Q: Is it illegal to hang out in your car in a public school parking lot outside of school hours?
My girlfriend and I cannot see eachother because of her parents not approving of us. So we made a compromise where we meet in the nearby school parking lot when school is over in the evening for a little shy of an hour. We hang out in my car because it is hot outside however all we really do is watch videos on our phones or just talk about our days. The school hasn't contacted us about it and doesn't seem to have a problem, however today a random man peeked into my car and when I rolled down the window he started shouting and accusing us of doing drugs (my window is fogged from the ac) and that we need to "do that somewhere else". After I explained to him it was just the ac, it just seemed to make him even more angry. Kids ride bikes around and hang out in the parking lot all the time so I don't see the problem. But him shouting has made me wonder if we are breaking any laws? The police have never come and asked us to move despite driving past us, although if they did we would.
A: It's public property and unless there is a school regulation about this, which you can find out from the student handbook, it is completely legal. However, this busy body may not be done harassing you. So make sure that your car is squeeky clean.
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
