Parking Opportunities

This picture has been around quite a while, and I’ve always loved it. This is what should happen every time somebody decides rules and laws don’t apply to them. When I look at this picture I get all giddy inside.

This morning, my wife and I went to do our weekly shopping at the grocery store. It was misting rain and generally miserable outside. As we walked from the parking lot to the store I noticed a large Toyota SUV pull up in front of the store and park in the fire lane. A woman climbed out of the vehicle and was walking into the store.

Being an inquisitive sort of person, I walked up to her with a big smile on my face, and said, "Excuse me, but I was just curious…"

The woman, smiling back at me, paused, and I continued, "…but can you tell me what part of ‘No Parking’ don’t you understand?"

The smile faded from her face and her skin got this ashen look to it and she replied that she wasn’t in the fire lane, since her vehicle was parked outside of where there was a yellow box painted. I pointed out that the curb, next to the vehicle, was also painted yellow. She then said something about having verified that it was OK to park there.

I said, "Yeah, I’m sure. The truth is, you think you can park wherever you want because you drive a big, fancy  car." And I walked away.

I know my wife was embarrassed by my confronting that woman, but I’m tired of people just deciding which rules they want to follow and which ones they want to ignore. It seems to be a pretty prevalent attitude among people given the number of vehicles I see parked in "No Parking" zones every day.

Why do we waste time even putting up those signs? Not only are they ignored by a large segment of the population, but there doesn’t seem to be any attempt at enforcement.

I know the police have their hands full with serious crime issues. I would be the first to say that they really need to concentrate on serious crime issues. But what about the management of the shopping centers? For one thing, there are serious safety considerations to think about. What if there was an emergency and the responders had trouble getting their equipment in place because vehicles were parked in the fire lane?

Believe me, if they started throwing a boot on the car and charging the owner $100 to remove it, the problem would probably start to go away. Don’t even need the police to do it. Just a couple of security guards.

Lest anyone think I got brave because it was a woman driving the Toyota, I have done basically the same thing with male drivers in the past. The results were also the same. They went about their business and I did a slow burn, feeling morally superior, but frustrated in my ineffectiveness. All I received for my efforts were dirty looks and general disdain.

I suppose I should just accept the fact that there is absolutely nothing I can do in these circumstances. Shooting them would make me feel better, right up until the time the judge pronounced sentence. I don’t think my argument of justifiable homicide would get me very far.

When you see someone parking someplace where they don’t belong, use that as a reminder to think kind thoughts about me. Maybe even say a little prayer that I’ll get better at minding my own business. And maybe I can learn to be less of a crusty old fart.