A Windsor, Ont. business is facing criticism over its approach to keeping unauthorized vehicles off its private lot after a local resident said he spent nearly 30 minutes trying to scrape off a warning sticker left on his car window.
Jake Kelza said he mistakenly parked in a row of unmarked spots near a coffee shop Sunday, not realizing they were reserved for the dental office next door.
“There’s no proper signage on the wall or anything. So, I got a little confused,” said Kelza.
When Kelza returned to his car after grabbing coffee, he found a large sticker on the driver’s side window — one he said was nearly impossible to remove.
“We had to walk to Dollarama and get alcohol, and we got ice scrapers and things like that,” he said.
“Even after 30 minutes of scraping it, it barely came off.”
Kelza said another driver with a bottle of Goo Gone happened to be passing by and helped remove the remaining adhesive.
“If you don’t have that just laying around in your trunk, good luck getting the sticker off,” added Kelza.
CTV News contacted Ottawa Street Dental, who confirmed they are responsible for the stickers, but did not provide further comment.
Online listings for similar stickers describe them as intentionally difficult to remove. Some are marketed as “impossible to peel off in one piece” and “designed to rip away in small chunks with significant effort.”
That marketing language has raised questions about whether this tactic crosses a legal line.
Criminal defence lawyer Bobby Russon said based on the video Kelza posted online, a mischief charge could apply.
“It looks really difficult to get off,” Russon said.
“If that’s the case, I think there’s a good argument to be made that it interferes with the lawful enjoyment of that person’s property.”
However, he also noted it’s unlikely such a case would move far through the courts.
“It’s certainly at that very bottom rung of criminal offenses,” said Russon.
“But for one-time accidental parking, I don’t think you’re justified in doing that and I think there is some risk that someone could call that a criminal offense.”
In a statement to CTV News, Windsor police acknowledged the frustration that business owners face when dealing with unauthorized parking but said property owners should rely on legal options.
“We urge property owners and businesses to use appropriate and lawful methods when addressing these situations,” the statement read.
“The recommended course of action is to contact a licensed towing company to have the vehicle removed.”
Police said signage also plays a critical role in prevention.
“Posting clear signs that parking is reserved for customers only and that unauthorized vehicles may be towed at the owner’s expense can also be helpful as a deterrent.”
Kelza said while he understands businesses need to enforce parking rules, the method matters.
“I get the point of doing it,” he said.
“But I feel like that could have been shown in a different way.”
