What can you do if someone parks over your driveway?

What can you actually do?
What can you actually do?
This article is brought to you by our exclusive subscriber partnership with our sister title USA Today, and has been written by our American colleagues. It does not necessarily reflect the view of The Herald.

We have all been there, we are running late for work and someone careless and selfish has trapped us in our own driveway with their car. But what are the rules?

The Highway Code says that you should not park in front of any driveway, but ask the police and they will tell you, it’s not actually illegal.

This is incredibly unfair and really depends on your questionable neighbour but you pester them until they gain some respect.

However, DAS Law say: “The first step with any anti-social parking problem is to contact your local authority or the police; however there is little the law can do to support home owners, even if a car blocks your driveway.

“The Highway Code can only help if the parked car is causing an obstruction to the road but not in relation to private land.”

But, another option is to pursue a legal claim for nuisance on the grounds that the driver is interfering with your use and enjoyment of your property.

To do so you will need to know the identity of the offending vehicle’s driver.

Who knows, you could park in front of your neighbours driveway for a while and see how quickly they stop.

Get involved
with the news

Send your news & photos