Neighbor blocks MY driveway with HIS trash bins (Los Angeles: HOA, houses)

[vloom00]

Hi, I live in Los Angeles. Every Monday, I take my trash bins out to the street to be emptied by the sanitation trucks. I line them up in front of one of my garages. My neighbor will then come out later and move my garbage bins over in front of my driveway, thus blocking part of my driveway, so that he can make room to put some of his bins in front of that garage (MY garage).

I've asked him numerous times to not do that. He has his own garages he can put them in front of, but he doesn't want to ruin his garages (built a studio on top). Therefore, he chooses the area in front of my garage to put his bins.

Like I said, I've asked him numerous times to please stop moving my bins over to block my driveway, but it's in one ear then out the other. I've even had to get the local police involved. They paid him a visit and told him to stop doing that. That lasted about a month or so. Then he was back at it again, moving my bins over and blocking my driveway. I can't call the police every time he does this; they're not my official mediator.

I've put up signs ("Active Driveway. Do Not Block."). That doesn't work either. What else can I do?

[CouponGal]

You should send him a certified letter (return receipt requested) detailing your problem, and the multiple attempts at resolution. Cite any city code ordinance that you can, and discuss how it impacts you. You can say that it takes time out of your day, makes you late for work, hinders your back problem, or whatever way you can paint how this affects you.

Also, make sure to cite the damage to your garbage cans. Mention that you will take legal action, and follow through and file in small claims court if he does not abide. Video tape him moving the cans. It's sad that you may have to settle this in court, but he is the one who does not exercise common courtesy, so any legal proceedings are his fault alone.

You also may want to talk to your HOA (if you have one) or ask the city code enforcement if they can enforce this, and let them handle it.

Best wishes to you.

[matzoman]

Just pick up the cans an chuck em, problem solved.

[captain_hug99]

Keep the cans, throw the garbage onto his driveway.

[Mashi]

Option 1: Wheel his trash cans to the next block over and let him figure it out.

Option 2: Fill his trash cans with cement and water.

Option 3: Wipe your turd on his trash can handles.

[DontH8Me]

Screw the letter - try one of the options listed subsequently. I think me personally, I'd just shove his bins back in front of his driveway, and if the trash should happen to spill, well, too bad. If he complains, I'd tell him to hop into one of them.

But making his bins disappear would definitely get the message across. Just make sure to mark your own bins beforehand so he doesn't take yours.

[Gurbie]

Originally Posted by Mashi

Option 1: Wheel his trash cans to the next block over and let him figure it out.

Option 2: Fill his trash cans with cement and water.

Option 3: Wipe your turd on his trash can handles.

I like how your mind works

[SportyandMisty]

Does he have a gun?

[buzzkillb]

Wheel them into the middle of the street blocking the trucks path a few houses down.

[VLWH]

Originally Posted by vloom00

Hi, I live in Los Angeles. Every Monday, I take my trash bins out to the street to be emptied by the sanitation trucks. I line them up in front of one of my garages. My neighbor will then come out later and move my garbage bins over in front of my driveway, thus blocking part of my driveway, so that he can make room to put some of his bins in front of that garage (MY garage).

I've asked him numerous times to not do that. He has his own garages he can put them in front of, but he doesn't want to ruin his garages (built a studio on top). Therefore, he chooses the area in front of my garage to put his bins.

Like I said, I've asked him numerous times to please stop moving my bins over to block my driveway, but it's in one ear then out the other. I've even had to get the local police involved. They paid him a visit and told him to stop doing that. That lasted about a month or so. Then he was back at it again, moving my bins over and blocking my driveway. I can't call the police every time he does this; they're not my official mediator.

I've put up signs ("Active Driveway. Do Not Block."). That doesn't work either. What else can I do?

Hmmmm..... Was this an addition he built (studio) over his garage? Wonder if it is up to code.