Can you stand in a parking spot to save it in Michigan?

None of the state or local jurisdictions surveyed has a law or ordinance prohibiting a person from attempting to save or reserve a parking space by standing it.



In Michigan, there is no specific state law that explicitly forbids a person from standing in a parking spot to "save" it, but the practice is generally considered illegal under broader "pedestrian in the roadway" and "disorderly conduct" ordinances. Most local municipalities (like Detroit, Grand Rapids, or Ann Arbor) have traffic codes that prohibit pedestrians from blocking or obstructing the flow of vehicular traffic. If a person stands in a spot and prevents a car from entering, they can be cited for interfering with a motor vehicle or creating a public nuisance. Furthermore, Michigan's "Basic Speed Law" and right-of-way rules favor the vehicle when it is operating in a designated driving or parking lane. While it might not always lead to a ticket unless a police officer is present, saving a spot by standing in it often leads to "road rage" incidents, which can result in criminal charges for assault or harassment. Practically speaking, if someone is already in the spot, it is safer to move on, but legally, the person standing there has no "right" to occupy a space designated for a motor vehicle.

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Generally it's not illegal to reverse into a parking space. Drivers that have had driver education should be able to do this safely and effectively, in one shot.

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Possession is 9/10 of the law, so if someone is standing in it, there is no law saying they have to give it up, and they probably won't because they basically 'possess it. However, placing an object, like a parking cone, in a space to save it is illegal in certain states, including New York.

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You may think that whether you back in or pull in, at some point you're going to be reversing your car, hindering your ability to drive safely. However, backing into your parking space provides you more visibility of pedestrians and traffic flow than you'd have if you were backing out of the space.

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AAA advises drivers to back into parking spots or pull-through, and not fully rely on rear-view or traffic alert technology in vehicles which have their limitations. AAA warns that reversing out a space is a risky behavior as you are putting pedestrians at risk.

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Parking in the following areas is prohibited: On pedestrian crosswalks or sidewalks. In front of driveways. In a fire lane or close to a fire hydrant. In an underpass or bridge.

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Technically, most states prohibit people standing in the parking spot because this behavior is a concern to block traffic. Altogether, it is not a crime to be a parking space protector, but they can be sued and paid for a fine by blocking traffic as it is considered AS TRaffic VIolation to stop a moving vehicle.

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However, placing an object, like a parking cone, in a space to save it is illegal in certain states, including New York. In New York City, blocking a parking space to save it is finable up to $2,000.

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Parking on the left, or facing traffic is illegal. I will explain why it is illegal using two sections of the Michigan Vehicle Code.

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Even parking too close to a driveway is enough to get a ticket (but not a tow). In most places, you can't be within a few feet of one. And that includes parking too close to your own driveway, too! Contact your local government to learn about the specific rules in your area.

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