AITA for telling tourists to not park near my house?

A homeowner near a historical site asked tourists not to park near their house while visiting nearby ruins. Despite being polite initially, the homeowner became frustrated when the father dismissed the concern and parked on the road next to their property.

While it didn’t significantly inconvenience anyone, the homeowner felt disrespected by the tourist’s attitude. Now, they’re wondering if they overreacted by addressing the parking situation at all. read the original story below…

‘ AITA for telling tourists to not park near my house?’

My parents house is located near Roman historical ruins and is considered a tourists visiting location. its a long aqueduct and part of it runs like 30ft away from my house. this family of tourists with their kids decided they wanted to sightsee these ruins, and many tourists do every year as well, so far so good.

The thing is, they parked their SUV like a feet away from my parents house, on the road. I was gardening at the time and heard them all talking going out of the vehicle, so I went out to them and asked if they came to visit our family, to which the father answered that no, they just want to see the ruins.

I told him that if that’s the case, this isn’t a parking spot, to which he answered its only gonna take half a minute and then they’ll leave (it wasn’t half a minute either if that matters), and that its not bothering anyone if its on the road,

so I told him that a road isn’t a parking place, so he said he understands and turned away to his business to show that he ignores me. I told him that its clear he doesn’t understand but whatever, and returned home.

now I FEEL like a Karen, but it’s also the fact that most tourists park outside our village entirely, or go far enough into the ruins as to not be parked where people live, but he decided that my fence was good to park near.

It honestly doesn’t really bother anyone, because its actually very boring here as it is, but its the fact that he didn’t try to understand my perspective at all that annoyed me. he could have asked if there’s a parking spot around, or if there’s anywhere they can stay around that isn’t a living area,

I would have answered him, and in retrospective even told him he can stay off the road away from my house, but he stuck to his own agenda. EDIT: so my hunch was right and IATAH, but now there’s two other problems: one that I won’t be able to take it back since they’re strangers,

and the second is that even though I felt like an AH, I also felt like in some regard I had a good excuse to act that way and still kinda do. I’ll talk to my coaches about this soon, hopefully I’ll be able to see where my points fall short,

and hope these people don’t take me too seriously because I wouldn’t want to be remembered as “that guy“. Thanks for the clarification everyone.

Take a look at the comments from fellow users:

TeenySod −  I am in the UK, as I am guessing you are from your reference to Roman ruins. In the UK, unless restrictions apply (double yellows, limited parking signs, distance from junction, blocking access to property, reserved for disabled, etc) then anyone can park wherever they like on a public road.

If you don’t like people parking in front of your house and none of these restrictions apply, tough s**t, basically. Many of the people who use this sub are US based, so if they get all outraged on your behalf, then that’s nice, and hope it makes you feel better.

Personally, I’d save myself the stress – if tourists are likely to only genuinely be a few minutes, then they could have gone to the ruins, taken their pictures and left by the time you’d finished arguing with them. You do you though.. YTA.

Editing into here as response to one person missed by others: TIL that the same “rules” apply in most of the US (I thought HOA and zoning laws were more restrictive) – so thanks for being set straight on that.

Also – “outrage” – not implying that this is an American thing, it absolutely is not: it is all too frequently a “Redditor” thing and I often have to self-check myself on “get a grip/sense of proportion” lol – there was a bit of mockery/self-mockery there, does not translate well to text ;p

_s1m0n_s3z −  If it was legal to park there, YTA. You don’t own the road.

VegaSami3 −  You admit in your telling of the story that the parking near your parents’ house “honestly doesn’t really bother anyone.” So what is the issue? Is it that you just don’t like tourists? In all fairness, tourists can cause problems, but if it isn’t causing a problem and isn’t against the law, I think YTA.

This isn’t something to take up with a tourist and his family. It’s something you should address with your local town council or other relevant authorities if there’s actually an issue.

Neon_Owl_333 −  They were a foot away from your house? You mean, on a *public* road? Yes, YTA.

Crabstick65 −  If they are parked in accordance with local byelaws and road markings then you got nothing, you shut up and mind your own I’m afraid, you don’t get to decide where people park.

wattlewedo −  That’s like buying near a pub with live bands and complaining about the noise, except the ruins have been there for 2000 years.

grammarlysucksass −  YTA I also live next to a very busy spot where lots of people park, so I understand the pain, but unfortunately so long as they were parked legally and considerately, you were in the wrong, they have a right to park there.

The only thing residents are really entitled to do is talk to people if they’re actively parking dangerously or in considerately, or idling their engines in a residential area, and ask them not to.  

Economy_Fun_9023 −  Info: Were they parked in the roadway? Or where the pulled over and parked outside your house not blocking the road? It’s not very clear if they have a right to park there, and you just didn’t like where they had parked.

specto24 −  YTA. You’ve already answered that it’s not illegal and you seem to be the only person put out by it. If you think it makes the road impassable, lobby the council to paint some double yellow lines there or put in permit parking, but otherwise you shouldn’t ruin people’s enjoyment of history (and probably their support of the local economy).

mmmmmarty −  YTA. He was right to blow you off. If it’s not a no-parking area then you gotta s**k it up. If it is, call parking enforcement. No, you don’t get to police areas outside your property. Even if you do own part of the right of way, you still have to allow parking there as local ordinance allows.

Your family decided to move near one of the oldest, most popular tourist attractions on the globe. Get over yourself or call parking enforcement.

Did the homeowner overstep by confronting the tourists, or was it reasonable to set boundaries about parking in residential areas? How would you have handled this situation? Share your thoughts below!