NY, NJ residents defend parking spots in blizzard’s aftermath — with some even threatening to slash tires
Snow parking disputes are flaring up across neighborhoods as frustrated drivers fight to protect the spaces they dug out after massive winter storms.
From homemade warning signs threatening slashed tires to drivers cautioning that anyone who takes “their” spot might not find their car later, some residents are going to extreme lengths to claim patches of public roadway. With towering piles of snow squeezing already tight streets, tensions are running high in many communities.
Rob Pepp, a Staten Island influencer, shared his own parking frustrations on social media Tuesday. After carving out a prime space on the South Shore — which was buried under nearly 30 inches of snow — Pepp predicted a “parking spot vulture” would swoop in the moment he left for work.
“I do have to say this is gonna be a phenomenal spot for one of the pieces of motherf–king sh-t that come along and take it,” he said in a video showing his freshly cleared spot.
In a tongue-in-cheek caption, he added, “Whoever takes this spot I’m paying to have them buried back in it.”
His post struck a chord with many who say they’ve been caught in similar turf battles. One commenter suggested placing lawn furniture in the space to scare off would-be parkers, while another joked about blocking it off with cinder blocks.
The “finders keepers” mentality has led some Staten Island residents to deploy traffic cones or shuffle cars strategically to hold onto their hard-earned spots. But in at least one New Jersey neighborhood, the situation escalated enough to draw police involvement.
In Elizabeth, a resident posted a warning sign that read, “Try another one. This one will cost you two flat tires.” The message was taped to a broken broomstick stuck into a crate.
Police said the sign came down after a complaint from someone searching for parking for their disabled mother. Officers removed the threat and replaced it with a reminder of their own:
“Shoveling earns cardio, not property rights!” they wrote, adding, “Public streets are not private property.”
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