Appropriate Notice as to Trespass

[Kirk Freeman]

We finally had to break down and mark our downtown an office building in Lafayette. Having all kinds of problems with people parking at our parking lot and then going to different bars, restaurants, gyms, shopping, etc. I was finding all kinds of glass bottles, cans, cigarettes, half-eaten food in the parking lot and landscaping as well as live people who were sleeping it off in their cars the next morning in the parking lot.

Got the signs up over lunch. Should provide plenty of notice.




My question, what is a reasonable period of time before one should start towing? One weekend? One week? One month? 60 days?

Say you thought a place was public parking and no one had told you that you could not park there and yet you were parking on private property, what would you think is fair to you?

 

[Trigger Time]

Do you have to pay up front for the tow? Or do you just call the police and they determine it's an illegal parking job and then tow?
id wait a day. Then tow away!

 

[MickeyBlueEyes]

I would have the buggars towed immediately after posting said signage.

 

[eldirector]

Yup. Start tomorrow morning.

 

[Kirk Freeman]

Mickey, I hear ya, but we are attempting to be "tough but fair."

I think some people have been using our lot and never consider that it may be someone else's property since no one has yelled at them.

I don't relish having to do this but one cannot sleep on his rights. If you had been using a property as your own (unintentionally), what is enough notice?

 

[hornadylnl]

Why is the lawyer asking us?

 

[Slawburger]

Hire an unemployed person to collect parking fees from non-tenants and use the profits to fund the office Christmas party.

Why do you hate capitalism?

 

[Kirk Freeman]

Why is the lawyer asking us?

Because the lawyer is polling the jury pool and does not want to lose good will with the community. Reasonableness depends on what others think is reasonable.

Your input would be very helpful to us, horn.

Hire an unemployed person to collect parking fees from non-tenants and use the profits to fund the office Christmas party.

It's an office building full of lawyers and accountants. You have no idea how much snooty-brand scotch can be consumed.

 

[perry]

Why is the lawyer asking us?

He's trying to find out what a decent person would do.. Joke's on him though

The party goers on the weekend.. no mercy. Tow this weekend. Folks during the week.. can you sticker the cars for a week or two, then start the towing?

 

[Slawburger]

A week is sufficient time for someone to notice the sign and find a new place to park.

 

[GodFearinGunTotin]

Are these your friends/family/potential clients? If not, if you decided this was necessary, you might as well begin as soon as you're ready. If you feel obligated to be nice, put warning signs under their windshield wipers and note their license plate numbers so you can keep track of whom you've already warned.

 

[hornadylnl]

Because the lawyer is polling the jury pool and does not want to lose good will with the community. Reasonableness depends on what others think is reasonable.

Your input would be very helpful to us, horn.

My input is I wouldn't put my place of business where parking is such a pain in the ass.

 

[Birds Away]

So, I take it you've ruled out warning shots?

 

[churchmouse]

Mickey, I hear ya, but we are attempting to be "tough but fair."

I think some people have been using our lot and never consider that it may be someone else's property since no one has yelled at them.

I don't relish having to do this but one cannot sleep on his rights. If you had been using a property as your own (unintentionally), what is enough notice?

Once you see the signs it is fair to say there has been notice given. Things change. Public parking goes private over night all the time around here.

 

[BigBoxaJunk]

Are the signs visible from all the parking spots?

If I were you, I'd wait a while and see if your problems persist and to what extent before I started to tow.

 

[churchmouse]

My input is I wouldn't put my place of business where parking is such a pain in the ass.

Jeez man. Where would you put it.
parking is always one of the major deals with a downtown office or business. Lawyers and bondsman are always close to the source of their work.

 

[Denny347]

Do you have to pay up front for the tow? Or do you just call the police and they determine it's an illegal parking job and then tow?
id wait a day. Then tow away!

100% private property, police don't get involved...this is up to the property owner. Most tow companies that do these kinds of tows charge the owner of the car they tow. You have to pay the bill for them to release the car to you.

 

[KittySlayer]

Are these your friends/family/potential clients? If not, if you decided this was necessary, you might as well begin as soon as you're ready. If you feel obligated to be nice, put warning signs under their windshield wipers and note their license plate numbers so you can keep track of whom you've already warned.

Like a good neighbor....

Warnings on their windshield for a week and then start towing, keep track of their plate numbers too. Number the back of the warning and if you find it wadded up on the ground the matching plate gets towed immediately next time for being a jerk.

Let the neighboring businesses know so they can warn their customers. Heck, those businesses may want to pay a fee for use of the lot during your off hours. Part of the deal should be their crew does cleanup too.

Generally work out an arrangement with a tow company and you just call them directly. They tow the car off your property and then hold it hostage for their tow fee. The tow company will also report the license plate to the police and when they idiot driver calls in that his car is stolen they will tell the idiot which lot has his car. Once the tow truck is on the lot they will collect the tow fee from the owner even if they don't hook the car. You should not have to pay anything. If I have multiple cars I usually start with the nicest car first because the person driving the crappy car is likely in a position they cannot afford the tow fee so it becomes punitive rather than an inconvenience.

You will likely find that after a few tows the word will spread pretty quickly. Now is a good time to break the freeloaders of the habit because no cars makes it easier for your snow plow once the snow starts falling.

 

[yote hunter]

Are these your friends/family/potential clients? If not, if you decided this was necessary, you might as well begin as soon as you're ready. If you feel obligated to be nice, put warning signs under their windshield wipers and note their license plate numbers so you can keep track of whom you've already warned.

+1 they've been given fair notice after that....

 

[MCgrease08]

Are you asking how long you should wait to start enforcing the policy after hanging the sign? Or how long someone must be parked there before being towed?

I'd say in the first instance 48 hours would be sufficient. Maybe five business days if you're feeling real generous.

As for how long someone must be parked... haul em away if they are there long enough for you to notice.