JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. – We all know finding parking at the beach can seem nearly impossible, especially during a busy summer weekend.

Before you think about creating your own parking spot, you should know there are five parking mistakes a lot of drivers make that they don't necessarily realize will earn them a ticket.

By law, a car cannot be parked within 20 feet of an intersection

Chances are you are not going to have a tape measure with you when you park, so you can estimate there should be about two car lengths between your car and a stop sign or light. We found two cars on the same block making this mistake at 7th Street near where it intersects with Beach Avenue in Atlantic Beach during our interview with police.

There must be 7 feet on either side of a residential driveway

Commander Tiffany Layson, with the Atlantic Beach Police Department, says this is a big problem in Atlantic Beach.

"People will park right up on a person's driveway, they have to give them (property owner) 7 feet on either side to be able to get in and out of their driveway," said Layson.

You cannot block a sidewalk with your car

Layson says this happens all the time. Homeowners or renters may not realize this law applies to them even if they are parking in their own driveway. If your car blocks or even hangs over the sidewalk, you could be ticketed. The citation is $50.

You have to stay at least 15 feet away from a fire hydrant

Layson says some drivers think as long as there is a little space between cars for access to the fire hydrant that is sufficient. It is not. "Obviously in the event of an emergency a fire truck has to be able to get to that (fire hydrant)," she said.

You have to adhere to all parking signs

Layson says you would be surprised to hear how many people ignore signs that tell them there is no parking allowed on certain streets at certain times of the day.

We also talked with police in Jacksonville Beach. Sgt. Tom Crumley, says when the public lots fill up, drivers will take certain liberties when parking. "You should not park in empty lots that may look abandoned," he said.

These lots are privately owned and if the owner wants to, he or she will have you towed.

Crumley also warns drivers about parking in someone's front yard. If they complain, you will get a ticket or could be towed. There are also several streets in the residential areas of South Jacksonville Beach that are clearly marked warning drivers not to park on a certain side of the street, you need to adhere to the signs or you could be ticketed, according to Crumley.

One more thing to remember.

"Businesses have representatives that are watching to see where you go," said Crumley.

These businesses will call a tow truck company if you park in their lot and then don't go into the business.