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AITA for getting a strangers car towed? My fiancé and I live in a condo with a homeowner’s association, and things have been smooth until recently. We have two assigned parking spaces, and visitor parking is marked. However, in the past few weeks, I’ve come home or my fiancé has been home, and the same car has been parked in one of our spots repeatedly. My fiancé has kindly asked the owner to move, and while they’ve done so with an apology each time, the issue keeps happening.
After several incidents, I started leaving notes on the car, warning that it would be towed if it parked in our spots again. I mentioned the HOA rules and noted that I had permission from the president to tow the vehicle if needed. Today, after arriving home with groceries and finding my spot taken again, I’d reached my limit. Frustrated, I had the car towed and parked in my spot afterward.
As I was bringing in my groceries, a woman approached me, asking where her car was. I told her directly that I had it towed because she ignored multiple warnings. She got angry, saying I had no right to tow it and that she couldn’t afford to retrieve it from the tow lot. Now, I’m feeling a bit guilty but also think it was necessary. So, Reddit, am I the jerk for towing a stranger’s car, knowing they might struggle to get it back?
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AITA for getting a strangers car towed?
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A couple living in a condo under a homeowner’s association recently encountered an issue that disrupted their previously peaceful experience. They have two designated parking spaces, with visitor parking marked. However, for the past few weeks, one car has repeatedly parked in one of their spots. Despite the fiancé’s polite requests for the car owner to move, which were always met with apologies and compliance, the problem persisted.
The couple decided to take action after multiple occurrences. They began leaving notes on the car, warning that it would be towed if it continued to park in their spots. They even cited the HOA rules and confirmed they had permission from the HOA president to tow the vehicle if necessary. The situation escalated when the woman arrived home one day with a load of groceries, only to find the car in her spot again. Frustrated, she had the car towed and parked in her spot once it was clear.
As she was unloading her groceries, the car owner approached her, asking about her vehicle’s whereabouts. The woman explained that she had it towed due to repeated warnings being ignored. The car owner became upset, arguing that the towing was unjustified and mentioning that she couldn’t afford to retrieve her car from the tow lot. Now, the woman is left feeling guilty but also believes her actions were justified. The question arises: Was she wrong to have the car towed, knowing the financial impact it could have on the owner?
Let’s catch up on the top Comments on the Reddit Posts: AITA for getting a strangers car towed?
Geistbar Writes:
How many warnings did you give? It’s hard to tell from the story but it sounds like it was quite a few and if so I think that’s the only thing you did wrong. After sufficient numbers of threats with no follow up, people assume they’re hollow and won’t be acted upon.
Personally I’d stop after one warning, but you should at the minimum keep yourself to a maximum of three. After that there is 0% chance that is an accident.
In all honesty I don’t think you should’ve admitted to having it towed op. Because now she actually is going to have the nerve to get in your face and remain confrontational. I would’ve told her “I was just so happy to finally find the space free that I’ve been paying for that I can finally unload my groceries that I just thought you were finally going to decide to be considerate.”
It’s not like you towed it without warning. You gave her multiple chances, she just didn’t take it seriously. My friend’s mom is an apartment manager and she has had to tow so many cars. She doesn’t even bother warning people anymore because she has no patience for it. Every apartment has two designated parking spaces and there’s also street parking, so there’s no need to park in someone else’s space, double park, or park in the fire lane, all of which she’s had to tow people for. There are two clearly marked signs and the fire lane is painted red.
shibainumom0625 Writes:
That was exactly my reason for finally doing it. I can give grace in several situations. I tend to be an extremely patient person in most situations and try to be non-confrontational. However, when it becomes habitual, they believe I won’t actually do anything so I finally did. I’m happy that I finally did it but I know how annoying unexpected expenses can be as well. I suppose that I finally acted the way I did so it would hopefully be taken care of. If it happens again, I can truly blame it on insanity.
NoHandBananaNo Writes:
Yep, if she can’t afford to get her car towed, she can’t afford to park in OPs spot, its that simple.
