Daycare.com Forum
Daycare Center and Family Home Forum>DCP Keeps Driving On My Lawn - Help!
MaryF 09:05 AM 10-08-2014
Hi - I'm a long-time "lurker", and have learned so much from this forum already. I have an issue now that I'd appreciate any input. I have a very small in-home daycare, with only three families. In the five years or so I've had my daycare we never had an issue with the families parking in our two car wide driveway to drop off and pick up - until recently. A couple months ago my husband bought a truck that doesn't fit in our garage (too long). It's often parked on one side of the driveway, leaving just enough room for another car to pull in. The way our house sits I can't see the driveway when parents pull in. Now at least a couple times a week someone has been driving on the grass to the side of the driveway. The sod is torn up for about 2 feet by 6 feet. I tried to stop it by laying the sod back down and putting decorative signs on the patch that's all torn up, but today it's been driven over again and my sign is bent. I've figured out who is the biggest offender just from checking the yard before and after different parents drop off/pick up. But I don't know if she's the only one doing it. Can you please help me with wording a note to the families? The next step is putting a large rock out there, but I don't want to be sued if there's damage to someone's car.
Blackcat31 09:10 AM 10-08-2014
I'd send out a generic memo to all daycare families...
Dear Daycare Families
Please park in the designated parking spots ONLY. As of late, someone has been parking off of the driveway and damaging my grass and it has become a costly issue.
As of today, anyone caught parking anywhere but the designated parking spaces will be invoiced for any damages.
While I do run a business here, it is still my home and consideration to this matter would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
Provider.
Dear Daycare Families
Please park in the designated parking spots ONLY. As of late, someone has been parking off of the driveway and damaging my grass and it has become a costly issue.
As of today, anyone caught parking anywhere but the designated parking spaces will be invoiced for any damages.
While I do run a business here, it is still my home and consideration to this matter would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
Provider.
MaryF 09:17 AM 10-08-2014
Thank you so much - that's perfect!
coolconfidentme 09:19 AM 10-08-2014
Originally Posted by Blackcat31:
I'd send out a generic memo to all daycare families...
Dear Daycare Families
Please park in the designated parking spots ONLY. As of late, someone has been parking off of the driveway and damaging my grass and it has become a costly issue.
As of today, anyone caught parking anywhere but the designated parking spaces will be invoiced for any damages.
While I do run a business here, it is still my home and consideration to this matter would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
Provider.
If this doesn't work throw roofing nails in your lawn, lol. I'd send out a generic memo to all daycare families...
Dear Daycare Families
Please park in the designated parking spots ONLY. As of late, someone has been parking off of the driveway and damaging my grass and it has become a costly issue.
As of today, anyone caught parking anywhere but the designated parking spaces will be invoiced for any damages.
While I do run a business here, it is still my home and consideration to this matter would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
Provider.
(joking of course)
Shell 10:28 AM 10-08-2014
I wouldn't let them park in the driveway anymore. Mine park in the street because of too many issues. Not sure if that is an option for you, but I would be so fed up!
Leigh 10:32 AM 10-08-2014
Originally Posted by coolconfidentme:
If this doesn't work throw roofing nails in your lawn, lol. (joking of course)
Exactly what I was thinking, but I thought I'd sound mean saying it!If this doesn't work throw roofing nails in your lawn, lol.
(joking of course)
MarinaVanessa 10:38 AM 10-08-2014
Originally Posted by Leigh:
Exactly what I was thinking, but I thought I'd sound mean saying it!
I thought about this also Exactly what I was thinking, but I thought I'd sound mean saying it!
coolconfidentme 10:41 AM 10-08-2014
Originally Posted by Leigh:
Exactly what I was thinking, but I thought I'd sound mean saying it!
If it were my parents I would probably say, "All ya'll need to stop parking on the lawn before I have to throw roofing nails out there to catch who is doing it." I would smile of course & get away with it. Sometimes they don't know if I'm serious or not & afraid to find out I think. Sometimes I don't know either. Exactly what I was thinking, but I thought I'd sound mean saying it!
Second Home 10:47 AM 10-08-2014
I have this same problem . 
I put up those reflectors on a tall stick and they ran those over as well . I tell everyone and it stops for a while only to start up again .
I put up those reflectors on a tall stick and they ran those over as well . I tell everyone and it stops for a while only to start up again .
Heidi 11:09 AM 10-08-2014
Our driveway is an odd shape. Two cars wide at the bottom, 3 cars wide at the top, so there is a curve about half way up where it gets wider.
Last year, several of my dcp's pulled straight out of the spot by the curve, and ran over the yard. 2 of them got stuck in the snow bank (ok, everything is white, so it is hard to see, I'll give them that). So did my QIP consultant.
I planted a garden there over the summer with a nice little crabapple tree. So far, no one has backed into that. By next year, hopefully it will be sturdy enough to be a real problem if one runs into it.
For the winter, I plan on hanging ribbons all over it or something. Without foliage, it may be harder to see. I will also be writing a memo like similar to the one above!
Last year, several of my dcp's pulled straight out of the spot by the curve, and ran over the yard. 2 of them got stuck in the snow bank (ok, everything is white, so it is hard to see, I'll give them that). So did my QIP consultant.
I planted a garden there over the summer with a nice little crabapple tree. So far, no one has backed into that. By next year, hopefully it will be sturdy enough to be a real problem if one runs into it.
For the winter, I plan on hanging ribbons all over it or something. Without foliage, it may be harder to see. I will also be writing a memo like similar to the one above!
EntropyControlSpecialist 11:23 AM 10-08-2014
Originally Posted by coolconfidentme:
If it were my parents I would probably say, "All ya'll need to stop parking on the lawn before I have to throw roofing nails out there to catch who is doing it." I would smile of course & get away with it. Sometimes they don't know if I'm serious or not & afraid to find out I think. Sometimes I don't know either.
I would say this and to be honest, I would DO this. Hello...it is my lawn...don't drive on it.If it were my parents I would probably say, "All ya'll need to stop parking on the lawn before I have to throw roofing nails out there to catch who is doing it." I would smile of course & get away with it. Sometimes they don't know if I'm serious or not & afraid to find out I think. Sometimes I don't know either.
coolconfidentme 11:52 AM 10-08-2014
Originally Posted by EntropyControlSpecialist:
I would say this and to be honest, I would DO this. Hello...it is my lawn...don't drive on it.
(giggle)I would say this and to be honest, I would DO this. Hello...it is my lawn...don't drive on it.
sharlan 01:31 PM 10-08-2014
I would have my dh park at an angle across the entire driveway and tell all parents to park in the street.
LysesKids 03:39 PM 10-08-2014
Originally Posted by sharlan:
I would have my dh park at an angle across the entire driveway and tell all parents to park in the street.
THIS!I would have my dh park at an angle across the entire driveway and tell all parents to park in the street.
Mister Sir Husband 07:39 PM 10-08-2014
I like the rock idea. I don't personally think that you can be sued if someone drives across your lawn and hits a big rock.
AmyKidsCo 07:54 PM 10-08-2014
Originally Posted by Shell:
I wouldn't let them park in the driveway anymore.
Would it make a difference if the truck was on the other side of the driveway?I wouldn't let them park in the driveway anymore.
EntropyControlSpecialist 05:56 AM 10-09-2014
Originally Posted by sharlan:
I would have my dh park at an angle across the entire driveway and tell all parents to park in the street.
There ya go! If you want to be nicer then do this. I would have my dh park at an angle across the entire driveway and tell all parents to park in the street.
Blackcat31 08:06 AM 10-09-2014
Originally Posted by Mister Sir Husband:
I like the rock idea. I don't personally think that you can be sued if someone drives across your lawn and hits a big rock.
Unfortunately you can still be sued. I like the rock idea. I don't personally think that you can be sued if someone drives across your lawn and hits a big rock.
As a property owner, you have a responsibility under the law to keep your property clear of items that might cause harm to other, or to notify others of their existence.
So even in a situation where you took no action to cause harm to another, you may be found liable to some degree because you didn't take any action to prevent harm to another.
Complicated huh? But unfortunately as a business owner, we are essentially "inviting" clients to our homes/property and WE bear the burden of keeping that property safe and free from danger for these "invited guests".
So if OP put rocks on her driveway and a parent got hurt on them or hurt their vehicle on them, they could sue and quite possibly win. There are different degrees of negligence but even a 1% margin of responsibility still nets responsibility.
MaryF 08:29 AM 10-09-2014
Originally Posted by coolconfidentme:
If this doesn't work throw roofing nails in your lawn, lol. (joking of course)
I wish! If this doesn't work throw roofing nails in your lawn, lol.
(joking of course) It gets so frustrating!
MaryF 08:34 AM 10-09-2014
Originally Posted by sharlan:
I would have my dh park at an angle across the entire driveway and tell all parents to park in the street.
I would have my dh park at an angle across the entire driveway and tell all parents to park in the street.
Originally Posted by AmyKidsCo:
Would it make a difference if the truck was on the other side of the driveway?
These are great ideas too. It didn't even occur to me that maybe it would make a difference. I think I'm going to just tell everyone to park on the street for now to let the grass grow back, and possibly re-open the driveway later. Thanks everyone!Would it make a difference if the truck was on the other side of the driveway?