet of the driveway entrance to any fire station and on the street opposite
    the entrance to any fire station within 75 feet of the entrance when properly sign
    posted;
    (12) Parking across or on any line or marking painted on the street by VDOT or the
    County to designate a vehicular parking area or space;
    (13) Parking during specified ANo Parking@ hours.
    (b) No person other than a deputy sheriff, police officer, or member of the fire and rescue
    department shall move a vehicle into any such prohibited area or away from a curb such distance as
    is unlawful, or start or cause to be started the motor of any motor vehicle, change or move the levers,
    brake starting device, gears, or other mechanism of a parked motor vehicle to a position other than
    that in which it was left by the owner or driver thereof, or attempt to do so.
    (Ord. 02-14. Passed 10-21-02; Ord. 06-01. Passed 2-7-06.)
     
  4. Mr Rogers

    Mr Rogers Active Member

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    It doesn't upset me all that much because of the inconvenience that it causes me, a healthy 41 year old, when I have to enter the road to walk around an inconsiderate parker.

    I always think of a child riding their bike down the sidewalk and having to swerve into the road. Or a handicapped person.

    To park in this manner takes:
    1) lack of consideration for others
    2) laziness
    3) a sense of entitlement

    But that's just my humble opinion. ;) Can you tell that it is a pet peeve?
     
  5. Audrey

    Audrey Member

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    I watched a group of adults talking around their truck which was parked over the sidewalk. They watched my son rollerblade into the street to go around it, and they kept right on talking. Do you think they might have considered parking in the street, three feet from where they were, instead of blocking the sidewalk? Really irritating (to me) and dangerous (for kids).
     
  6. Villager

    Villager Ashburn Village Resident

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    I think that some people who do that don't even notice or have it occur to them that it's an issue. They probably just think they're in the driveway and don't think about the sidewalk. I wonder if they notice when they're the ones doing the walking...
     
  7. Audrey

    Audrey Member

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    I'm sure you're right - they're just not thinking that they have anything to do with the little kid who just had to swerve into the road. I like this thread because it might make more people aware of this problem.
     
  8. Villager

    Villager Ashburn Village Resident

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    Ignorance is bliss but not an excuse.
     
  9. Buffettbassman

    Buffettbassman Troll Extrordinare'

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    I think you should worry more about the speed of which people go down the roads. Do what me and my neighbors did, buy a radar gun and video tape the speed display of the gun and the speeders license plates.

    It immediately got the attention of the neighbors who habitually speed down the street once they saw the radar gun and the video camera. :devil2:

    We put traffic cones out to slow the traffic and they called the SO about 7 times in one day to complain about the cones and the deputy(ies) did nothing to address the speeding problem.

    Guess what happened with the video camera and the radar gun, they called again. This time the deputy told them that what we were doing was perfectly legal. MUHHAHAHAHAHAAA.
     
  10. lilpea

    lilpea Member

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    awesome
     
  11. Mazinger

    Mazinger New Member

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    It's legal to put traffic cones on the road?
     
  12. T8erman

    T8erman Well-Known Member

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    Private roads maybe, public/VDOT streets, not a chance. This would be considered impeding traffic and is a finable offense.
     
  13. redon1

    redon1 aka Aphioni

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    I am annoyed by ppl who create an obstacle course in the road with cones. Your kids shouldn't be close enough to traffic to warrant needing to illegally impeding traffic flow! But cones on the side to alert drivers that kids are out playing are ok. I also loathe those homes we drive past with a 5 yr old supervising a 3 yr old in the driveways on these 25 mph roads.

    When my kid was that young, no WAY he was out my reach, much less sight, near a bust street notorious for speeders. There's fault in drivers and parents of playing kids alike around here...

    Don't speed and watch yer kids. The end!
     
  14. mikebnllnb

    mikebnllnb Active Member

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    Come on over to the northern side of Glebe View Dr. Something needs to be done over here also. I wouldn't mind seeing speed bumps installed on Glebe View.

     
  15. cobymom

    cobymom Sheila Ryan

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    They should put computer chips in cars that are triggered by the speed limit signs so people can't speed :devil2:
     
  16. Buffettbassman

    Buffettbassman Troll Extrordinare'

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    Welll...I'm sure you were that perfect parent as you described. We live in a cul de sac so there should be NO excuse for the NASCAR events that go on around here. ANd by the way, the roads are not 25. The SO says that excessive speed is determined by road conditions and environmental factors. Just because you're driving at 25 doesn't mean you can't be charged.

    The kids...being who they are, there superguy...do have a tendency to, uh, play and frolick. Funny how they do that. If we could just put little shock collars on them, then they would never ever get out of our reach, now wouldn't they. And as usual, you tend to paint the simplistic picture of a solution to a problem. Like, assuming the parents aren't watching the kids.

    Well apparently so was one of the neighbors who kept calling the police about the cones. Happily, he was the first one we are dragging to court for excessive speed...all captured on video and radar gun. Deputy says he doesn't have a prayer. We've (the concerned neighbors) have decided that we'll drag his butt into court each and every time. Rumors are he put his house for sale. If you wish, we'll camp out on your street and happily perform this same community service for you and your neighbors.:devil2:

    Let's just say...if one of these clowns ever hit one of the kids on the street, you won't need a deputy. You'll need an ambulance...for the driver of the car.
     
  17. Buffettbassman

    Buffettbassman Troll Extrordinare'

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    It's legal as long as they don't extend past the parked cars. Nothing anyone can say about it. We did post signs asking them to wave to the video camera. Most neigbors have stopped and said that they didn't realize how fast they were going... but then there are two who feel like Redon that you shouldn't take steps to protect your children. But hey, that's what the court system is for.

    For the $40 dollars it takes to file the charge, it's worth every penny.
     
  18. redon1

    redon1 aka Aphioni

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    Really? That's what I said, don't protect your kids. Spare me. No one was a perfect parent but I was definitely overly cautious near roads when he was small an even still now that he's 11. When the boy was a toddler we lived on a street with a little traffic, so most of the time we played in the backyard. When we lived in a townhouse, we hated how ppl sped and the lack of speedbumps so I got on the HOA board and got speedhumps installed. Now we live in a culdesac and he's a middle schooler, so all I can do is pray that he follows the safety rules we taught him. So far, so good.

    Don't put words in my mouth and oversimplify what I said. I see waaay too many unsupervised kids under 5 playing on chickacoan and vestals gap. I also see parents out there with their kids and watching them play, which is great. There's no absolutes here, all of us have some responsibility for 'hood safety- when driving watch for kids, when letting our kids play where traffic is a risk, be there and be alert. I said nothing offensive and nothing that isn't true.
     
  19. kmjtt

    kmjtt New Member

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    We'd like to borrow you in Brambleton.....;)
     
  20. KTdid

    KTdid Well-Known Member

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    Did you consider talking to your "neighbors" first prior to the cones and radar gun and if not, what were your reasons for taking such provocative action?
     

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