Listed below are typical questions and answers regarding reserved parking and the rules and regulations governing it.

1. Why must requests for rules enforcement be in writing?
2. Must we always provide the name of the violator?
3. Exactly what is the definition of an "offender" or "violator"?
4. Why should we register our vehicles?
5. What if a guest of mine becomes a violator?
6. Is overlapping into another space considered a violation?
7. Can my visitor use my space?
8. Can a non-resident friend of mine use my space while we're gone?
9. Where should we leave our cars while we're on vacation?
10. What if we don't need or want our own reserved space?
11. What if snowfall obscures the marking for our reserved space?

1.  Why must we request enforcement actions against violators in writing?  Wouldn't a simple phone call be more efficient?

Requiring requests to be in writing serves two purposes.  First, by requiring residents to file a formal complaint, the Board feels that residents will be more inclined to solve the problem themselves by talking to their [offending] neighbors in an effort to resolve what might be a simple error or misunderstanding.  Second, a formal complaint in writing documents the violation, so that the Board can begin or continue the stages of due process against the violator in accordance with the enforcement provisions of the Resolution.

2.  Among the information we are supposed to provide in a complaint is the name and address of the owner of the vehicle that is in violation.  How can we do that if we don't know who that is?

Obviously, that information can not be provided if it is not known. If you do know the owner or, in the case of a visitor, which resident the offender is visiting, it will assist the Board in processing the violation. The Board may elect to have the offender towed if it cannot identify the owner.  (See also FAQ #4.)

3.  The definition of an "offender" says that, for purposes of enforcement, all persons of a household, their visitors, and all their vehicles shall be considered the same offender.  Exactly what does that mean?

 The Board felt that a residence with multiple drivers and/or vehicles, should not have an advantage over a residence with just one person who has a single vehicle. For example, should a resident who owns two vehicles commit a parking offense once with each vehicle, the situation should not constitute two "first offenses," but instead should constitute a first and second offense.

4.  The Resolution says that residents are urged to register their vehicles to aid in enforcement of the parking rules.  Why is that, and is there any incentive to me to do so?

The Board recommends that residents register both their vehicles and those of any frequent or medium-to-long-term visitors.  If the Board receives a complaint from a resident with regard to a vehicle parked in their reserved space, first the resident and then the Board will try to identify the owner of that vehicle.  If the Board can identify the owner, then the offending resident or visitor will be accorded due process as documented in sections 11 through 14 of the Resolution.  Due process requires the Board to follow certain procedures in notifying known offenders.  The end result is that offenders who can be identified will not be towed without proper notification. 

The Cluster has at times been used by outsiders to park their vehicles who then take a short taxi ride to the airport for a trip.  Abandoned vehicles have also been left in the Cluster.  Therefore, an offending vehicle, that cannot be identified quickly as belonging to a resident or a visitor to a particular resident, can be towed without warning.  You can register your vehicles and those of your guests here at the web site, or by e-mailing the information to the Board, or by phoning in the information to 703-758-2580.

5.  If one of my guests accidentally parks in someone else's reserved spot, is the violation assessed to my record?

Yes.  You are responsible for where your guests' or servicemen's vehicles are parked.  You might want to think about using a standard greeting when you meet them at your door, "Hello. Now, where did you park?"

6.  If my car is not fully occupying someone else's reserved space, but merely overlaps into the space, is it in violation of the reserved parking rules?

Yes.  The Board Resolution (in paragraph 8) and the HGCA Bylaws (in Article XI, Section 2) both require residents and their visitors to exercise caution and park their vehicles perpendicular to the curb and squarely between two adjacent space markers, regardless of whether the space is a reserved or unreserved one.

7.  Can I allow a visitor to my family to park in our reserved space?

Absolutely, but you should also make certain they haven't accidentally parked in someone else's reserved space.  See the next FAQ for how to handle a special situation.

8.  We plan to go on vacation with friends.  They are going to drive here and leave their car in our reserved space, and then we will all leave in our car.  Is their car likely to be towed from the Cluster while we're gone?

If their car is going to be left in your reserved space, they would not be towed because any vehicle removal from your assigned space would have to be requested [in writing] by a member of your family.  However, if your travel companions are going to leave their car in any other location - including an unreserved space - it would be wise both to register their vehicle, and notify the Board of the situation so that their vehicle would not accidentally be presumed to be an abandoned vehicle.

9.  We are planning to take one of our cars on vacation and leave the other at home. Can we park the one we leave behind in an unreserved space or should we leave it in our reserved space?

As a courtesy to your neighbors, you should leave it in your reserved space, rather than have it tie up an unreserved space while your reserved space remains empty. If you leave a car in an unreserved space, make certain it is registered with the Board, or at least make certain all your neighbors know it's yours, so that it won't be mistaken for an abandoned vehicle.

10.  We were not in favor of reserved parking and don't feel we need to have a parking space reserved for our exclusive use.

All houses were given one assigned space for purposes of uniformity in establishing reserved parking in the Cluster.  If you have no intention of keeping that space for your exclusive use, just let your neighbors know they are free to use it.  However, you must still observe the reserved parking rules for spaces assigned to everyone else, unless they explicitly reciprocate your generosity.

11.  How can I keep people from parking in my reserved space when snow or leaves covers the curb markings?

You should make it a practice to clear the snow or leaves from the face of the curb so that the marking for your reserved space can be seen.  Likewise, you should get to know where your neighbors' spaces are so that you can avoid parking there even when the reserved space marking is not visible.

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Last modified: July 05, 2008