[eremite06]

Last night, New Years eve, the wife and I drove through Lake Sumter square lookin for a place to park. I see a car to my right with the passenger just entering and their lights turn on. It's in a parallel parking spot. I stop and put my right turn signal on and wait. I see that Community Watch in his little pickup is right behind me. Of course the driver leaving is taking forever to pull out. I'm getting impatient but the wife says "stay stay, they'll leave! At that point, Community Watch guy walks up to my window and says, "what are you waiting for, you're going to cause an accident." His tone was somewhat condescending and confrontational. I said "didn't you see my turn signal and this car here is ready to pull out. I'm trying to park. Why don't you go around me." My wife is jawing something to the guy, I'm not hearing anything she's saying. Just then, my brother-in-law is coming from ahead, the opposite direction and jokingly yells out his window, "hey, move along, you're blocking traffic." Watch guy says, "see, you're going to cause an accident!" I tell him, that's my brother-in-law!!! I didn't tell him he's a Florida State Trooper.

I saw an incident that happened awhile back at the square during an event. Can't remember which one. I'm standing in line to buy some food. A guy walking with his bicycle goes by me, and, a Community Watch/Event Staff guy. The Staff guy must have grabbed this bike guy's arm to tell him he can't have a bicycle in the square. Well, the bike guy swirls around and smacks the Staff guy and they trade a few jabs. I couldn't believe it! The bike guy just walks away as Staff guy gets on his radio and follows him. Don't know what happened after that.

My question to my esteemed fellow TOTVers, how much power should these Watch guys have? Shouldn't they just be "watching?"

I could get into Florida's Castle Doctrine in reference to when Watch guy came up to my car window, but I won't go there.

[RichieB]

Originally Posted by eremite06

I tell him, that's my brother-in-law!!! I didn't tell him he's a Florida State Trooper.

Maybe you should have...........

[CarGuys]

STOP I have a MALE MEMBER, flashlight and a Badge. " Movie Night AT the Museum comes to mind!

He maybe be packing Heat! Or just BORED from driving around in circles all night! Procede with care.

Poor guy just doing his job. You could have threw the hood up on your car and played it stalled- Can you get Help get it started.

Sorry NY Sky got Gray again depression moving in

Honestly this has happened to us. Worst for me was on a plane having to go pee BAD and the Stu said sit down were landing. I said good I'll just be stadning here peeing! Next thing I know Mr. Sky Marshall is giving me parachute lessons!

You have to vent thinking out both sides of the issue. Understand your wanting to vent! AND fustrations

Happy New Year ! At least your in TV not Dodging Snow Plows with HUGE WINGS!

[RichieB]

CarGuys, you're too much !!

[asianthree]

Its even better when i am running at 3am and they stop and ask me what am i doing in this neighborhood? REALLY? Then ask me if i am lost and am i visiting my parents, because if we live here we must not be in good enough shape to be up at 3am much less running.

[Bogie Shooter]

I guess they are damed if they do and damed if they don't.

[skyguy79]

Originally Posted by CarGuys

Sorry NY Sky got Gray again depression moving in

Excuuuse me! But I'm not getting depressed and I'm no where near my former home in NY thank you very much!

[paulandjean]

I know a community watch guy at LSL. He says they are not allowed to interfere even if a fight takes place. Use the radio and observe.

[Gator Fan]

I'm glad they talk with people that are obstructing traffic and stop people during early morning hours in our neighborhoods. I'm not positive, but I think that's what we pay them for.

[ilovetv]

I don't know about the Watch guys, but I have see two golf cart drivers at Spanish Springs who do not know how a car driver parks in a parallel parking space--by backing into it!

I was trying to parallel park on the street in front of Cal's. I pulled up beside the car ahead of the empty space, put on my right turn signal, put the car in reverse, and immediately a golf cart pulled up right onto my tail. I could not back up into the space because he was about 3 feet behind my bumper. I motioned that I was trying to back into the space, but they stayed on my tail and would not go around or give me space to back up.

So, I pulled forward thinking I'd give up the space. A few spaces ahead, there was another open space. I pulled up beside the car ahead of it, turn on my right signal, put the car in reverse, and ANOTHER golf cart driver pulled up onto my tail so I could not back up. They didn't get it either!!

So I left that street and parked elsewhere. We checked the backup tail lights on our car, and they work. The sun was not a factor. This was aggravating.

[Oren L Miller]

Badges and Bullies both start with a B. Coincidence - I think not. I think they need to be the watch group.

[skyguy79]

Originally Posted by ilovetv

I don't know about the Watch guys, but I have see two golf cart drivers at Spanish Springs who do not know how a car driver parks in a parallel parking space--by backing into it!

I was trying to parallel park on the street in front of Cal's. I pulled up beside the car ahead of the empty space, put on my right turn signal, put the car in reverse, and immediately a golf cart pulled up right onto my tail. I could not back up into the space because he was about 3 feet behind my bumper. I motioned that I was trying to back into the space, but they stayed on my tail and would not go around or give me space to back up.

So, I pulled forward thinking I'd give up the space. A few spaces ahead, there was another open space. I pulled up beside the car ahead of it, turn on my right signal, put the car in reverse, and ANOTHER golf cart driver pulled up onto my tail so I could not back up. They didn't get it either!!

So I left that street and parked elsewhere. We checked the backup tail lights on our car, and they work. The sun was not a factor. This was aggravating.

That is enough to tick ya off! If you have someone riding with you in a similar situation where there's a heavy demand on the parking spaces, you might try pulling up parallel to the parking space then have the other person get out and position themselves to prevent some airhead from trying to steal your spot while you finish the parking. There were a number of times when I was younger that I wished I had a key to open the tire valves on inconsiderate people like that!

[Challenger]

Originally Posted by greg441

I'm glad they talk with people that are obstructing traffic and stop people during early morning hours in our neighborhoods. I'm not positive, but I think that's what we pay them for.

and I am in favor of keeping the gates and gate keepers-so there, I've said it and I'm glad

[BigLew]

Originally Posted by Challenger

and I am in favor of keeping the gates and gate keepers-so there, I've said it and I'm glad

ggggasp!

[SgtJohn]

Originally Posted by ilovetv

I don't know about the Watch guys, but I have see two golf cart drivers at Spanish Springs who do not know how a car driver parks in a parallel parking space--by backing into it!

I was trying to parallel park on the street in front of Cal's. I pulled up beside the car ahead of the empty space, put on my right turn signal, put the car in reverse, and immediately a golf cart pulled up right onto my tail. I could not back up into the space because he was about 3 feet behind my bumper. I motioned that I was trying to back into the space, but they stayed on my tail and would not go around or give me space to back up.

So, I pulled forward thinking I'd give up the space. A few spaces ahead, there was another open space. I pulled up beside the car ahead of it, turn on my right signal, put the car in reverse, and ANOTHER golf cart driver pulled up onto my tail so I could not back up. They didn't get it either!!

So I left that street and parked elsewhere. We checked the backup tail lights on our car, and they work. The sun was not a factor. This was aggravating.

Yo should have backed up. Slowly of course. Maybe they would get the message and go around. Then again, it is Sunday. I know, it means nothing but that is how some people think. Good Luck next time.