Is it true what the police told me about mowers blocking my driveway?

[TomSwango]

Today when my wife got ready to leave for an appointment she found our driveway blocked by several large lawn mowers that had been unloaded from a trailer parked in front of our house.
Neither my wife or I saw the workmen so I pushed the lawn mowers back up onto the trailer.
After my wife left one of the workman can to my door. He said that he was calling the police because I touched his lawn mowers. I explained that his equipment was blocking my driveway. However, I considered him so upset, agitated and threatening that I closed the door and called the police.
I had video and audio of the entire exchange from my ring doorbell.
However, when the police arrived I was told that, It was illegal for me to "touch" the equipment blocking my drive but it was not illegal for the workers to block my drive with their unattended equipment.
When I said that made no sense to me one of the officers offered that there was no criminal intent when the workmen blocked my driveway with their equipment and left.
This makes absolutely no sense to me. Am I to believe that if I park on the street and block another owner's driveway so that the owner can not get his car out that I have not broken a law. Would someone please explain to me what I am missing?

[Aces4]

Today when my wife got ready to leave for an appointment she found our driveway blocked by several large lawn mowers that had been unloaded from a trailer parked in front of our house.
Neither my wife or I saw the workmen so I pushed the lawn mowers back up onto the trailer.
After my wife left one of the workman can to my door. He said that he was calling the police because I touched his lawn mowers. I explained that his equipment was blocking my driveway. However, I considered him so upset, agitated and threatening that I closed the door and called the police.
I had video and audio of the entire exchange from my ring doorbell.
However, when the police arrived I was told that, It was illegal for me to "touch" the equipment blocking my drive but it was not illegal for the workers to block my drive with their unattended equipment.
When I said that made no sense to me one of the officers offered that there was no criminal intent when the workmen blocked my driveway with their equipment and left.
This makes absolutely no sense to me. Am I to believe that if I park on the street and block another owner's driveway so that the owner can not get his car out that I have not broken a law. Would someone please explain to me what I am missing?

Did you have criminal intent when you moved the mowers? I’m not impressed with that cop from the info provided.

[graciegirl]

I am thinking that something is being left out of this narrative.

Calling the police is done a lot, but this whole situation seems far fetched. We have been here for more than a dozen years and no landscapers ever "blocked our driveway" so that we couldn't back out, and no way would we have tried to muscle their equipment onto their carrier. We would have found them and asked them to move if they were obstructing our way. And they would have I am sure. Why didn't you read the name of the business and call the owner??? Were these riding mowers? Share your pictures so we can better understand.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

I agree there's something not being represented in the OP.

Basically - if something is not on YOUR property - and the thing that is not on your property, is also not your property, then you have no legal right to touch it. So a lawn mower (not your property) is on the street (not your property) then you have no legal right to touch it.

HOWEVER

If that lawn mower is blocking your legal access from your driveway to a public road, you DO have the right to confront the owner and have him move the lawnmower. If he refuses, you can call the police, who will order him to move it and probably issue him a citation for blocking your access to the road.

[Nucky]

There are times that the Old Tri-State Attitude would come in handy. This might be one of them. The Landscaper did not use his head Twice. Blocking Your Egress is Numero Uno, Calling the Police Numero Dos. The Landscaper was lucky that the Officer was his Brother or Sister in Law.

The Temperature is about 5000 Degrees today, the Landscaper is working on Sunday and or behind the Eight Ball because of the resent rain adding to his or her frustration. Still no excuse for being inconsiderate. :ohdear:

One thing that may have not set The Landscaper on Fire would have been if you moved the lawnmower to the side of the Trailer instead of inside The Trailer. It is about 5000 Degrees Today, did I mention that? Entering the trailer or coming close to move the Lawnmower probably set them off.

I feel your pain and feel bad for you having to go thru this. I know it can be unnerving. It may have been in your best interest to call Community Watch immediately. They usually come running quickly when needed.

I side with you totally.

[Velvet]

I know someone in my family (not me) who would have backed right into the lawnmower and then sued the guy for damages to his car.

[Marathon Man]

Yea. I think this comes under the old "taking the law into your own hands". By taking action, you became the person who was in the wrong.

[Velvet]

Probably, but he would have done it anyways. Usually, a very considerate person. There are limits. Unless there was absolutely no place on the street to put that equipment, or it was there for a minute....

[EdFNJ]

Whoever said it never happens they are wrong. It does happen. My entire double wide driveway is blocked by a landscapers superlong truck and extra wide trailer that mow properties on either side of me once a week. Fortunately it is usually before we need to use it. One time we did need it and they were upset they had to stop mowing to move down 1 house (to the one that they were mowing).


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Bogie Shooter]

The only one who can answer your question is the officers boss. Responses here are just opinion........

[Blackie]

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Section 12.b.1

This statute appears to cover vehicles but maybe not the mowers.

[Polar Bear]

It’s not legal to block a driveway.

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As Blackie said, who beat me to it. :) (Although I’d bet a nickel the mowers would be just as illegal. :) )

[Velvet]

Would it make a difference as to whether the street is owned by Developer (private) or municipality? Are the rules the same? In any case it takes a very rude person to block a driveway IF they have alternatives and so they should expect consequences.

One thing that occurred to me is that in the summer many people are gone and the contractor may have expected the property to be vacant unless there was a car in the driveway or something.

[coffeebean]

One thing that occurred to me is that in the summer many people are gone and the contractor may have expected the property to be vacant unless there was a car in the driveway or something.

All our homes have garages. Most folks park their cars in their garage so, no, one can not expect a car in the driveway as an indication that someone is home.

Any contractors who block someone's driveway is WRONG!

[Villagevip]

This incident, one of the many reasons I do my own lawn.. From the mower peoples I've experienced, the hostility, bad attitudes towards villagers is omnipresent.. Ergo, I bought the complete set, of EGO battery powered, lawn equipment..This, makes the labor easy, and effortless, nice little workout... But, I digress....

[vintageogauge]

It might have been better if you just pushed the mowers away from your driveway and out into the street, left with your wife and allow them to deal with the cars that could not get through. And always remember that bleach on rubber tires will destroy them.

[Shimpy]

I would find it impossible for me to push one of those suv size mowers up a ramp into a trailor. You must be in good shape.

[Velvet]

It’s amazing what you can do when you’re angry enough. Adrenaline.

Also police officer don’t quite get things right sometimes, they are only human. Sometimes it is worth going to their supervisor with photos. There is a story but it would take the thread off topic.

[TomSwango]

My only intent was to move the mowers out of the way so could get her car out of the driveway.

[TomSwango]

Your are welcome to review the video recording of the interaction with the lawn people and the police if you want to. Just let me know when you want to come by. best wishes, Tom

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

My only intent was to move the mowers out of the way so could get her car out of the driveway.

I still don't get why you didn't just ask them to move the mowers. Not in a challenging way, or accusatory way, but as a request from one civilized person to another.

"Hey there - my wife needs to get out of the driveway, mind moving your mowers please?"

If they say no, make a fuss. If they move them, problem solved, no police needed at all.

Even if it was against the law for them to block the driveway - it is also not lawful for you to move THEIR property without their permission.

[graciegirl]

Has anyone reading this had their driveway blocked by someone? We haven't, ever. Once in awhile it may be inconvenient to back out because someone working at someone's house is parked across the street from our driveway, but just some patience is required and careful backing is required.

[TomSwango]

According to the police who responded I had "no right" to touch (move) the equipment. When my wife called the police to complain she was told by the "supervisor" that the police do not have time to issue citation for everyone who blocks someone's driveway. While this may be true it is also true that one can not expect people to stop blocking driveways when there are no consequences for their actions. In this situation the police were already here and there was a video recording. However, the police made a conscious decision not to issue any type of citation or warning. I would suggest there is no reason to expect an individual to obey the rules we all live by, when there is no consequences for not ignoring the rules we find inconvenient or do not like. For one to picking and chose which rules they will obey is tantamount to not having any rules at all.

[B-flat]

I know someone in my family (not me) who would have backed right into the lawnmower and then sued the guy for damages to his car.
Love it!

[ThatOneGuy]

Below is directly from Florida law. The important items are that parking in front of a private driveway is prohibited. Doing so is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a nonmoving violation.

316.1945 Stopping, standing, or parking prohibited in specified places.—

(1) Except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic, or in compliance with law or the directions of a police officer or official traffic control device, no person shall:
(b) Stand or park a vehicle, whether occupied or not, except momentarily to pick up or discharge a passenger or passengers:
1. In front of a public or private driveway.

(3) A law enforcement officer or parking enforcement specialist who discovers a vehicle parked in violation of this section or a municipal or county ordinance may:
(a) Issue a ticket form as may be used by a political subdivision or municipality to the driver; or
(b) If the vehicle is unattended, attach such ticket to the vehicle in a conspicuous place, except that the uniform traffic citation prepared by the department pursuant to s. 316.650 may not be issued by being attached to an unattended vehicle.
The uniform traffic citation prepared by the department pursuant to s. 316.650 may not be issued for violation of a municipal or county parking ordinance.

(4) A violation of this section is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a nonmoving violation as provided in chapter 318.

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[OrangeBlossomBaby]

According to the police who responded I had "no right" to touch (move) the equipment. When my wife called the police to complain she was told by the "supervisor" that the police do not have time to issue citation for everyone who blocks someone's driveway. While this may be true it is also true that one can not expect people to stop blocking driveways when there are no consequences for their actions. In this situation the police were already here and there was a video recording. However, the police made a conscious decision not to issue any type of citation or warning. I would suggest there is no reason to expect an individual to obey the rules we all live by, when there is no consequences for not ignoring the rules we find inconvenient or do not like. For one to picking and chose which rules they will obey is tantamount to not having any rules at all.

If you were dropping your wife off at the doctor's office and parked in front of the wheel chair ramp of the sidewalk and was walking your wife to the front door a few steps away, and someone with a wheelchair was trying to come down that ramp, would it be okay if the person pushing behind the wheelchair to get into your car and move it out of their way?

Or would you prefer it if they simply asked you to move the car?

[Aces4]

If you were dropping your wife off at the doctor's office and parked in front of the wheel chair ramp of the sidewalk and was walking your wife to the front door a few steps away, and someone with a wheelchair was trying to come down that ramp, would it be okay if the person pushing behind the wheelchair to get into your car and move it out of their way?

Or would you prefer it if they simply asked you to move the car?

Sometimes the analogies in here drive me crazy. Yes, we have had lawn companies park blocking our driveways several times and they weren’t our lawn cutters. We asked them nicely to move once, so we could keep an appointment. After walking up the street 3 houses and locating them, they barely pulled ahead and we had to maneuver carefully to back out of our drive. Passive/aggressive.

Why should anyone have to be put through that in this heat or if they are sick or elderly? We ended the nonsense by parking our vehicle in front of our driveway on lawn mowing day.

Having to defend opening up your own driveway is ludicrous. What’s wrong with people defending that behavior?

[graciegirl]

Because people can come on here and "say" anything. Sometimes an important part is left out or downplayed.

I sort of determine what is the is the right thing to do by what my husband would do, and he would NEVER move someone's equipment. He would probably jump in the golf cart, go over the curb, I think the OP is on a corner lot if Tom Swango is his real name, and drive me to my appointment if it was golf cart accessible, or take the golf cart and drive up to the landscaper and wave his hands and say..."Hey bud, I can't get out of our driveway and my wife is having a baby". Or something like that. Or call the business owner and tell him that he has to have his tonsils removed and his dumb fanny grass cutter is blocking the driveway. Most people would use language to solve this.

[Velvet]

Why should anyone have to be put through that in this heat or if they are sick or elderly? We ended the nonsense by parking our vehicle in front of our driveway on lawn mowing day.

Having to defend opening up your own driveway is ludicrous. What’s wrong with people defending that behavior?

Your solution is the best!! Creative. Too bad though that you have to go to that trouble.

[Midnight Cowgirl]

Your are welcome to review the video recording of the interaction with the lawn people and the police if you want to. Just let me know when you want to come by. best wishes, Tom


I hope you got the name of the officer with whom you spoke.
Even if you don't know his name, it might be worth it to speak to that officer's superior and show him your video.

[EdFNJ]

Has anyone reading this had their driveway blocked by someone? We haven't, ever. -clip- .

Well, lucky you!!! :) Yes, see Post #9. Once a week, totally blocked. Often someone parks across the street across from driveway due to the way the homes are aligned but that can't be helped and is perfectly legal.

No one should have to ask anyone to NOT block their driveway nicely or otherwise. I had to chase down one of 5 people mowing 2 homes on either side of me while they were riding large mowers, using noisy leaf blowers and trimmers and wearing hearing protection so they couldn't hear me anyway to get my car out of the driveway. If it was my GC I'd probably just go on the grass.

What if it was an emergency and I had to get to Starbucks, or my wife was about to give birth! Never mind the second one but there could be an emergency of some sort.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Sometimes the analogies in here drive me crazy. Yes, we have had lawn companies park blocking our driveways several times and they weren’t our lawn cutters. We asked them nicely to move once, so we could keep an appointment. After walking up the street 3 houses and locating them, they barely pulled ahead and we had to maneuver carefully to back out of our drive. Passive/aggressive.

Why should anyone have to be put through that in this heat or if they are sick or elderly? We ended the nonsense by parking our vehicle in front of our driveway on lawn mowing day.

Having to defend opening up your own driveway is ludicrous. What’s wrong with people defending that behavior?

You're seeing only two possible situations, and completely discounting the situation that's actually happening.

Whether it is legal or not to block someone's driveway, it is *absolutely* illegal to move someone else's private property, that is not ON your private property, without that person's permission. You aren't allowed to move your neighbor's car if they're parked in front of your house. You're not allowed to move your neighbor's golf cart if they're parked in front of your house. You can't move someone's bicycle parked in front of your house. Or someone's lawnmower.

If these vehicles are ON your property, then the laws probably differ. But these vehicles are not on your property, and they don't belong to you.

You can't touch them, legally, without their permission. Whether they're supposed to be there or not.

[Topspinmo]

Statutes & Constitution
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Online Sunshine (http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0300-0399/0316/Sections/0316.1945.html)

Section 12.b.1

This statute appears to cover vehicles but maybe not the mowers.

The lawn mower not registered vehicle, so it’s not supposed to be in the street

[Topspinmo]

Has anyone reading this had their driveway blocked by someone? We haven't, ever. Once in awhile it may be inconvenient to back out because someone working at someone's house is parked across the street from our driveway, but just some patience is required and careful backing is required.

Yes in CYV

[kcrazorbackfan]

Good god, quit making a mountain out of a molehill. Go find the owner - HE CAN’T BE FAR AWAY - and just explain that your wife is needing to leave and ask him to move the mowers. Problem solved. From a retired LEO’s standpoint, do not touch another persons possessions.

BTW, what part of the US did you move from?

[Phil_Linda]

Why would one be so mad about this? I have had my driveway blocked a bit and all I did was find the landscape guy and ask him to move the mower, he said he sure would and said he was sorry for leaving it there. Said he was all backed up and just unloaded another mower before he needed it.
I have found that just being nice is the best way to handle most situations. Heck we are all retired here and should be the happiest people on earth.
Now, I have to add this I am sure glad that I don't have a neighbor like one mentioned here that he would intentionally back into the equipment then sue, that in my opinion is not a very good person.
“For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness.”

[coffeebean]

I still don't get why you didn't just ask them to move the mowers. Not in a challenging way, or accusatory way, but as a request from one civilized person to another.

"Hey there - my wife needs to get out of the driveway, mind moving your mowers please?"

If they say no, make a fuss. If they move them, problem solved, no police needed at all.

Even if it was against the law for them to block the driveway - it is also not lawful for you to move THEIR property without their permission.


Didn't the OP say the workers were not in sight?

If they say no? How can anyone knowingly block someone's driveway and not comply when asked to move their vehicle? I can not imaging that ever happening.......ever.

[coffeebean]

If you were dropping your wife off at the doctor's office and parked in front of the wheel chair ramp of the sidewalk and was walking your wife to the front door a few steps away, and someone with a wheelchair was trying to come down that ramp, would it be okay if the person pushing behind the wheelchair to get into your car and move it out of their way?

Or would you prefer it if they simply asked you to move the car?

That is a silly question. Of course one would prefer to be asked to move their car and I understand this is just an analogy. But....if the driver of the offending vehicle is no where to be found (such as the dilemma of the OP), then there is no one to ask.

For the record....I would never get in someone else's vehicle to move it.

[coffeebean]

I don’t know about you and your husband, but we shower, put on clean, fresh clothes and comb our hair for appts. It’s not fun going through different yards trying to find the crew member who speaks English to move the trailer.

Your solution is fine for the perfect scenario but life doesn’t work that way. The OP didn’t damage the mowers, he moved them out of the way. It is his driveway!


Exactly. Why should the person with the blocked driveway have to go looking for the offenders. How can these people willfully block someone's driveway? Who does that? Do they ever wonder if someone may need to leave in a hurry for an emergency? I have no words beyond the fact these offenders are not very bright.

[coffeebean]

You're seeing only two possible situations, and completely discounting the situation that's actually happening.

Whether it is legal or not to block someone's driveway, it is *absolutely* illegal to move someone else's private property, that is not ON your private property, without that person's permission. You aren't allowed to move your neighbor's car if they're parked in front of your house. You're not allowed to move your neighbor's golf cart if they're parked in front of your house. You can't move someone's bicycle parked in front of your house. Or someone's lawnmower.

If these vehicles are ON your property, then the laws probably differ. But these vehicles are not on your property, and they don't belong to you.

You can't touch them, legally, without their permission. Whether they're supposed to be there or not.
I understand the legality of not touching someone's personal property. I get it. In fact, I feel bad having to move someone's cart in a grocery store when they have gone missing and it is blocking the shelf I need to get to. I always look around first to see who could possibly be using the cart but to no avail. I will move it but feel bad having to do that.

[Kerlampert]

Today when my wife got ready to leave for an appointment she found our driveway blocked by several large lawn mowers that had been unloaded from a trailer parked in front of our house.
Neither my wife or I saw the workmen so I pushed the lawn mowers back up onto the trailer.
After my wife left one of the workman can to my door. He said that he was calling the police because I touched his lawn mowers. I explained that his equipment was blocking my driveway. However, I considered him so upset, agitated and threatening that I closed the door and called the police.
I had video and audio of the entire exchange from my ring doorbell.
However, when the police arrived I was told that, It was illegal for me to "touch" the equipment blocking my drive but it was not illegal for the workers to block my drive with their unattended equipment.
When I said that made no sense to me one of the officers offered that there was no criminal intent when the workmen blocked my driveway with their equipment and left.
This makes absolutely no sense to me. Am I to believe that if I park on the street and block another owner's driveway so that the owner can not get his car out that I have not broken a law. Would someone please explain to me what I am missing?
It is illegal to park in front of or block any driveway.

[The Caretaker]

Take it to the Captain as it is illegal to deny access from exiting your property!!!! Your officer was WRONG. Now if the lawn guys were in sight and you didn’t ask them to move the movers shame on you.

[Roberta Forcina]

I agree with this homeowner. The response from the police in this matter seems ludicrous. The homeowner was only moving the equipment which should not have been left there to begin with. Perhaps if they would have backed out with their car and damaged the equipment I wonder what the response would have been then. You cannot block access to personal property. I would have called the company and filed a complaint as well as to the disrespect and behavior of the workers. All they had to say was they were sorry to have caused the inconvenience and move their equipment.

[Gail Paige]

I called the police regarding my neighbor's lawn guys blocking my driveway when they mow her lawn and was told that it was illegal for them to do that, to call them the next time they do it and he would send a policeman out to deal with them. I guess technically the mowers were not on your property so the police have to handle it - not you.

[WalkerLoop]

It is illegal to block access to a public street in Florida. The police officer was correct, in that you cannot touch/move the lawn mowers equipment, but the lawn mowing company is legally required to move their equipment or they can be fined and potentially arrested if they decline the officer's request.

[Nucky]

Wouldn't it be something if that contractor had nowhere to park when they show up this week because your neighbors backed you up and parked legally in front of their homes? Maybe the Landscaper would end up parking a block away. Maybe the Landscaper will come this week knowing they did you dirty and apologizes and corrects their behavior. I wonder if the contractor has shown proof of insurance to the customer they were servicing? I wonder if the registration on the Truck & Trailer are up to date.

It was a great idea to go find the contractor of course that is if the Blockee is physically capable of doing so.

[karostay]

Lets hear an explanation from someone who's retired from law enforcement
Any retired policemen here ?

[graciegirl]

Lets hear an explanation from someone who's retired from law enforcement
Any retired policemen here ?

I would like to too.

My reaction is based on my belief that if a law enforcement officer says something, that something should be respected, direction followed and that is that. They have no reason in this instance to be "against" the OP. I still feel we are missing some valuable piece of information, or some valuable part of the conversation or something.

I will continue to have faith in law enforcement until something valid changes my mind.

[anarick]

I’ve had to tell my landscaper to move his car from in front of my neighbors driveway once or twice.
Maybe speaking with the neighbor who’s getting serviced asking them nicely to have their contractor to move would work better.

[Jackie vohs]

Today when my wife got ready to leave for an appointment she found our driveway blocked by several large lawn mowers that had been unloaded from a trailer parked in front of our house.
Neither my wife or I saw the workmen so I pushed the lawn mowers back up onto the trailer.
After my wife left one of the workman can to my door. He said that he was calling the police because I touched his lawn mowers. I explained that his equipment was blocking my driveway. However, I considered him so upset, agitated and threatening that I closed the door and called the police.
I had video and audio of the entire exchange from my ring doorbell.
However, when the police arrived I was told that, It was illegal for me to "touch" the equipment blocking my drive but it was not illegal for the workers to block my drive with their unattended equipment.
When I said that made no sense to me one of the officers offered that there was no criminal intent when the workmen blocked my driveway with their equipment and left.
This makes absolutely no sense to me. Am I to believe that if I park on the street and block another owner's driveway so that the owner can not get his car out that I have not broken a law. Would someone please explain to me what I am missing?
it is illegal as if you have a medical emergency and can't get out or the paramedics can't get in to transport from your home to the vehicle, you can sue the landscaping companies.

[BobnBev]

Below is directly from Florida law. The important items are that parking in front of a private driveway is prohibited. Doing so is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a nonmoving violation.

316.1945 Stopping, standing, or parking prohibited in specified places.—

(1) Except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic, or in compliance with law or the directions of a police officer or official traffic control device, no person shall:
(b) Stand or park a vehicle, whether occupied or not, except momentarily to pick up or discharge a passenger or passengers:
1. In front of a public or private driveway.

(3) A law enforcement officer or parking enforcement specialist who discovers a vehicle parked in violation of this section or a municipal or county ordinance may:
(a) Issue a ticket form as may be used by a political subdivision or municipality to the driver; or
(b) If the vehicle is unattended, attach such ticket to the vehicle in a conspicuous place, except that the uniform traffic citation prepared by the department pursuant to s. 316.650 may not be issued by being attached to an unattended vehicle.
The uniform traffic citation prepared by the department pursuant to s. 316.650 may not be issued for violation of a municipal or county parking ordinance.

(4) A violation of this section is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a nonmoving violation as provided in chapter 318.

Statutes & Constitution
:View Statutes
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Online Sunshine (http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0300-0399/0316/Sections/0316.1945.html)

Note the word VEHICLE in the law. A lawnmower is not a vehicle.

[Aces4]

Why would one be so mad about this? I have had my driveway blocked a bit and all I did was find the landscape guy and ask him to move the mower, he said he sure would and said he was sorry for leaving it there. Said he was all backed up and just unloaded another mower before he needed it.
I have found that just being nice is the best way to handle most situations. Heck we are all retired here and should be the happiest people on earth.
Now, I have to add this I am sure glad that I don't have a neighbor like one mentioned here that he would intentionally back into the equipment then sue, that in my opinion is not a very good person.
“For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness.”

I think if you would read through the posts, you would see where the lawn mowing personnel was asked nicely to do just that.

Perhaps it would be best if that message was shared with the landscapers.

As a side note, we were the only home out of many who did not have a contract with that company since we had contracted with the landscaping company who designed and maintained our beautiful yard.

[Aces4]

It is illegal to block access to a public street in Florida. The police officer was correct, in that you cannot touch/move the lawn mowers equipment, but the lawn mowing company is legally required to move their equipment or they can be fined and potentially arrested if they decline the officer's request.

Best solution we found is to park one’s vehicle on the street in front of your driveway.

By the time the cops get down their call list and swing by an hour later, they’re gone. It’s not high priority.

[Aces4]

Good god, quit making a mountain out of a molehill. Go find the owner - HE CAN’T BE FAR AWAY - and just explain that your wife is needing to leave and ask him to move the mowers. Problem solved. From a retired LEO’s standpoint, do not touch another persons possessions.

BTW, what part of the US did you move from?

I find dissing this issue by law enforcement, in one form or another, remarkable. I only hope an officer shortly has the same issue week after week so he could develop insight to the situation.

Talk about making a mountain out of a molehill, what’s wrong with simply pushing the “in the street mower” out of the way? Weird law to enforce, in my mind.

I also don’t understand the shot asking the OP from where he originated.

[Bogie Shooter]

Good god, quit making a mountain out of a molehill. Go find the owner - HE CAN’T BE FAR AWAY - and just explain that your wife is needing to leave and ask him to move the mowers. Problem solved. From a retired LEO’s standpoint, do not touch another persons possessions.

BTW, what part of the US did you move from?

:coolsmiley:

[tophcfa]

I have to side with the OP on this based on his story. I would have done the same thing, look for the landscapers, and if I couldn't find them, push the mowers out of the way to a safe location. No harm, no foul. No intent to harm the equipment and my driveway is no longer blocked, seems like a no brainier.

[NoMoSno]

Hats off to the OP if he was able to push a zero turn up the ramp and onto a trailer without getting a hernia.

[Marathon Man]

OK. Everyone agrees that they should not have parked there. But, the OP did not have the right to move the mower. It was on the street, not on his property. That is the question he is asking - "Was I wrong for moving the mower". Yes it is an inconvenience that many of us have gone through. But you just have to go looking for them to move it.

When someone does something wrong, that does not give you the right to do something wrong back. We all taught our children that.

[GrumpyOldMan]

I agree OP should not have touched the mower. Never touch anyone elses property regardless.

But, and there is always a but. He if the person that came to his door was not the owner of the company, he should start a campaign to blast the company on the interest.

I have no problem with them parking on the roads. They have to park somewhere. But they do NOT have to block driveways. PERIOD. The people should be aware of that companies actions and and they should pay for being rude with negative publicity.

Frank

[wielen]

I would think that the people that dropped them mowers off should be smart enough to not put them at the end of someone’s driveway! That is not a good move to begin with!!! What if an emergency would have occurred?? Use your head people!!!

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

OK. Everyone agrees that they should not have parked there. But, the OP did not have the right to move the mower. It was on the street, not on his property. That is the question he is asking - "Was I wrong for moving the mower". Yes it is an inconvenience that many of us have gone through. But you just have to go looking for them to move it.

When someone does something wrong, that does not give you the right to do something wrong back. We all taught our children that.

Yup.
:bigbow:

[Velvet]

The valuable information consist of photos, videos, name of company etc. I think OP was kind to not mention some of these things publicly. Who do you think would hire or keep such inconsiderate individuals?

To OP I would look at your video but I’m not in TV at this time.

I find it amazing that some people don’t seem to realize that attitude will be met with stronger attitude, so why go there?

[Polar Bear]

I’m just wondering what most of us folks would do if our driveway was blocked like this, we needed to be somewhere, maybe not even an emergency, and you couldn’t find the offending yard maintenance people in your immediate area?

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

I’m just wondering what most of us folks would do if our driveway was blocked like this, we needed to be somewhere, maybe not even an emergency, and you couldn’t find the offending yard maintenance people in your immediate area?

I'd call the landscaper company and tell them to find their folks and have them move the lawnmower. If I couldn't connect to them or there was no company name/number on the truck, I'd call the police.

But by "in my immediate area" I usually refer to "within earshot of a gas-powered landscaping tool." Landscape companies don't park their vehicles very far from where they're planning on doing the work. Chances are, I'll hear their trimmers, or see people walking around with spray-cannisters on their backs.

If it's an actual emergency, I'm not going to spend a second thinking about it. I'll drive on the front lawn and over the curb, and worry about community standards later if I leave skidmarks in my lawn.

[Dimagolfer]

Yes, it's illegal to block someone's driveway and the police should have been notified before taking the matter upon oneself! Moving someone's property w/o permission is also illegal and doing so can lead to an ugly outcome. We all pay fines for parking illegally! Let the law resolve situations as such!

[Aces4]

Yes, it's illegal to block someone's driveway and the police should have been notified before taking the matter upon oneself! Moving someone's property w/o permission is also illegal and doing so can lead to an ugly outcome. We all pay fines for parking illegally! Let the law resolve situations as such!

If one has ever sought assistance from the police dept here for non emergency situations, one would know the lawn crew would be gone before the police arrived. The lawn crews, i am sure, are very aware of this.

[Aces4]

I'd call the landscaper company and tell them to find their folks and have them move the lawnmower. If I couldn't connect to them or there was no company name/number on the truck, I'd call the police.

But by "in my immediate area" I usually refer to "within earshot of a gas-powered landscaping tool." Landscape companies don't park their vehicles very far from where they're planning on doing the work. Chances are, I'll hear their trimmers, or see people walking around with spray-cannisters on their backs.

If it's an actual emergency, I'm not going to spend a second thinking about it. I'll drive on the front lawn and over the curb, and worry about community standards later if I leave skidmarks in my lawn.

I think many of us don’t consider ruining our irrigation systems because of illegally parked lawn crews. But we’re being told that’s the solution.

[Aces4]

You're seeing only two possible situations, and completely discounting the situation that's actually happening.

Whether it is legal or not to block someone's driveway, it is *absolutely* illegal to move someone else's private property, that is not ON your private property, without that person's permission. You aren't allowed to move your neighbor's car if they're parked in front of your house. You're not allowed to move your neighbor's golf cart if they're parked in front of your house. You can't move someone's bicycle parked in front of your house. Or someone's lawnmower.

If these vehicles are ON your property, then the laws probably differ. But these vehicles are not on your property, and they don't belong to you.

You can't touch them, legally, without their permission. Whether they're supposed to be there or not.

Since it is a law one cannot block another’s driveway, how about a picture/video would be sufficient evidence to issue a $500. fine to the offenders. Then everything would be “legal” and no more illegal parking.

[Velvet]

Yes, it's illegal to block someone's driveway and the police should have been notified before taking the matter upon oneself! Moving someone's property w/o permission is also illegal and doing so can lead to an ugly outcome. We all pay fines for parking illegally! Let the law resolve situations as such!

You are right. And we do follow the law, if we can.... and OP (from my understanding) did call the police. And it didn’t help.

Maybe large vehicles should not be taken into areas where there is no place to park. And please don’t tell me they can’t do their job then. I’m in a city where there is almost no parking on the street ever. Yet the lawn is cut by companies who drop off the lawn mower and the guys drive away then pick them up. It does cost a fortune but if you want your lawn cut in the middle of the city then that’s how it is.

[Polar Bear]

I think many of us don’t consider ruining our irrigation systems because of illegally parked lawn crews...
On the nose. :)

[coffeebean]

Note the word VEHICLE in the law. A lawnmower is not a vehicle.

Is a bicycle a vehicle? If the lawn mowers are riding mowers, aren't they considered vehicles?

This is Google's definition of "vehicle".....
"a thing used for transporting people or goods, especially on land, such as a car, truck, or cart."

So........ there you have it folks. I've just answered my own questions.

[Velvet]

I don’t really want to shame this lawn company by asking who they were and where do they cut exactly, but I sure hope it isn’t my guys because I’d have a discussion with them.

[coffeebean]

Best solution we found is to park one’s vehicle on the street in front of your driveway.

By the time the cops get down their call list and swing by an hour later, they’re gone. It’s not high priority.

Why should anyone be "put out" by taking their car out of their garage where is it protected from traffic and the elements? That is just playing a dumb game with these bozos and the home owner comes out on the losing end. That is not a viable solution in my book....even if it is once a week.

[Topspinmo]

Note the word VEHICLE in the law. A lawnmower is not a vehicle.

And shouldn’t be in the street cause it not license vehicle

[coffeebean]

OK. Everyone agrees that they should not have parked there. But, the OP did not have the right to move the mower. It was on the street, not on his property. That is the question he is asking - "Was I wrong for moving the mower". Yes it is an inconvenience that many of us have gone through. But you just have to go looking for them to move it.

When someone does something wrong, that does not give you the right to do something wrong back. We all taught our children that.
We can go round and round with this. Yes, it is wrong and against the law to touch someone else's property such as the mowers. BUT, it is also wrong and against the law to block egress from one's property to a public street. ( someone up thread posted the law about blocking driveways to a public street)

If the offending party can not be located to be asked to move the items that are blocking the driveway, what are we to do if a person needs to leave in an emergency? It is a scary thought.

[coffeebean]

I’m just wondering what most of us folks would do if our driveway was blocked like this, we needed to be somewhere, maybe not even an emergency, and you couldn’t find the offending yard maintenance people in your immediate area?

I know I would be spitting nails but that doesn't help the situation. Why should anyone be put in that situation. I honestly think these people who block driveways have nothing between their ears.

[coffeebean]

I think many of us don’t consider ruining our irrigation systems because of illegally parked lawn crews. But we’re being told that’s the solution.

There's a chance you can damage your neighbor's irrigation system if you drive on the lawn and over the curb. Some of us live on cul-de-sacs and things are very close in our front yards.

[Polar Bear]

I know I would be spitting nails but that doesn't help the situation. Why should anyone be put in that situation. I honestly think these people who block driveways have nothing between their ears.
Wait a minute. I just asked a question...what would people do if it it happened to them, which it very well could. I in no way condone it. I’m one of those that would likely risk a little backlash to handle it very quickly. :)

I totally agree with your assessment of those that block driveways. They deserve near-zero consideration imo.

[Aces4]

It's the solution if there's an emergency and someone is blocking your driveway. But go ahead and keep responding to things you cherry-pick and turn into issues with my posts that didn't exist, instead of responding to what I actually say.

Just in case you missed it the first time:

Just in case it wasn’t caught earlier in my posts, quite often these are not English speaking crews. My view is they are blocking my driveway and I nor anyone, in any manner need to chase them down when they know better. Many of the solutions offered do not take into consideration physical limitations or health issues. How nice these solutions are if you are able to perform them.

[CWGUY]

I’m just wondering what most of us folks would do if our driveway was blocked like this, we needed to be somewhere, maybe not even an emergency, and you couldn’t find the offending yard maintenance people in your immediate area?

:) Happened to me on Sat. I opened my garage door and there was a truck and trailer across my driveway. A crew was changing out the flowers on the District property on my corner. Like Nucky likes to say ..... it seemed like it was 5000 degrees out. I counted heads and took 5 bottles of GatorAde from the garage frig. out to them. Turns out there were 9 on the crew total so I got 4 bottles more out. You would think I gave them a million dollars. Oh..... I got out of my driveway 15 minutes later. When I met my wife for lunch and explained she said "no problem"!

:confused: I'm still trying to figure out this thread..... my group got shutout today..... you posters too? :shrug:

[Velvet]

Aw, that was sweet.

Just remembered we’re not supposed to address posters, so giving the workers cold beverages on one of the hottest days ever was a kind gesture.

[Bogie Shooter]

Many, many posts on this thread say the same thing.:shrug:

[Bogie Shooter]

Just in case it wasn’t caught earlier in my posts, quite often these are not English speaking crews. My view is they are blocking my driveway and I nor anyone, in any manor need to chase them down when they know better. Many of the solutions offered do not take into consideration physical limitations or health issues. How nice these solutions are if you are able to perform them.

Doubtful...…..

[bagboy]

I have serious doubts this scenario played out as described, doorbell cam or not. If someone blocks your driveway, you ask them to move if you have to leave. Pretty simple and non confrontational.

[dmkot2nd]

Sorry but we have been here for ten years and we have often had lawn mowers and other vendors block our driveway and I have had to ask them to move. Let me explain: Our driveway is 3/4 of the way around the cul de sac on a dead end street. For some reason, lawn mower people and other vendors with drive 3/4 of the way around the cul de sac and stop blocking our driveway to make a cell phone call, do tree trimming and yard work at a neighbors house or mow the lawn. We had six months of neighbors on both sides of us having pools installed and every morning I had the same truck blocking the driveway. I had to call the company and speak to a supervisor. So this does happen!

[Aces4]

I have serious doubts this scenario played out as described, doorbell cam or not. If someone blocks your driveway, you ask them to move if you have to leave. Pretty simple and non confrontational.

Until you ox is gored, you won’t see the problem. It will never be our problem again, good luck to those who are still dealing with it.

[Jima64]

hot day, take out bottles of water and ask them to let you drive out of your driveway.

[Aces4]

hot day, take out bottles of water and ask them to let you drive out of your driveway.

If that works for one, do it every week that one will need to and enjoy. If one provides ones’ address, it will be easier for them to find their target. Oops, make that find one.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

And even if they don't speak English, so what? You can ask them to move it, in Spanish. Or French, or whatever other language you feel you need to ask them in. Here it is in Spanish, courtesy of google:

"Aleje su cortadora de césped de mi camino de entrada." Takes less than 30 seconds to look it up, and maybe half that long to figure out how to pronounce it.

[TomSwango]

My wife subsequently called the police station and spoke with the officer boss.
She was told that because the problem is so common in The Villages that the police do not have the resources to deal owner's driveways being blocked. Therefore, they do not issue tickets or citations for workmen blocking access to an owner's driveway or garage. I would suggest that the reason it is so common is that the offenders know that there is no adverse consequences or cost associated with them parking anywhere they want. I would suggest that if the offenders were cited or ticketed when they violate a law that they would be less inclined to continue to ignore the rules that they find inconvenient and that they rest of us live by the problem will only continue to get worst. I do not believe that you solve a problem by ignoring it. In fact I wonder if the reason that the problem is as common as the police claim is because the police are have chosen to avoid the problem rather than deal with it.

[kcrazorbackfan]

Lets hear an explanation from someone who's retired from law enforcement
Any retired policemen here ?

I replied earlier about finding the owner of the mowers and asking them to move the mowers in a nice way because someone has to leave; most old people want to get confrontational if something doesn’t go their way. Most of the time being nice will work. But, don’t ever touch another persons equipment.

[Polar Bear]

...most old people want to get confrontational if something doesn’t go their way...
Your opinion of course. Not mine.
...don’t ever touch another persons equipment.
Is that a stronger ‘don’t ever’ than don’t ever block a person’s driveway? Not for me.

[Velvet]

When the police do not do their job, someone else has to do it for them. Someone mentioned taking the law into your own hands... when you are left with no choice when no one is enforcing the law because they are overwhelmed or whatever. We have what we call civil arrest in our area. This driveway incident would not qualify though.

In the city what we do when we want to indicate ‘do not park in front of my house I need it for a special purpose’ we put, like the city workers, orange cones on the area to be reserved. Now if you touched those cones, they would be touching your private property. In this city of many millions the cones are honored.

I believe in being considerate and kind but it goes both ways and in all languages.

[EdFNJ]

Why can't you take photos as "evidence" and go down to PD HQ and sign a complaint ? No police intervention needed. I would think they would mail them a ticket as long as you provide the violation code but if they dispute it you would have to go to court since YOU are signing off on it not the cops. That's how it worked up north for minor things like this and even slight more major things. That would also be "Judge Judy approved." :)

[Bertram00]

I replied earlier about finding the owner of the mowers and asking them to move the mowers in a nice way because someone has to leave; most old people want to get confrontational if something doesn’t go their way. Most of the time being nice will work. But, don’t ever touch another persons equipment.

Of course you and many other posters with reading comprehension issues conveniently missed the op writing that the offending crew was nowhere to be found at the time.

[Aces4]

And even if they don't speak English, so what? You can ask them to move it, in Spanish. Or French, or whatever other language you feel you need to ask them in. Here it is in Spanish, courtesy of google:

"Aleje su cortadora de césped de mi camino de entrada." Takes less than 30 seconds to look it up, and maybe half that long to figure out how to pronounce it.

Not interested! I am interested though in law abiding people working in the community and a return to respect for other people’s property. I will leave your solution to you.

[Aces4]

[QUOTE=Bogie Shooter;1672772]Doubtful...…..[/QUOTE

Responses here are just opinion.

[Aces4]

OK. Everyone agrees that they should not have parked there. But, the OP did not have the right to move the mower. It was on the street, not on his property. That is the question he is asking - "Was I wrong for moving the mower". Yes it is an inconvenience that many of us have gone through. But you just have to go looking for them to move it.

When someone does something wrong, that does not give you the right to do something wrong back. We all taught our children that.

The lawn crew was wrong blocking the driveway but the officer couldn’t enforce that but he could enforce the property owner moving the lawn mower out of the way. What’s wrong with this picture?