LIVID LOT
Driver leaves note explaining why he has to ‘park this way’ after being slammed – but returns to even pettier comment
Some cities have banned the truck driver's parking - but it depends where the note was found
A DRIVER attempted to avoid controversy by explaining their over-the-line parking with a note - but their cordial letter seems to have backfired.
In a Facebook post, a driver posted a picture capturing a petty back-and-forth between two car owners.
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A large Ram pickup truck was parked in an IKEA lot, according to a well-followed Colorado-based mechanic (@mechanicman66).
The truck appears to be a Ram 3500, the largest pickup built by the Detroit brand.
The Ram 3500 is 21.75 feet long.
An average parking space size is around 18 feet long, according to US Pave standards.
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The truck's owner said the vehicle couldn't fit into a single parking space.
The owner left a typed note in the driver's side window addressing their parking behavior.
"I park this way to keep from sticking out into traffic," the note said.
"This thing is 22 feet long."
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The driver said they keep the note on the truck because their parking technique has received criticism in the past.
The previous note said the driver was rude, but he responded in the typed note declaring, "I'm realy not."
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The driver received a handwritten reply to his typed letter pointing out a petty mistake.
"You spelled 'really' wrong," the note corrected.
The Facebook-using mechanic didn't immediately respond to The U.S. Sun's request for comment.
Thousands of drivers jumped into the post's Facebook comments to object to the parking behavior.
The post has more than 1,800 comments and 6,000 likes.
"I have a 22-foot truck, and I park in the spot provided," one commenter fought back.
Are you covered by law to park on a public street?
Parking on a public street is generally legal, even in front of someone's house, experts say.
Unless the home is in an HOA subdivision, an apartment complex with assigned spaces, or there are posted laws against parking during certain days or hours, it is not illegal to park a vehicle in front of someone's home on a public street.
"Generally speaking, an individual citizen does not 'own' or have any ongoing exclusive right to use a parking space on a public street," wrote Nolo Legal.
"These spaces are open to the public on a first-come, first-serve basis."
Most states do have rules against vehicles being parked in the same spot for 72 hours, or blocking fire hydrants, driveways, and sidewalks, as a parked vehicle in those spaces presents a safety hazard.
"It sticks out further than some, but not enough to stop traffic."
Another driver shared a potentially more understanding perspective.
"It's a white dodge. White Dodge trucks are extremely common in vehicle fleets," another driver added.
"Considering he's at IKEA, he's probably buying furniture, possibly as part of his job."
Parking over a white line is potentially a ticket-worthy offense - but it depends on where the infraction occurred, according to How Stuff Works.
Some cities - like Charleston, South Carolina, and Grand Rapids, Michigan - have added double parking into their municipal code.
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Drivers are susceptible to $10 and $20 fines in the cities.
But dozens of cities across the US don't have parking fines addressing line-crossing.