The law sucks for honest people

[icamm]

Some poor sod in Gloucester has had someone dump a people carrier on his drive, blocking his garage, and there is nothing he can do.

The Police have told him if he damages the car moving it he is liable for criminal damage charges. They won't move it 'cos it's on his private land. It's now down to the council who need notification in writing before they slap a 7 day notice on it. So he is now left having to put up with it for nearly 2 weeks (it was dumped on Sunday).

The Police can't tell him who owns the car due to data protection legislation. They are also claiming it is a lease car and the lease company won't name the owner.

So you know what the answer is if this happens to you. If you need to move it for your own access then do so without telling the Police (so noone has a record and it's your word against his - no officer I haven't touched it/it wasn't on my drive. The damage must already have been there). Then if it's still on your property clamp it - but notify the police and tell them that you have clamped it. If there is damage tell them the car appears to be damaged and was like that when you found it.

Or find a local toe-rag who nicks cars and get them to move it for you (sorry officer it seems to have been stolen).

If the owner comes to collect the car then a nice big parking bill before you release the clamp. If they don't collect then find out your options for claiming ownership.

See for more details of the story http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2565109.stm

[s2ooz]

Im more of the "if you cant beat them join them" type.

A "friend" had something like this happen to him. As it was on his property, theres also a consumer law that anything "delivered" incorrectly, MUST be collected within 30 days, or you become the owner.

The parcel (car) that was left on his door step was taken inside the garage awaiting the company to collect. But since he was always out, whenever the firm came to find it. they couldnt.

So it became his by law, and he stripped it and sold all the parts. LEGALLY

>> Edited by s2ooz on Wednesday 11th December 13:58

[mondeoman]

s2ooz said: Im more of the "if you cant beat them join them" type.

A "friend" had something like this happen to him. As it was on his property, theres also a consumer law that anything "delivered" incorrectly, MUST be collected within 30 days, or you become the owner.

The parcel (car) that was left on his door step was taken inside the garage awaiting the company to collect. But since he was always out, whenever the firm came to find it. they couldnt.

So it became his by law, and he stripped it and sold all the parts. LEGALLY

>> Edited by s2ooz on Wednesday 11th December 13:58

I LIKE THAT LAW!!!!!!!!!

Someone ought to tel the chap in Gloucester about this one..... and get him a couple of skateboards and a decent car jack .......... easy if you really want to do something ....

[Fatboy]

Some Gojacks from Demon Tweeks would move it easily...

Here they are:

www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/gs.asp?level=GOJAK6

[raceboy]

Cheaper, and quicker

[icamm]

I agree I like that law as well. I'll have to remember it.

Of course if they do catch you out and arrive when you can't hide - I mean when you are not out - IE washing the car or something. You can still charge them storage.

[icamm]

raceboy said: Cheaper, and quicker

But he's already been warned he woud be up for criminal damage if he does that.

[CarZee]

yes, but if somebody else did it....

he's hardly expected to guard the car against vandalism is he? They'd have to prove he'd done it.

[Marcos Maniac]

CarZee said: yes, but if somebody else did it....

he's hardly expected to guard the car against vandalism is he? They'd have to prove he'd done it.

someone has actually got to 'see' him do it for a prosecution

[icamm]

Marcos Maniac said:

CarZee said: yes, but if somebody else did it....

he's hardly expected to guard the car against vandalism is he? They'd have to prove he'd done it.

someone has actually got to 'see' him do it for a prosecution

Not true, what with forensics etc he would have to be careful not to leave any trace of himself and it would look well suss'. But I really like the idea of putting into his own garage for 30 days.

Also, if he is a member of the AA or RAC they should be able to break into it for him without damage.

[raceboy]

I'd go and park it on the drive of a local chief inspector, or councilor and see if they wait 30 days for it to be moved after driving through every Gatso in the aera first
Gloves & banaclaver at the ready

[granville]

What's WRONG with people?

YYYYyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaargh!!!!!

[icamm]

raceboy said: I'd go and park it on the drive of a local chief inspector, or councilor and see if they wait 30 days for it to be moved after driving through every Gatso in the aera first
Gloves & banaclaver at the ready

Nice idea. Mind you, you would have to make sure you can lock it. Otherwise they can move it with no (extra?) damage.

[madcop]

A couple of trolley jacks and a good shove should remove it from the driveway into the road where, and only where the local authority have the powers to place a 7 day order on it

[308gt4]

madcop said: A couple of trolley jacks and a good shove should remove it from the driveway into the road where, and only where the local authority have the powers to place a 7 day order on it

Ahh Madcop, this is the method I've seen used many years ago after moving in with girlfriend who was continually being parked in by inconsiderate mongrel who parked across her garage doorway. Someone (not me of course )put a jack under rear of car and it "rolled" downhill onto the street and crunched into the gutter breaking a wheel

Police were called about a car that appears to have had the brakes fail and has rolled "down the hill officer" and is now blocking the street

After explaining that the car had rolled down from an illegal parking spot the police wrote a ticket and had the thing towed away

Strangely enough the bastard never parked there again, no he parked across my garage door and put a brick under the wheel to stop it "rolling downhill".

But being a rough area someone used the brick to change the structure of the drivers window and release the handbrake!

Just to avoid the person who broke the window I made sure my car was never parked outside

As I've always said "do unto others, then RUN!!"

[clubsport]

Obviously this is complete madness and after Today's press coverage it appears that it may have been a genuine mistake & the car just parked on the wrong drive,rather than on one he had permission to park on!
The annoying thing about the way this story is reported in the press is to give the impression that the garage owner was powerless.
I had a situation where i was unable to get my car out of the garage,when i politely asked the van driver how long he was going to be parking there for he responded with all sorts of explitives.If you are on private propery and somebody does not respond your request & things get heated,then I understand you can let your local police know & they become a lot more cooperative.

[icamm]

Yeah sounds like a mistake from the update BUT the guy never had the chance to complain to the driver/owner so was stuck.

I don't understand how this "neighbour", that they were supposed to be using, didn't twig that it was their friend. Unless he didn't ask at that house. Nice friends not to wonder what had happened to the car they were supposed to look after was - unless they didn't have a contact number.

[bob the planner]

I must remember this 7 day thing in January when I go on a weeks holiday. Park in some poor bu$$ers drive near the airport, walk/get bus/taxi to the airport, return a week later and save 50 quid on car parking - result ! (Sorry I must have got the wrong address - my mate at no X, Whatsit Street said I could park in his drive whilst I was on holiday - Oh this is Whatsit Avenue - sorry for the inconvienience)

Judging by the number of people down our road who use their garages for cars most if the time it would not cause this sort of problem !

Bob

[icamm]

bob the planner said:Judging by the number of people down our road who use their garages for cars most if the time it would not cause this sort of problem !

Yeh, fancy them being unlucky enough to pick the only (probably) guy on the road who uses his garage for it's intended purpose.

[jellyed]

It was there when i went to bed last night officer,it must have been nicked !