Might have damaged a parked car - what should I do?

haaammit

haaammit

haaammit

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As per title really. I was collecting my daughter from school and had my 1 year old in his pushchair. As ever, the parking at the school leaves quite a lot to be desired. One car had parked facing oncoming traffic, mostly blocking a footpath, on a dropped curb and within 10m of a junction. I managed to squeeze the pushchair through a gap that was really too small (didn't want to risk making my children walk on a busy road) and I don't think I did any damage to the parked car, but it was a real struggle. However - since I've got home, I have realised that the clip of the AA torch I carry every day clipped to my pocket is full of paint flakes, and I think it may have caught the car that was parked blocking the pavement.

What should I do? Should I see if the car owner is there again and explain what happened? Should I ignore it? I'm slightly miffed as it was a really struggle to get passed this car. The parking around the area is dreadful. The police have been called/given guidance in the past, but it never seems to do any good.

What to do GD?
 
Since I currently have a trolley smash in my passenger side door with no sign of the offender, which I am raging about, I would say see if you can see the car next time you are passing and have a chat. That said, I was parked properly in a bay, not like a total idiot, although I appreciate that parking near some schools can be a total nightmare and you gotta do what you gotta do when it's dropping off time.... Tough one, but on balance I think you should come clean if you see them. You never know, it might not even be from their car....
 
You didn't get caught, just leave it. If footage or whatever comes up then it actually was a genuine accident and you didn't realize.

Or leave a note under the wiper, "next time you park so close leave a tin opener so I can get out"
 
Any car parked on the pavement blocking it is fair game as far as I'm concerned.
 
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Post on a computer enthusiast forum hoping that their suggestions make up for your own lack and sense of moral compass?

(I would totally do nothing and claim ignorance.)
 
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The right thing to do would be to talk to the motorist. However, they appear to be right selfish morons so I know what I'd do.
 
I wouldn't say a damn thing tbh, if your so self absorbed that you'll quite happily block the pavement with your parking, totally forgetting that there are mums/dads with nippers in pushchairs who need to use the self same pavement you've just blocked, you should expect your precious bloody paintwork to get scraped from time to time by the occasional passing pushchair, horde of schoolkids etc.
 
Their own fault for blocking a pavement especially near a school with lots of foot traffic and pushchairs.
 
Ideally you should if you recognise the car inform the owner.

Personally given the situation you describe I'd be writing to the local council, the local police, and the local police commissioner* and complaining about the very poor level of parking, lack of parking enforcement and risks to the pedestrians around the school.
The police/council can and should take action if it's that bad, up to and including sending some PCSO's or similar out to ticket and/or arrange removal of offending vehicles from memory.


*They're an elected official although quite what they do no one seems to know (I think part of the job was to help address the concerns of the public), least of all most of the people that ran for the post.
 
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