I’m being fined after trucks backed into my driveway for years – they hit my house 200 times and I have to pay for it

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A HOMEOPER is considering selling his beloved home after being fined for damage caused by lorry drivers – he wants them to foot the bill.

Even installing security cameras to capture hit-and-runs has helped marginally.

A low bridge regularly catches truckers off guard despite several warning signs

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A low bridge regularly catches truckers off guard despite several warning signsCredit: Google Maps
As a result, a homeowner near the bridge is often hit by truck drivers backing up to avoid the bridge.

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As a result, a homeowner near the bridge is often hit by truck drivers backing up to avoid the bridge.Credit: Google Maps
His fence and gutters were damaged by the most recent incident, and the city is fining him for failing to repair the damage.

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His fence and gutters were damaged by the most recent incident, and the city is fining him for failing to repair the damage.Credit: Google Maps

Robert Christie, a Chicago, Illinois, homeowner, has lived in his bungalow on the northwest edge of the Windy City since 2003.

He lives near a low-lying underpass with lots of signs warning truckers that their trucks wouldn’t pass.

Despite warning signs before reaching the underpass, several truck drivers arrive at the low bridge, realize their mistake and reverse the truck to turn around.

Unfortunately for Christie, her house is in a blind spot for them, causing several thousand dollars in damage from trucks driving into her house.

He recalled a time in 2016 when he was watching a Chicago Cubs game and a truck crashed into his house, shaking the small house like an earthquake.

“That was the scariest experience I’ve ever had,” said Christie the Chicago Sun-Times last year.

“We just heard noise and the truck didn’t even stop. It just drove away.”

He recounted an occasion when a second driver was driving the main driver and saw his house being cornered.

“It’s funny because someone ran me over recently and he had a second driver, and even though the person was directing him, he still crashed into the property,” he said.

To help mitigate the harm done to fleeing drivers, who he says rarely stop to apologize or take responsibility, he installed security cameras to capture license plates and business names.

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They helped him win some cases, but not all.

“I win some, I lose some,” he said.

The most recent attack left his home badly damaged.

The fence at the back of his house was broken and buckled and the gutters were bent and shredded.

Last week, Christie received a letter of the city citing him for failing to repair the damage caused by the irresponsible drivers.

“The department considers such alleged violations to be continuing on each subsequent day following the date of inspection until evidence is brought to the department showing that such violations have been properly corrected,” the letter says.

However, Michael Puccinelli, spokesman for the city’s buildings department, told the outlet that the department would not enact further action or penalties.

I really like the property. If he wasn’t hit, he would probably live there until he died.

Robert Christie, owner

He argued that the citation could help Christie win a case against trucking companies if he sued for damages.

Christie’s neighbors thought the fine was ridiculous as they witnessed the home being renovated, only to be hit again.

“The poor had to put up a lot of fences,” said Christie’s neighbor Francisco Ordaz.

“This is probably the year they gave up. Usually it fixes [the fence]. Then within a few days or a week it gets hit again.”

Last year, he told the outlet he wanted to try staying at home.

“I really like the property,” he said.

Is it illegal to use someone’s driveway to turn around?

Although sidewalks are considered private property, arguing the legality of using a sidewalk to turn around is complicated. Unless a crime is committed by the person using the sidewalk to turn around or there is damage, it is a nuisance but not illegal.

“It generally will not be illegal,” wrote Daniel Lee O’Neil, a litigation attorney in Texas.

“Unless they are using your driveway to commit a drug selling crime, the police generally won’t be as interested in the matter.”

Source: AVVO

“If I didn’t get hit, I would probably live there until I died.”

The city has installed several other signs to help warn truckers about the low bridge and has installed “bumps” along the street, which some argue make it more difficult for truckers as they narrow the street, and yet the house is achieved.

This time, he contacted Councilman James Gardiner, who oversees the area where Christie’s house is located.

He claimed that Gardiner was trying to negotiate a price for the house, although the councilor did not respond to the outlet’s request for comment.

He is still attracted to the house, but “for the right price” he would consider selling it.



This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story

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