When working a gate at a studio lot you tend to get the homeless, lost guests, and something I would have thought to be less common, but is not, people running into the parking gate arm. You would not believe how many reports I've written about people running into client property.
One time I worked with a guy named José. He drove a Dodge Challenger that he loved. I would see him whipping down his car every break he got. He was on his way into the studio when I noticed the gate opening and the look of horror on his face. He tried backing the car up but the gate started to pull back and I could see his license plate had gotten caught in the gate and the gate was now tearing the plate from his bumper. When it was over José had to begrudgingly pull his license plate and pieces of his bumper from the fence and explain all this in a report to our supervisor.
Then there was the time an employee tried to swipe his badge and dropped it. Instead of putting his car in park he tried to open his door and get the badge while keeping his foot on the brake. That didn't work out too well as the car began pulling away and in a panic, he tried pressing the brake with his hand. I began shouting for him to pull on the emergency brake. He grabs the e-brake, the car stops and he is laid on the ground between his car and the pile on looking ashamed and embarrassed. I did my job and checked for damage, there was none. I asked if the guy wanted medical assistance and he quickly refused and rushed to get in his car and put this whole thing behind him.
The worst was an employee who parked her car in the parking garage and left the car in neutral without using the emergency brake. I received a call about a car accident in the garage and when I arrived on the scene I saw her car smashed into another car and a column. I contacted all parties involved and they promptly exchanged insurance information.
If you're ever swiping into work and you have to reach for your ID just be safe and put your car in park.