Expert: Chris Wagoner - 3/23/2008

Question
The people renting the house across the street have frequent visitors that park in front of their house, which is directly across from my driveway. Our street is considerably narrower than the average residential street and it makes exiting my driveway very difficult. I have politely asked them several times, 3 in person and 1 by note which was wadded up and thrown in my mailbox, to please not park there and have even offered for them to park in front of my house instead. Is there a Texas (Lamar County) law prohibiting them from parking there?

I would really appreciate your advice and thank you for taking the time to answer these questions.

Thanks again,
Brenda

Answer
Hi Brenda,

I think it may fall under this Texas Law (look at (b)(1) ):

545.302.  STOPPING, STANDING, OR PARKING[0] PROHIBITED IN
CERTAIN PLACES.  (a)  An operator may not stop, stand, or park a
vehicle:
     (1)  on the roadway side of a vehicle stopped or parked
at the edge or curb of a street;
     (2)  on a sidewalk;                                                           
     (3)  in an intersection;                                                      
     (4)  on a crosswalk;                                                          
     (5)  between a safety zone and the adjacent curb or
within 30 feet of a place on the curb immediately opposite the ends
of a safety zone, unless the governing body of a municipality
designates a different length by signs or markings;
     (6)  alongside or opposite a street excavation or
obstruction if stopping, standing, or parking[0] the vehicle would
obstruct traffic;
     (7)  on a bridge or other elevated structure on a
highway or in a highway tunnel;
     (8)  on a railroad track;  or                                                 
     (9)  where an official sign prohibits stopping.                               
  (b)  An operator may not, except momentarily to pick up or
discharge a passenger, stand or park an occupied or unoccupied
vehicle:
     (1)  in front of a public or private driveway;                                
     (2)  within 15 feet of a fire hydrant;                                        
     (3)  within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection;                        
     (4)  within 30 feet on the approach to a flashing
signal, stop sign, yield sign, or traffic-control signal located at
the side of a roadway;
     (5)  within 20 feet of the driveway entrance to a fire
station and on the side of a street opposite the entrance to a fire
station within 75 feet of the entrance, if the entrance is properly
marked with a sign;  or
     (6)  where an official sign prohibits standing.                               
  (c)  An operator may not, except temporarily to load or
unload merchandise or passengers, park an occupied or unoccupied
vehicle:
     (1)  within 50 feet of the nearest rail of a railroad
crossing;  or         
     (2)  where an official sign prohibits parking[0].                                
  (d)  A person may stop, stand, or park a bicycle on a sidewalk
if the bicycle does not impede the normal and reasonable movement of
pedestrian or other traffic on the sidewalk.
  (e)  A municipality may adopt an ordinance exempting a
private vehicle operated by an elevator constructor responding to
an elevator emergency from Subsections (a)(1), (a)(5), (a)(6),
(a)(9), (b), and (c).
  (f)  Subsections (a), (b), and (c) do not apply if the
avoidance of conflict with other traffic is necessary or if the
operator is complying with the law or the directions of a police
officer or official traffic-control device.
  (g)  If the governing body of a municipality determines that
it is necessary to improve the economic development of the
municipality's central business district and that it will not
adversely affect public safety, the governing body may adopt an
ordinance regulating the standing, stopping, or parking[0] of a
vehicle at a place described by Subsection (a)(1), other than a road
or highway in the state highway system, in the central business
district of the municipality as defined in the ordinance.  To the
extent of any conflict between the ordinance and Subsection (a)(1),
the ordinance controls.

When they park there the next time call the police and explain they are blocking you in your drivway and ask them to help you. They shoudl talk to the people and explain the laws and as them to move the vehcile somewhere else.

I hope this helps explain it a bit.