‘It Is Illegal To Block Somebody’s Driveway’: Woman Blocks Driveway Daily When Picking Up Kids. Then The Homeowner Confronts Her

A woman says she’s at her wits’ end with a parent who repeatedly blocks her driveway during elementary school pickup, despite multiple confrontations over the issue.

Lucy (@lucyandcompany), who says she lives near an elementary school, shared the situation in a recent TikTok video filmed from inside her home.

According to Lucy, she normally tolerates the extra traffic and crowded street parking that comes with dismissal time. But she says one particular driver keeps parking directly across her driveway before walking away to pick up her children.

“It is illegal to block somebody’s driveway,” Lucy says in the clip.

She explains that the car is usually not there long enough for a tow truck to arrive, but says the repeated behavior has become increasingly frustrating.

“I’d love some advice on how you keep people from doing this,” she says.

Lucy says she has already tried speaking to the woman face-to-face, including on occasions when she needed to leave her house while the driveway was blocked.

According to Lucy, those conversations have not gone well, and the woman “yells” at her for not being “nice.”

“It’s not nice to park in front of people’s driveways,” Lucy responds in the video. “Just stop doing it.”

Later in the clip, Lucy fast-forwards the footage to show the vehicle when the woman returned with her children and drove off. “She does it intentionally, I think, at this point,” Lucy says. As of this writing, the video has generated more than 4.5 million views.

Is It Illegal To Block A Driveway?

In California, blocking somebody else’s driveway is illegal, even if the driver claims they are only stopping for a minute during school pickup or drop-off.

Under the state’s law, drivers are not allowed to stop or park in front of any driveway, public or private. That includes partially blocking the entrance, not just fully parking across it.

If somebody keeps doing it, it’s generally recommended that homeowners take pictures of the car and report it to parking enforcement or the local non-emergency line. In some states, officers can ticket or tow the vehicle if they catch it actively blocking the driveway.

Actually getting the car removed in real time can be difficult, though. Many school pickup situations move quickly, and by the time parking enforcement arrives, the driver is often already gone.

Another catch is that a blocked driveway does not automatically mean a tow truck is on the way. Depending on the circumstances, there can be rules around who can authorize a tow and when a vehicle can be removed, which is part of why disputes like this often drag on.

The issue has become contentious enough that some advocates argue California’s towing system can be confusing and expensive for everyone involved. The state’s towing rules are extensive and disputes over when a vehicle can be removed often leave both property owners and drivers frustrated.

Viewers Offer Suggestions

Commenters who watched Lucy’s clip were quick to chastise the other driver for repeatedly parking in front of her home, with some encouraging her to call a tow truck even if that isn’t always the most practical solution.

“Since it’s a daily thing, have a tow truck waiting around the corner,” one woman suggested.

“Have it towed. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME,” another wrote.

“Put up signs that cars will be towed. Then schedule a tow truck to be there at that time she comes,” a third person added.

“I would tow it!” a fourth commenter echoed.

Others suggested more creative solutions to outwit the other driver.

“Make a complaint with the school,” one person said.

Another suggested a similar solution, writing, “If you let [the] principal know, they can send out a mass message to all parents saying they are not allowed to park and block driveways. If they do, they will be towed. Our school did this once!”

“Put up orange construction cones during pick-up time,” a third person wrote.

“Park your car there,” said a fourth.

Meanwhile, some noted the potential danger of the situation, questioning what would happen if the driver accidentally trapped Lucy at home with no way to get out.

“What if YOU had an emergency?!” one asked.

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“As a mama who picks up her kids in a residential area, absolutely call a tow truck/the non-emergency line,” said another. “I would NEVER block someone’s drive.”

Motor1 has reached out to Lucy via direct message on TikTok. We’ll update this story if we hear back.

 

 

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