Can I legally park at a school's public parking lot during the summer?
No you are not allowed to. Private property. Consider it like City Hall with no one there on holiday (besides security/cleaning), can you park there? No. it’s private property that is owned/managed/responsibility of the local government.When the school is closed, it’s closed inside, outside, on the lawn, on the driveway, under the tree next the sidewalk, etc. The risk of being towed is small, only if it’s blocking or causing a hazard would someone would get bothered and call the tow company.The issue you are concerned with is getting caught. You maybe able to park here until the ticket writer/tow company has time to make it there to cite the vehicle.As a traffic officer in a very dense city I drove int a public school yard on a Saturday 1:30PM with the gates open and about 15 cars. I estimated my walking beat after I parked my city vehicle would be about 45 minutes. On the return all the gates were locked, no cars in sight. The vehicle had no real privilege to park there but the people locking up the property doesn’t have time to tow or call someone. They just close the gates. If it was a private car, I imagine they call school police and police would handle it if they could. I eventually called school police and got them to roll a unit over about 1.5 hrs later.
Can I park overnight in my high school's parking lot?
I would look around your school parking lot to see if there are any posted signs. I would also call your school office to see if they have a policy on that. If you have a permit, you probably have an agreement somewhere that you signed. That agreement might disclose parking requirements. I would take them seriously unless you have the cash to pay an expensive ticket or to get your car out of impound after it has been towed.
School locked all cars in parking lot for the day--illegal?
1. Obviously. That's the point. It was sarcasm because they're calling it volunteer work. Sorry I wasn't more clear on that, but it really wasn't the point. 2. Already argued that point. Read please. 3. I did say volunteer work, which would hint at non-mandatory, after-hours work. Sorry I didn't assume I'd have to explain everything in great detail for morons. 4. "For us," huh? Well our school is completely surrounded by gates. If they're locked, emergency vehicles can't get in. And I didn't say that's what I was worried about. But if that's what makes it illegal, it's still illegal, regardless of my intentions, true? 5. I didn't dramatize it at all. Read the definition of dramatize. I told you what happened. I used those examples to argue a different point, not at all comparing those to my predicament. Why am I arguing over the internet? Everyone here is a moron... I'm clearly elaborating my points and you still all th
Do mall cops have any authority to stop me in the parking lot (ie. for not stopping for a stop sign, speeding, etc) or can I just drive away?
A lot has been written about the authority (or lack of it) below but I would like to add one thing about the actual “Stop” Signs that you see in Mall Parking lots or other ones for that matter.You can actually totally ignore those signs in almost all Jurisdictions. They are known as “Courtesy Signs” and are erected by the Mall Builders/Corporation. In order for a Traffic Control Device to be erected and “legal” (as in disobey and it is an Ordinance, City or State violation/crime) it has to be specifically authorized. Every stop sign on every road is authorized somewhere in that City or County or State by a specific Statute with a number. That includes speed limits.The mall can put up all the signs it likes. Stop. 15 MPH. Whatever they like. Those are courtesy signs and TOTALLY unenforceable by Police. That entire area…”street and all” at the mall is technically a Private Parking area and Police do not patrol or write citations for driving in Parking Lots. Speeding, running the Courtesy sign etc. You will never see a Cop running radar on the “street” surrounding the Mall and Parking lots that say 15 or 20 MPH on official looking signs. You will also notice that the Mall “Stop signs” are ever so slightly smaller than the actual legal signs. This is because it is illegal in all 50 to erect a Standard Stop Sign anywhere with out the corresponding city approval and Ordinance Number. The Mall Courtesy Stop signs are millimeters to inches smaller but noticeable once you look.I generally drive within their suggested parameters …but late at night driving out of the Movies when the place is deserted I run 7 or 8 of those Courtesy Stops on the way out and so does the Sheriff working Secondary at the Theater in his personal car too….lol.
Is blocking cars in parking lots illegal?
This happened to me in a HUGE - and mostly empty - car park (shh! outside a secret government site). There were only a few cars so I parked near the gatehouse.On my return I discovered there was a car either side - no problem. A fence in front - and a car behind me. Yes with ten thousand free spaces she (sorry) had blocked me in!I looked around for the owner and asked at the gatehouse but they were nowhere to be seen. I waited for a while, then got out and examined my options. Was there maybe just room to get out? I started to reverse, and as I carefully backed out, checking all around, I heard a scream!As I looked around my foot slipped off the clutch, and I felt a gentle bump.The irate lady came running and we inspected the cars. Mine had only a cracked rear light lens, but her drivers side front wing was caved in. When I asked why she blocked me in she didn’t answer.She moved her car, expecting me to exchange details. Sorry pet its private land. I drove off leaving her screaming. Of course she COULD have got my details from the gatehouse - but as I said (shh! outside a secret government site) they would not divulge that information. ;-)
Which way should i signal when pulling out of a parking space?
Yes, put them in the direction u are leaving. Turn signals are used to tell the people around u what direction your car will be headed.
Can a police give you a traffic ticket at a mall's parking lot?
This depends on how the laws in that jurisdiction are worded.The city I live in has an ordinance limiting speed in a private parking lot to 15 MPH. This is unusual, in my experience, but the ordinance is totally enforceable.In the city where I worked as a police officer, we could issue citations or make arrests for drivers license required, insurance required, registration required, DUI, reckless driving, exhibition of speed, and speed contest on private property. The property had to be open to public access, e.g. the lot of a shopping center or some other open venue. We could also issue citations for certain parking violations, such as handicapped zones, fire lanes, and fire hydrants on private property.To determine what specific enforcement powers your local police have on a shopping mall’s parking lot, you’ll have to research the city and state statutes where you live. You could also ask a local police officer, who will probably know.