how would you deal with this?

[Marionnette]

We live on a corner property. The base is on our property and the hoop its self hangs over the public street. We are in no way on his property.

Well, he has as much right to park there as your kids have to play there. In fact, I would go so far as to say that he has more right to park there because streets are meant for cars and not for playgrounds.

However, it does seem like a passive-aggressive approach on his part to prevent the kids from playing ball. Either talk to him about it or move the hoop to another location if you don't want to confront him.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

We live on a corner property. The base is on our property and the hoop its self hangs over the public street. We are in no way on his property.

Then you can politely ask him not to do it, but legally you have no recourse. The street is for driving/parking, not playing. Is this the same busy street you are worried about the ball rolling into, which is the reasoning behind not having the hoop hang over your driveway?

 

[MomToOne]

Ok - is anyone else royally confused here on the placement of the hoop vs the street vs the neighbors driveway?

You say the hoop is on your property and it "the hoop itself hangs over the public street" - that seems like a total hedge on your part - to PLAY basketball, do the kids need to go onto the neighbors property?? In your first post you said the neighbor was parking his taxi in his driveway, just in an inconvenient spot for you. Then you turn around and say that you are in "no way on his property" - well, then where he parks his taxi on his property shouldn't be a problem??

It doesn't all add up. Maybe you could post a better description of the whole thing.

 

[TwoMisfits]

I'm confused on where the playing happens, too, but really, that doesn't matter...

If it were me, and my boys wanted to play hoops and they were 12 and 8...I'd have THEM go over any time they wanted to play and ask the neighbor very nicely if he could move his car. I'd probably also try to have them volunteer to help the neighbor when he might need it over the year (shoveling snow, raking leaves, etc), so it's not always "do for us, do for us, do for us" - being a good neighbor helps make good neighbors...and kids learning how to be good neighbors and how there's a give and take is important life learning...

Now, if the neighbor relationship has already broken down, this will be a lot harder to improve and to achieve...but it's better to at least try this route than to start festering bad feelings, involving law enforcement, being a bad neighbor yourself, etc...

If there is no way to approach or improve the neighbor relationship, I'd do what others suggested and park my own car there every day and then move it when my kids wanted to play...but that would be my last option, not my 1st...

 

[barkley]

Ok - is anyone else royally confused here on the placement of the hoop vs the street vs the neighbors driveway?

You say the hoop is on your property and it "the hoop itself hangs over the public street" - that seems like a total hedge on your part - to PLAY basketball, do the kids need to go onto the neighbors property?? In your first post you said the neighbor was parking his taxi in his driveway, just in an inconvenient spot for you. Then you turn around and say that you are in "no way on his property" - well, then where he parks his taxi on his property shouldn't be a problem??

It doesn't all add up. Maybe you could post a better description of the whole thing.

I'm with you-it doesn't make sense.

the situation I posted about was when WE lived on the corner lot of the street. the neighbor next to us put the hoop in-between our two homes (on the street at the curb so the hoop hung over the street). so while it wasn't on our property/over our property, because of the way it was placed it impacted ours/in front of ours much more than his.

our (then) city getting so sick of neighborhood arguments over these hoops was the reason they banned them-unless they were on your own property and so many feet away from the property lines. some cities now require a permit for one-and some homeowners insurance won't cover them/damages related to them.

 

[irishsharon]

Then you can politely ask him not to do it, but legally you have no recourse. The street is for driving/parking, not playing. Is this the same busy street you are worried about the ball rolling into, which is the reasoning behind not having the hoop hang over your driveway?

No its the side street.I do agree with everyone and know I have no more right than anyone else. As I said I'm just surprised he parks it there when he could park any where on the street. No one else parks on the street so he has lots of options

 

[dpswift]

Park YOUR car there and more when needed?

I tried this when my neighbor insisted on blocking my mailbox. The second I moved my car he put his truck there. He did not have the decency to wait till I went inside.

 

[OceanAnnie]

No its the side street.I do agree with everyone and know I have no more right than anyone else. As I said I'm just surprised he parks it there when he could park any where on the street. No one else parks on the street so he has lots of options

I get what you are saying.

His parking there, in that one particular spot that keeps your sons from playing basketball really does seem to be a message.

I'd just be easy about it. I'd ask him if he minded parking somewhere else because you're kids would like to play basketball. He'll either tell you he has an issue or maybe it's just a spot he likes and hadn't thought about it.

It's the only way you are going to know and get a resolution. Because if he doesn't like the basketball playing and you move the hoop, he might move his parking spot to the new location. That would be almost comical.

 

[irishsharon]

Ok - is anyone else royally confused here on the placement of the hoop vs the street vs the neighbors driveway?

You say the hoop is on your property and it "the hoop itself hangs over the public street" - that seems like a total hedge on your part - to PLAY basketball, do the kids need to go onto the neighbors property?? In your first post you said the neighbor was parking his taxi in his driveway, just in an inconvenient spot for you. Then you turn around and say that you are in "no way on his property" - well, then where he parks his taxi on his property shouldn't be a problem??

It doesn't all add up. Maybe you could post a better description of the whole thing.

Sorry for the confusion I mentioned his driveway because he use to always park the taxi there and it is a large circular driveway. My children are not on his property ever. My dh could not even throw a ball hard enough to reach his house from were they play. This basketball hoop has a large base filled with sand to keep it stable and that is on our property, the actual hoop faces the street. The boys dribble and shoot from the street. Not sure if that helps. When the neighbor parks his car next to the base he is right under the hoop. When he gets out of his car he has to walk about the length of 4 taxis to get to the end of his driveway. I only bring this up because he could park much closer to his own home. I realize he has every right I am just surprised.

 

[kymom99]

I'm curious to know what kind of relationship you have with this neighbor in general. Just for the sake of commiserating, years ago our neighbor lady's adult son moved in with her. He was a police officer in another city. Our street was very crowded with small houses and little parking. We lived on the cul de sac and had to put one car on the street. One day the neighbor on the other side of us and my husband spent a long time shoveling deep snow out of the cul de sac so that people could get turned around and so we could park our car. Before my husband could park in the cleared spot, the policeman/neighbor came home and parked there! He would take up the closest spot to our house if he beat me home and I would have to hike up the hill when I was pregnant. What a jerk.

 

[dpswift]

Sorry for the confusion I mentioned his driveway because he use to always park the taxi there and it is a large circular driveway. My children are not on his property ever. My dh could not even throw a ball hard enough to reach his house from were they play. This basketball hoop has a large base filled with sand to keep it stable and that is on our property, the actual hoop faces the street. The boys dribble and shoot from the street. Not sure if that helps. When the neighbor parks his car next to the base he is right under the hoop. When he gets out of his car he has to walk about the length of 4 taxis to get to the end of his driveway. I only bring this up because he could park much closer to his own home. I realize he has every right I am just surprised.

Like others have said it seems as though he does not want them playing. Do they invite half the neighborhood? Are they excessively noisy?

I remember when someone told a neighbor that they were looking at a house in our neighborhood she could not sleep until she told this woman that the kids across from the house she was looking at played skateboard in the road until 11pm all summer long. It turned out that was not a deal breaker at all, but it would have bothered many.

 

[angwill]

If it were me I would just wait till the kids want to play ball and if he is parked there have them knock on his door and ask nicely if he will move because they want to make sure they don't damage his car. Maybe have DH go with them the first time and he will bring up with DH if there is an issue for him.

 

[Blakelynn]

We cannot put the hoop in our driveway as it is on an incline and if a ball got loose it would go on a busy street. It has been on the side of our property for six months. Our neighbor has always parked his cab in his driveway. He had a new cab then but now he has a very beat up one not sure if that has anything to do with it. I know he can park where ever he wants but I am not sure why he cant just park on the equally empty side of his driveway.

v

 

[irishsharon]

If it were me I would just wait till the kids want to play ball and if he is parked there have them knock on his door and ask nicely if he will move because they want to make sure they don't damage his car. Maybe have DH go with them the first time and he will bring up with DH if there is an issue for him.

My dh went over yesterday with our younger son but no one answered the door. The taxi has not been moved in 4 days.

 

[tvguy]

Call your local police department, most have a business number of some sort, though most likely recorded, its not used for emergencies. Find out if your town/city has regulations about parking "work" vehicles in the street. You don't have to report him quiet yet if he does, but talk to him first as some pp's have said, or if you already know he's a jerk report him. Then park one of your cars there so he can't do the same with one of his own

Just talk to him. That may solve the whole problem.

As for calling police, well, clearly different cities have different rules. Here YOU would get a ticket for having the basketball hoop in the street. Parking a car would be what would be allowed. Doesn't matter if it is a commercial vehicle. Of course, if he parts the entire fleet of taxis on the street, then THAT could be an issue. It is a public street for cars, not basketball hoops.

 

[undertheradar]

You are honestly trying to tell your neighbor where he should park? If it his driveway, he should be able to park where he wants.

Why not plan a spot in your yard to have them set up and play? I understand your driveway is too steep, but it doesn't make this your neighbor's issue.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I'm curious to know what kind of relationship you have with this neighbor in general. Just for the sake of commiserating, years ago our neighbor lady's adult son moved in with her. He was a police officer in another city. Our street was very crowded with small houses and little parking. We lived on the cul de sac and had to put one car on the street. One day the neighbor on the other side of us and my husband spent a long time shoveling deep snow out of the cul de sac so that people could get turned around and so we could park our car. Before my husband could park in the cleared spot, the policeman/neighbor came home and parked there! He would take up the closest spot to our house if he beat me home and I would have to hike up the hill when I was pregnant. What a jerk.

People have been shot in Philly over shoveled parking spaces in the street. Sometimes people would leave lawn chairs or something in the spot they cleared but then someone else would come in and move the chair, and take the spot. Probably because someone else parked in the spot that they cleared earlier. It just goes on and on every year.

As for OP, it sounds like the neighbor bought a clunker just to have something to park in that spot. Why else would someone with a big driveway park so far from their door? As long as it's street-legal, he has a right to but it just seems so petty. I would talk to him before it escalates.
That's sad that people are bothered by the sounds of children playing. I would think as long as it's quiet, say from 10pm-8am, maybe 10am on the weekends, that's reasonable. If people can't handle that, it's time to move to a 55+ community.

OP, can you pour a spot of concrete in your backyard that's not on such an incline?

 

[kymom99]

In a lot of cities if a vehicle isn't moved for a length of time (like 7 days) the police may mark the tires and then have it towed. That is if it seems to be non-operational.

Also, I had a neighbor years ago ask me to tell my husband not to park in front of his house because he was trying to sell it. My husband's car at the time was old and rusty. He only parked it there for a short time while he cut the grass in front of our house. he could have told the guy where to get off the boat because it is a public street and we pay our taxes, but it wasn't worth the fight.

I suspect the guy doesn't like the kids in the street. maybe they don't move quickly when cars are coming?

 

[TravelMommy]

Where we live many towns have a law that you cannot even have a commercial vehicle parked in your driveway overnight (yes people call on this). I would call your local code enforcement/and or local non-emergency police line and see what is allowed in your town. I suspect if this guy is parking there, he knows he is blocking your net and does not appear to be a "nice and friendly/neighborly" neighbor.

 

[irishsharon]

You are honestly trying to tell your neighbor where he should park? If it his driveway, he should be able to park where he wants.

Why not plan a spot in your yard to have them set up and play? I understand your driveway is too steep, but it doesn't make this your neighbor's issue.

ABSOULUTLY not trying to tell the neighbor where to park. I only mentioned his driveway in the original post because he does have a very large driveway and used to park the taxi there. Also no one else parks on the street so he has many places to park that is not next to the basketball hoop. The hoop is no where near his property. I plan to go talk to him with the boys so if there is an issue we might come up with a solution.