'Parking Rage' Blamed For Westmoreland AttackPOSTED: 6:11 pm EST November 26,
2008 WESTMORELAND COUNTY, Pa. -- Prime parking spots can be hard to come by during the holiday shopping season.But one Westmoreland shopper got so fed up with the parking process, he's accused of flying into a rage and attacking another driver.Police said a local man was so upset about losing a parking spot at the Westmoreland Mall, he chased another driver through the parking lot, threatening him with a hammer.William Berry, 19, is charged with summary offenses, which means he will most likely face a fine if convicted.But "parking rage" is something seen across the globe.YouTube video shows one scene in England where two cars are vying for the same spot. The driver of one car jumps into the spot first and the video shows the second driver ramming the first car and pushing it out of the spot.Another video from New York shows a man, so mad about losing a spot, he confronts a couple and ends up slamming the woman to the ground before getting into a fight with her husband.Monroeville Police Chief George Polnar says as we head into the Christmas shopping season, parking lots tend to be full and tempers tend to be short."We do get a number of calls, an increase of calls around the holiday season, Polnar said.Polnar said his department does not get too many calls about parking disputes, but he knows they happen. And he said there may not be an actual regulation as far as who gets the spot when two cars move in."I don't know of any law. I always have to believe it's just 'first come first serve.' But some people don't see it that way and they'll say "I saw it from three lanes over and its rightfully my spot,'" Polnar said.Some people see all those stop signs and directional arrows as just a suggestion in mall lots."I mean ill follow the arrows but if theres no cars coming ill go the opposite way if I need to," said shopper Greg Meisner.Technically mall parking lots are private property. But in many cases police have permission to ticket drivers for not obeying posted stop signs, or if they are driving recklessly across parking lanes.If you do find yourself jockeying with someone for that prime spot, Polnar says stay cool."There's other places. Don't get excited. Enjoy the scenery. Walk a little farther. It's good exercise," Polnar said. Related Links:
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