By Alex Lloyd Gross
The act of putting a lawn chair or even furniture in a parking spot to save for the person that shoveled out their vehicle has been going on almost as long as Henry Ford has been making cars. It’s a practice that is tolerated but it is illegal. With people digging themselves out of the recent snow storm, it’s back breaking work. The wet heavy snow does not move quick or easy. Double that with compacted snow pushed in by a snow plow and some people get protective of their spots. Enter the “Savesie”
Especially, the elderly, or those that may have paid upwards of $20.00 or more for an entrepreneur to remove the snow. The car owner is finally able to leave the house and do a few errands. When they return, someone else s car is in the spot they shoveled. The point of view of the person that parked their when they saw a new spot is “It’s a public street”, and they should be able to park where they want.
The point of view of the person that shoveled out is they are entitled to that spot. It’s not a sunny day in May where one can just park across the street or down the block. When they argue, cops get called and the spot is not vacated. You cannot save parking spots. In fact anything left on the street, like a lawn chair or trash can is considered abandoned property. Some people think they care cute , during the day and drive around in pick up trucks and take them, to be sold or used. In some townships, a township stake body truck will make rounds with a police escort, taking the items.
The idea of parking in a spot “reserved” for others has lead to broken friendships and , in some cases, vandalism. The best remedy to this is to have an agreement with a neighbor before the snow happens, so that when they come home and see a vehicle, it is something they expect.