Q&A: Double Parking
Double Parking
Question
Hello Rabbi,
On my street there isn't enough parking. I get home about an hour and a half before my wife, and when I get back there are usually a few open spaces. When my wife gets back, there usually isn't any parking left. Sometimes there is room for two parking spaces between two cars; everyone parks parallel to the curb in one long line. Is it permissible for me to park in the middle of the two spaces and thereby take up both of them, and when my wife arrives, move the car for her?
Answer
In my opinion, that isn't appropriate. I think it's probably also illegal, but that should be asked of legal experts. If you park your car when you have some other option, say if you have a private parking spot at home, fine—you parked, and that is your right. People always park out of some interest, and it's still permissible to park. But taking up a parking space when you yourself aren't actually parking there is really not appropriate.