Drivers spend an average of 17 hours a year searching for parking spots, according to an INRIX study.
While the transportation analytics company’s study was done in 2017, many drivers today still know the pain of looking for a parking spot. When you’re in a pinch, can you park outside someone else’s house?
In New Hampshire, it’s not illegal to park in front of someone’s house on a public street. However, it is illegal to park in front of someone’s driveway, and there are other restrictions.
Here’s what to know about New Hampshire transportation laws.
City traffic with many cars parked in line on street side.
What does New Hampshire law say about parking in front of someone’s house?
In New Hampshire, parking in front of someone’s house is generally legal if on a public street.
However, the law says that on any road outside business or residence districts, drivers should not leave a vehicle on “the paved or main-traveled part of the way when it is practicable to stop, park or so leave such a vehicle off such part of said way.”
But if you must leave it in that area, the car must leave enough room for other cars to travel through freely and be in an area clearly visible to cars coming each direction.
There also are many other parking restrictions in New Hampshire.
According to New Hampshire “Rules of the Road” laws, places where parking is prohibited include:
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On the roadway side of any vehicle stopped or parked at the edge or curb of a street (double parked)
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Between a safety zone and the adjacent curb or within 30 feet of points on the curb immediately opposite the ends of a safety zone
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Alongside or opposite any street excavation or obstruction when stopping, standing or parking would obstruct traffic
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Upon any bridge or other elevated structure upon a way or within a highway tunnel
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At any place where official signs prohibit stopping, standing or parking
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In front of a public or private driveway
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Within 15 feet of a fire hydrant
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Within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection
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Within 30 feet upon the approach to any flashing signal, stop sign, or traffic control signal located at the side of a roadway
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Within 20 feet of the driveway entrance to any fire station and on the side of a street opposite the entrance to any fire station within 75 feet of said entrance when properly signposted
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Within 50 feet of the nearest rail of a railroad crossing
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On any controlled access highway or in the area between roadways of a divided highway
In some of these cases, you can stop momentarily to pick up or drop off merchandise or passengers.
Some local municipalities may have more specific rules on parking. For example, there are some places in Portsmouth where only Portsmouth residents are allowed to park at certain times, and there are some streets in Nashua where parking is prohibited altogether. Check your local ordinances for detailed rules.
A stranger is parked in front of my house. Can I get them towed?
Usually, no. But, if someone has parked in front of your driveway, you can complain to an authorized official to remove the vehicle.
New Hampshire law outlines the reasons for “removal and impoundment.” They include:
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A vehicle has been left unattended on the paved portion of a toll road, turnpike, or interstate and defense highway for a period of greater than 4 hours
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A vehicle has been left unattended on any way or the right-of-way thereof for a period of greater than 24 hours
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A vehicle is obstructing any way or the access thereto, or access to a public building, or is or will be a menace to traffic if allowed to remain, or is obstructing snow removal or highway maintenance operations
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The owner or legal occupant of private property has complained that a vehicle is obstructing the passage of vehicles from a public street or highway onto the driveway of such private property
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A vehicle is reported stolen, or is apparently abandoned, or without proper registration, or apparently unsafe to be driven
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The owner or custodian of the vehicle is under arrest or otherwise incapacitated, and the vehicle will be a menace to traffic if permitted to remain
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A vehicle has been left unattended within a state-owned park and ride facility for a period of greater than 21 days
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A vehicle is parked or has been left unattended on election day for longer than 3 hours in an area designated for voters who are temporarily present for the purpose of voting.
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Is it illegal to park in front of someone’s house? NH law says this
Read the full article here
