There are a few things you never want to see on your car as you’re walking back to where it’s parked. At the top of the list is an empty space, prompting you to have a panic attack as you walk around, scanning street signs to make sure you weren’t towed and the surrounding area to make sure you didn’t leave it somewhere else.
After that: a dreaded, brightly colored ticket, nestled right underneath one of your windshield wipers, cheerfully reminding you that you’ve been effectively fined just for existing in a particular point in time.
Almost as infuriating is sitting in your car only to realize someone left a flyer for a business or service you’ll probably never be interested in. Especially if the paper insert is left out in the sun and gets baked into your vehicle’s paint job.
This is what happened to TikTok user Jill (@liljillyy), who says she “lost two nails” attempting to pry it off of her vehicle.
In a TikTok that’s accrued over 80,000 views, Jill records herself walking up to the vehicle. As she approaches the hood of her car, it’s evident that the party flyer is stuck to it. Using her long, red, manicured fingernails, she scrapes at the flyer to peel it off. However, it only partially removes, leaving behind a torn portion emblazoned on her car.
The Legalities of Flyering
According to the printing company 4OVER4, marketers looking to leave business cards, flyers, and placards on people’s vehicles may want to think twice. The company states that the legalities surrounding this practice differ from place to place.
Woman Tries to Sell Her Maserati. Then She Sees How Much It’s Depreciated
‘Uh Oh:’ Woman Sits In Her Volkswagen. Then She Sees It’s Made 164 Vehicle Reports for Her
The outlet encourages those considering leaving flyers on cars to check local ordinances to avoid potential legal action. 4OVER writes, “The legality of leaving flyers on cars isn’t as straightforward as it might seem. Different cities, states, and even private property owners have their own regulations, and ignoring them could lead to fines or other consequences.”
A blog from another printing business, PsPrint, echoes these sentiments. Parking lots and garages are often privately owned, so walking into one, even just to leave an advertisement on someone’s windshield, can constitute trespassing. Those found doing so can be hit with that charge and any subsequent fines attached to this transgression.
And if you’ve ever noticed “no solicitation” signs in a parking lot on your way to a store, this signage applies to those who leave flyers on people’s windshields.
Advertising agency Oppizi offers additional insight on how marketers can place flyers on people’s windshields. The agency writes that folks should get permission if they’re going to utilize people’s cars as a means of getting the word out about a good, service, or event.
Some Solutions for a Sticky Flyer
Folks who replied to Jill’s video offered a variety of recommendations on how to banish the adhesive leftovers on her car’s hood.
Multiple people referenced a product called Goo Gone, which is designed to eradicate stickers and the gunky remnants it leaves behind. Others stated that hot water and soap will do the trick, along with blasting a hot hair dryer over the adhesive to loosen it up and peel or scrape it off.
Another option recommended by Redditors entails using an application of isopropyl alcohol and gentle scrubbing with soft-bristled toothbrushes to clean off stickers from surfaces.
One person offered an alternative solution: hold whoever is behind the flyer responsible for any damages. As they pointed out, “You have all their deets.”
Motor1 has reached out to Jill via TikTok comment for further information. We’ll be sure to update this if she responds.
‘Third Time’s the Charm:’ Woman Notices 4 Chunks of Paint Missing From Her White Palisade. Then She Takes It to Hyundai
The Latest Mustang GTD Ditches Paint for Pure Carbon
Cadillac Will Hand-Paint Your Blackwing a Custom Color—But It’ll Cost You
‘Express/Savana GM Vans Still Peel:’ Man Says White Paint Peels Faster on Cars. Is He Right?
