I was sitting & waiting on a public street for Norfolk Southern trains between houses about 50 yards south of a NS line.I got cursed out & threatened about being where I was & if I didn t move the cops would be called.I was called a motherf---- & a coc----- because a older obesse lady did not want to park her GM pickup truck between me & the corner(where there was of room to park).I have already made aware by contacting the NHRS about this & am waiting a responce.I was on a public street minding my own business.Would like to know what recourse I have & where I stand legally.
Ask Google like everyone else in the 21st Century.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
BaltACD "...Ask Google like everyone else in the 21st Century..."
"...Ask Google like everyone else in the 21st Century..."
Good advice ! Or get hold of the Local Law Enforcement Dept. Ask them..
Baring any relief from local LEO's... Hire an attorney, see if you have a" case" ?
"Walter" <WEZRail@aol.com>
There are people that believe the on-street parking area in front of their house (and extending well beyound their property line) is their exclusive parking area. SOME cities/towns do have ordinances that might give some legal standing to that belief; they might state that on-street parking is reserved for residents of the neighborhood and they might give certain hours where that is true (like evenings and overnight, but not during certain daylight hours, etc.).
You just ran into a bully that thinks they can badger you into relinquishing your "rights" to park in "public" areas, regardless of who has the upper-hand legally.
For your own safety, and the peace of that neighborhood (the neighbors of that person might be very happy if you were NOT to rile that person up!), you probably should have smiled, said, "Thank you, I don't want to keep you from parking here... I will kindly move along. Have a nice day." and then left and found some other parking space to enjoy watching trains.
In your described situation, I think there would be the temptation to have simply pulled forward to occupy the space in front where you indicated there was "room to park", leaving the present space available for them to squeeze in their GM pickup truck (I think I would certainly crowd the corner to leave ample room for them behind me!)
IF they had actually called the police, I bet the police officer would have "asked" you to leave, but would also have attempted to explain (possibly without success) to the complainer that they don't own the public parking space in the street (assumming there is no ordinance to the contrary). You "could" refuse the "request", but it is possible that they might have seen your beligerance as an arrestable offense and then you would get to explain to a judge why you were standing on your rights, and depending on that judge's patience and that days events for him/her, they could have dismissed the charge or fined you for it.
You could then sue about it and spend a small fortune pursuing this through higher courts.
I think in the interest of good public relations between the railfan community and the rest of society, you would be better off going around the block until the foul mouthed bully had parked where they wanted and then come back to park where you could and enjoyed the rest of your time watching trains. (This has worked for me in a similar situation!)
Semper Vaporo
Pkgs.
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