Hi Moving Diaries,

So, here’s the deal – I own a store with a driveway attached, but people keep parking in my space despite all the signs saying it’s reserved. Yesterday, a moving truck showed up and blocked the whole area. When I asked them to move, they begged for more time. I gave in, but they took advantage and stayed way longer than agreed.

After multiple warnings to move the truck, they still didn’t budge. When I threatened to call the police, they finally started moving, but disappeared before the cops arrived. Was I wrong for involving the police? Should I have just let them disrupt my business for hours?

Just to give you a heads up, the truck was blocking deliveries and my own parking space. It was a total mess!

• Store Owner Struggling to Keep the Peace

Response from THE MOVING DIARIES:

Hello There,

While it’s unfortunate that you had to deal with such a challenging situation, it is important to prioritize the operational needs of your store and the respect of the regulations in place. The fact that the truck was blocking not only your business entrance but also the ability to receive deliveries is a significant issue that needed to be addressed promptly.

It was understandable that you initially granted them additional time out of empathy, but their continuous disregard for your space and the escalating conflict warranted the involvement of authorities. Calling the police was a necessary step to ensure the removal of the truck and maintain the smooth operation of your business.

In the future, to prevent similar incidents, you may want to consider installing additional signage or barriers to clearly mark off the driveway/loading dock as reserved for your store. Communicating with the apartment complex management to address the issue of unauthorized parking by residents and guests could also be beneficial in ensuring the proper use of the shared space.

Remember that enforcing the rules and regulations set in place is essential for the smooth functioning of your business. Your decision to involve the police was justified given the circumstances, and it’s important to prioritize the operational needs of your store moving forward.

Best regards,

THE MOVING DIARIES