Pet Peeves - Parking Pains – Part II

That's me on the prowl as a super sleuth very early am to checkout the habitual parking offenders in my neighborhood.

Time for Action
Increasingly frustrated with the parking situation in my townhouse complex, yours truly, who really doesn’t know how to let sleeping dogs lie, decided to take the initiative in addressing the situation, last month. Apparently, there have been many futile discussions by the Home Owners Board in the past about the need to update the decrepit by-laws to address this issue. Finally, after seeing a car parked in the no- parking zone, essentially the fire lane, I marched up to complain to one of the Board members who basically suggested that I take on the role of the neighborhood sleuth to see who were the culprits in terms of the parking misdemeanors. The Board member asked me to walk around the neighborhood and take down the numbers and makes of the offending cars so that the Board could follow-up with letters of warnings. I was warned by my concerned friends to be discreet in what they believed was an assinine mission that I had taken upon myself... I solemnly promised I would be.

And Super Sleuth I was!
By now, I am sure you know I am someone who believes in tackling every job with enthusiasm especially if she is convinced of its success. For the next few days, I think I must have put Sherlock Holmes to shame walking around in the dark taking down license plates and calling the member with the information in hushed tones on my cell phone. Meanwhile, my dumb basset was not much of a protector in the dark as either he jumped at his own shadow which means he made me jump out of my own skin also or as greedy a beast as he is, he was ready to follow anyone one who smelt of food or gave him a pat on the head. Needless to say, Polo was more a liability than much help. Take it from me, bassets are basically good only as couch potatoes. They are truly just hush puppies. Anyway, I really got into the snoopster role and becoming bolder and contrary to advise given, even started requesting some habitual offenders in person to avoid parking in the guest spots. Of course, I can't help myself. (And this after I had solemnly promised my friends that I would be "discreet" as they rightfully know I can be about as subtle as an eighteen-wheeler. Subtlety is certainly not my forte!)


Evidently my basset Polo was not much of a guard dog in my supersleuth days as when startled by any strange sound or sight, he tried to clamber into my lap and at 73 lbs, a lap dog he is not!!!

Finally the Board Pays Attention
Anyway this exercise did have some constructive outcome because it encouraged other silently seething neighbors to be more proactive and get involved in addressing the parking issue actively. The Homeowners’ Board is now seriously looking into amending the out-dated by-laws and asking for community feedback and participation. I have learned a lot about the legal implications of towing etc. as to how it is not so easy to implement and on and on. Parking misuse is not a new issue – it has been there in varying degrees. I am also sure that it is not unique to our town homes neighborhood, rather is quite ubiquitous in urban complexes in the DC Metropolitan area. So it is no one’s fault really, land is premium in this area, thus parking spaces are just too limited. It is just the nature of the beast. Also I have learned that folks are actually very amenable to reason if you appeal nicely to their good sense. Or perhaps, I was just plain lucky! The couple of habitual violaters I approached bravely were responsive and cooperative after I discussed the issue with them in a non-accusatory manner.

The New Parking "Czar"
Anyway for now, I have handed over this huge mantle to a very wise and smart neighbor who now is the new parking “czar” and is very effectively addressing this issue in his calm manner through a number of ways including the nocturnal checks. Am truly not being sexist here, but being a male of imposing height, way over six feet, is more helpful in juxtaposition to a single woman's limitations. My son who secretly worries about his crazy mom is visibly relieved and has told me unequivocally to take a “chill-pill”. He holds as only a college kid with a black and white world-view can that we are all making a big ado about nothing (especially since his mom hardly has a life or visitors) and should “live and let live”. Do you think there might be some merit in such a philosophy here? I am seriously beginning to wonder...