Asking to park on common property??

I live in a townhouse unit of 17 units.. We are basically 8 units facing another 9 from our front doors.. We have a driveway that has a space of about 2 cars from the front of 8 units to the other 9… This leads straight to the back of our block which has only 12 or 13 parking lots not even enough for one car per household..

Because of limited spaces in our parking lot most of us tend to park at our front doors which is common property when we cannot obtain a parking space at the back.. (parking lots are not numbered)… Once parked in front of a house there is still enough space for cars to get in and out of our driveways without difficulty..

I want to ask strata if i can have permission to park on common property in front of my front door.. Not permanently , not trying to own the space but sometimes when i need to without getting a letter of warning for a fine.. I park in front of my house because my 2 small children are 3 years old and 1 and 4 months.. If i park at the back after going out alone with my kids i cant park in the back parking lot and leave my kids unattended in my car whilst bringing in the shopping.. Not only are they unattended they are aroud the corner of townhouses and not visible in sight.. If i take them in and my shopping then come out and move my car then they are unttended in my house.. I am not happy to leave them unattended.. If i park in front of my front door i can see them sitting in the car whilst bringing in the shopping then i can bring my children in the house one by one with the other still visible insight because i can see him through the front door…

Reason for asking is because i have received a letter of warning from strata that i have broken law 2 and 3.. Parking on common property and blocking other peoples garage.. I have been here for 5 years.. People park all over the drive way and double park at the back parking lot to avoid having to park on the street (our area is know for high crime rates)… No one has complained from what i know.. If i block someone they knock on my door and ask me to move so i do.. And vice versa!! Simple as that no arguements everyone parks within the driveway or parking lot everyone is happy.. But we have this one neighbour whom i dont know whAt he is like if he is secretary or anything i know he owns his townhouse though.. He walks around taking photos of peoples cars on common property, photocopies strata warning letters and puts them on residents cars, even printing his own!! I recieved a letter in the mail yesterday.. It had a picture of a car that was not mine nor parked in front of my house and i was warned for breaking law 2 and 3 as mentioned above.. A few of my neighbours have said they have recieved letters too but with no photo and attn to ‘the occupier’ of unit number so and so.. However the one i received had a photo of not my house or car but it was addressed my my name and partners name written in pen and signed by someone from strata..

I am only renting.. Do u think i will get approved if i asked to park occsionally?? I dont want anymore warning letters or a fine.. Also that nasty neighbour also parks in front of his house sometimes too!! What should i do to approach strata about this?? Everyone else in the street is fine we have only the one nasty neighbour.. I know nobody had the rights to park on common property but it didnt have to go to strata everyone was happy..

Also when he told me not to park there before he said its for safety of kids playing on the driveway.. But by law its says children are not allowed to play on the driveway only lawns if any and must be supervised.. Is he allowed to take photos of peoples cars and number plates without permission of the owner of the vehicle?? Thankyou !