"Experimenting" in a parking lot. Is it illegal?

Post by **graphikg04** » Sat Jan 10, 2004 8:21 am

I live in Pasadena near the Rose Bowl, and there are two good size parking lots there. It is very tempting to experiment there, but I am too chicken cause I dont want contact from any cops. I just wanted to know if I can get in trouble for doing it. My cousin said that cops cant do anything to me, but I want to know for sure. Thanks

graphikG

Post by **Zydeco** » Sat Jan 10, 2004 8:21 am

I'll bet that they can give you a ticket.

Post by **C-Kwik** » Sat Jan 10, 2004 8:21 am

Here's a California Vehicle code on this:

23103. (a) Any person who drives any vehicle upon a highway inwillful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property isguilty of reckless driving. (b) Any person who drives any vehicle in any offstreet parkingfacility, as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 12500, in willfulor wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property is guiltyof reckless driving. (c) Persons convicted of the offense of reckless driving shall bepunished by imprisonment in a county jail for not less than five daysnor more than 90 days or by a fine of not less than one hundredforty-five dollars ($145) nor more than one thousand dollars($1,000), or by both that fine and imprisonment, except as providedin Section 23104.

Website · Post by **quiksilvia** » Sat Jan 10, 2004 8:21 am

if its a private parking lot then the police have no jurisdiction unless someeone calls on you and then u can get in trouble for trespassing etc

Website · Post by **quiksilvia** » Sat Jan 10, 2004 8:21 am

maybe im wrong, but that private parking lot thing might be valid

Post by **Japican** » Sat Jan 10, 2004 8:21 am

My friends and I were foolin around in an open parkin lot in a private area, when a couple of unmarked cops came by. They told us it was nice that were doin in a safe open area but jus told us we were too loud and that we would have to find a new spot to fool around in.

Post by **zion** » Sat Jan 10, 2004 8:21 am

They can still give you a ticket for reckless driving. I know this because it happend to me. of course this was in GA not CA. But it might still be the same. I would stay away from it unless it is really sucluded.

Post by **Slider** » Sat Jan 10, 2004 8:21 am

Yeah I think you can get a ticket for it, I did it in a factory parking lot, and two cop cars came up and flash their lights, they told me not to screw around because I wouldn't want my license takenaway. While he was talking to me I heard the dispatcher on the radio or something "...reckless driver by the Something Co...". The cop didn't really care, he joked around with us. But I think it might have something to do with the owner of the property giving the cops permission to go on his property. I think if the owner of the private lot gives you permission then you can do it, and if the cops come they can't do anything since you have permission.

Post by **WingsNThangs** » Sat Jan 10, 2004 8:21 am

Slider wrote:I think if the owner of the private lot gives you permission then you can do it, and if the cops come they can't do anything since you have permission.

I doubt it. Especially in California where the cops are strict. Just because the lot is private doesnt mean it is excluded from the law. For example, you cant set off firecrackers in your own driveway in many cities, and cops will have the right to ticket you.

If you screw around in California, dont expect the cops to have any mercy, because chances are, they wont care if the license of a person screwing around gets suspended.

Post by **book-ends** » Sat Jan 10, 2004 8:21 am

Agreed. The 5.0 will roll on a brotha know matter what the circumstances and believe themselves justified. However, I did have an interesting encounter in the bank parking lot a while ago where I did a little "@s$-out" action while pulling through to the ATM......

The cop flashes his lights and walks up to the ATM while I'm getting my cash and says "Excuse me."

My response: "Hey, wait your turn man."

It went downhill from there.

Website · Post by **TurboKA37** » Sat Jan 10, 2004 8:21 am

haha. well im not really sure what the rule is but i had a little fun in my high school's parking lot last night. it was quite fun.

Post by **Holisticbeatz** » Sat Jan 10, 2004 8:21 am

Hey Grinil,

Even though cops don't have any jurisdiction in private property, they can still give you a fix-it ticket for whatever "mods" you may have. BS tickets like, no front plate, modified exhaust and crap like that. It's a hassle to deal with and life is complicated enough already. I think your best bet would be to sign up for a Drift Day event and "experiment" there. It's a much more safer controlled environment.

It was cool when I went to Drift Day 10 and practiced. I found that I drove better when I'm not worrying about cops and legality issues. Keep in mind that if you go on some empty parking lot and tore it up, the owner of that lot can acutally file a lawsuit against you for damages? IMO, it's not worth the risk..

My $0.02

Post by **Bubba1** » Sat Jan 10, 2004 8:21 am

Ideal situation is to get permission from the owner of the parking lot to do it, but most are highly unlikely to give you permision, without your signing a whole bunch of waivers, providing insurance, and making you agree to repair any damage you cause.

No one is going to tell you it's perfectly legal to drift around a mall parking lot because it's not. There's risk if you do it. Doesn't mean you'll get caught, but you could encounter problems with the police and lot owners by doing it. I suggest you try hook up with a car club that will rent out a parking lot legally. Better environment and you'll be around other more experienced drivers to help you perfect whatever it is you want to do.

Post by **drifter sx** » Sat Jan 10, 2004 8:21 am

or you could be ballsy and try it if you're sure no ones looking...usually late at night

Post by **hannibal** » Sat Jan 10, 2004 8:21 am

jeansguy wrote:The cop flashes his lights and walks up to the ATM while I'm getting my cash and says "Excuse me."

My response: "Hey, wait your turn man."

It went downhill from there.

LOL

Post by **yozsi** » Sat Jan 10, 2004 8:21 am

how bout a small mountain like road that leads to my freinds house? btw it is part of his driveway and not a real road.

Post by **MikeMurphy** » Sat Jan 10, 2004 8:21 am

Yes, you can get a reckless driving ticket (or any equivalent wording) for playing around in a parking lot.

Their definition of a "highway" includes parking lots. Its really their call.

Post by **thx247** » Sat Jan 10, 2004 8:21 am

It just means that basically if you want to screw around in a parking lot, you need to have permission, and the lot cannot be open to the public. Noise ordinances should probably be looked up as well, or you could just call the city stewards and ask about it.

Post by **sk8erguy1501** » Sat Jan 10, 2004 8:21 am

you can get a ticket no matter when, where, how and why. Doesn't matter if you are in a private or public place. No one is above the law(sadly). i went parking lot drifting last night, didn't even go for 15 mins b4 some guy on a quad came, we just boned out to avoid confrontation. but yes, it is illeagal. so just be careful and try not to get caught.

Post by **Project_rps13** » Sat Jan 10, 2004 8:21 am

well in southern california i believe you can rent out the lot at irwindale speedway, Club 4AG does it a couple times a year, maybe us people from NICO should try to organize something like that...just something to think about

Post by **Slider** » Sat Jan 10, 2004 8:21 am

sk8erguy1501 wrote:you can get a ticket no matter when, where, how and why. Doesn't matter if you are in a private or public place. No one is above the law(sadly). i went parking lot drifting last night, didn't even go for 15 mins b4 some guy on a quad came, we just boned out to avoid confrontation. but yes, it is illeagal. so just be careful and try not to get caught.

I saw a video around the time when the STi first came out in the US, and they're doing donuts in the lot on dry pavement, and at the end a cop car comes up and flashes their lights, the cop asks them if they have the owner's permission and they're say yes we do, and the cop couldn't do anything. I can't find the damn vid on my computer anymore. But it was pretty high quality and at night.

Post by **Rockenreno** » Sat Jan 10, 2004 8:21 am

Slider wrote:the cop asks them if they have the owner's permission and they're say yes we do, and the cop couldn't do anything.

Well if they did have permission then that is fine, but you won't get permission from anyone to do it. I swear once I'm a millionaire I need to set up an open parking lot for screwing around in.

Website · Post by **TurboKA37** » Sat Jan 10, 2004 8:21 am

if i had a dime for everytime ive thought about that myself

Post by **graphikg04** » Sat Jan 10, 2004 8:21 am

if you had a dime for everytime you thought that, you would be a millionaire already. And ya, good point project_rps13, NICO should start doing Irwindale drift days, or maybe at Cali Speedway or somethin. Then there will be twice as many drifting opportunities. Nico drift days, and 4ag drift days. Thatll be spectacular. Good thought.

graphikG

Post by **Twintip_yeti** » Sat Jan 10, 2004 8:21 am

Thats half the fun scouting out spots (parking lots if you want) to drift. Kinda like skating, you scout, skate and haul a$$ when the po po comes rollin in hehe. I would just go late at night, i know here there hardly isnt any traffic cause i live in nh (except drunk college kids in the streets DT). Basically i think that if a cop sees you doing it, its not good news.

Post by **Camel** » Sat Jan 10, 2004 8:21 am

If you have permission from the property owner, it's completely legal to drive like an idiot. As long as you don't break noise ordinances.

"Experimenting" in a parking lot. Is it illegal?

"Experimenting" in a parking lot. Is it illegal?

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