School drop off on double yellow - reporting to council
Discussion
Hi All,
As the above post says, I have a potential issue with stopping on a double yellow during the school run.
To provide some context, I am the guilty party of doing so, in order to drop off two young children at school. I know that this is not really allowed already so I'm not going to pretend I'm innocent here.
The potential issue is that some of the home owners where I stop are taking exception to parents doing this and are threatening to report to the council. For the avoidance of doubt, stopping on the double yellow has absolutely no detrimental effect on the properties in question as there are no driveways or paths being parked over, it is literally stopping on the side of the road next to the pavement. No one is mounting the pavement either.
The question I have is that if one of the house owners takes a picture of an offending vehicle (my own or any other in this case) and then reports/sends this to the council, are the council able to issue a fine of any kind or would a council parking warden have to be there in person to issue the fine?
I would add that the exact same scenario above applies to the assortment of waitrose/sainsbury's vans that stop in the same place, but I doubt that the home owners are getting worked up about these...
The guidance I have found online for London councils in general is set out below but I'm wondering do kids count as loading/unloading?
What is loading?
Loading and unloading is permitted on single and double yellow lines for a maximum of 40 minutes if loading is observed. You must not cause an obstruction and ensure that there is no loading ban
Where there is a loading ban, in addition to parking restrictions, you will see yellow stripes (chevrons) on the kerb. Double stripes are indicate that loading and unloading is not permitted AT ANY TIME and will have an accompanying timeplate. Single stripes mean no loading and unloading during certain times and will also have an accompanying time plate (see example below).
All commercial deliveries and collections (including multi-drop and couriers) are included in the exemption. Reasonable time is allowed for the checking of paperwork too – however, as soon as the delivery has finished the vehicle must be moved.
Builders dropping off or picking up tools from a site are exempt, but the vehicle must be removed immediately the loading and unloading has been completed. If it is essential for a vehicle to be parked nearby while working (e.g. a glazier’s or scaffolder’s vehicle) then you should contact the council to make special arrangements.
Loading time is restricted to either 20 or 40 minutes depending upon the location. If more time is required contact the council for permission (a dispensation) in advance.
Always remember
Many, but not all, parking restrictions allow an exemption for loading. But, wherever you are you should:
never stop where your vehicle will cause an obstruction to traffic or pedestrians
never stop on white zig-zags at pedestrian crossings
never stop on restricted areas outside schools when prohibited
only park on the pavement if there is no other way the delivery or collection could be made and if someone is left with the vehicle at all times.
Yellow lines
loading and unloading is permitted on single and double yellow lines for a maximum of 40 minutes if loading is observed. You must not cause an obstruction and ensure that there is no loading ban
As the above post says, I have a potential issue with stopping on a double yellow during the school run.
To provide some context, I am the guilty party of doing so, in order to drop off two young children at school. I know that this is not really allowed already so I'm not going to pretend I'm innocent here.
The potential issue is that some of the home owners where I stop are taking exception to parents doing this and are threatening to report to the council. For the avoidance of doubt, stopping on the double yellow has absolutely no detrimental effect on the properties in question as there are no driveways or paths being parked over, it is literally stopping on the side of the road next to the pavement. No one is mounting the pavement either.
The question I have is that if one of the house owners takes a picture of an offending vehicle (my own or any other in this case) and then reports/sends this to the council, are the council able to issue a fine of any kind or would a council parking warden have to be there in person to issue the fine?
I would add that the exact same scenario above applies to the assortment of waitrose/sainsbury's vans that stop in the same place, but I doubt that the home owners are getting worked up about these...
The guidance I have found online for London councils in general is set out below but I'm wondering do kids count as loading/unloading?
What is loading?
Loading and unloading is permitted on single and double yellow lines for a maximum of 40 minutes if loading is observed. You must not cause an obstruction and ensure that there is no loading ban
Where there is a loading ban, in addition to parking restrictions, you will see yellow stripes (chevrons) on the kerb. Double stripes are indicate that loading and unloading is not permitted AT ANY TIME and will have an accompanying timeplate. Single stripes mean no loading and unloading during certain times and will also have an accompanying time plate (see example below).
All commercial deliveries and collections (including multi-drop and couriers) are included in the exemption. Reasonable time is allowed for the checking of paperwork too – however, as soon as the delivery has finished the vehicle must be moved.
Builders dropping off or picking up tools from a site are exempt, but the vehicle must be removed immediately the loading and unloading has been completed. If it is essential for a vehicle to be parked nearby while working (e.g. a glazier’s or scaffolder’s vehicle) then you should contact the council to make special arrangements.
Loading time is restricted to either 20 or 40 minutes depending upon the location. If more time is required contact the council for permission (a dispensation) in advance.
Always remember
Many, but not all, parking restrictions allow an exemption for loading. But, wherever you are you should:
never stop where your vehicle will cause an obstruction to traffic or pedestrians
never stop on white zig-zags at pedestrian crossings
never stop on restricted areas outside schools when prohibited
only park on the pavement if there is no other way the delivery or collection could be made and if someone is left with the vehicle at all times.
Yellow lines
loading and unloading is permitted on single and double yellow lines for a maximum of 40 minutes if loading is observed. You must not cause an obstruction and ensure that there is no loading ban
jjones said:
then challenge the council on why there are double yellow lines there
If challenging a council relating to road rules was that easy we'd not have any cycle lanes on major arteries at the expense of an additional lane of traffic. Not expecting common sense to factor in here at all with the council 
Artsy said:
If challenging a council relating to road rules was that easy we'd not have any cycle lanes on major arteries at the expense of an additional lane of traffic. Not expecting common sense to factor in here at all with the council
I'm beginning to see where the issue is here.dibblecorse said:
Is it an FFRR or just an Evogue ???
Maybe park round the corner and set an example to your kids of whats right and wrong ?
It is but a humble Prius (which makes me an undesirable for many people in any case). Maybe park round the corner and set an example to your kids of whats right and wrong ?
No corners either as the council decided in its COVID wisdom to put cameras on the side road so that you can't drive down it during school hours.
Artsy said:
Thanks for the useful responses so far.
Why do it? Not a lot of options.
For the avoidance of doubt once again - no obstruction whatsoever to anyone or anything.
Go on. Humour me. Why do it? Not a lot of options.
For the avoidance of doubt once again - no obstruction whatsoever to anyone or anything.
Give me the other options…
Do some of them involve walking? You know, placing one foot in front of the other?
Or standing up to your boss or business partner and saying you’ll be ten mins later?
I mean, when I hear this, I just think lazy. Sorry. There are always other options, but they’re often not the “premium” option with convenience written all over it.
So yeah. Tell me the other options. You didn’t say “no other options”, you said “not a lot”.
Double yellows around schools are generally to aid visibility and to limit the potential for a child to step from behind a parked car out of view. Whatever your opinion as to the requirement for the double yellows, they were presumably laid down with a view to increasing the safety of children.
I have a similar situation in that my daughters school is also festooned with double yellows with any other viable parking a fair stroll away. Probably for this reason, I see the same entitled parents most days parking on yellows. It’s ok though, they put their hazards on, selfish pricks the lot of them.
Sorry, but I have little sympathy. Find another option.
I have a similar situation in that my daughters school is also festooned with double yellows with any other viable parking a fair stroll away. Probably for this reason, I see the same entitled parents most days parking on yellows. It’s ok though, they put their hazards on, selfish pricks the lot of them.
Sorry, but I have little sympathy. Find another option.
Artsy said:
Hi All,
As the above post says, I have a potential issue with stopping on a double yellow during the school run.
To provide some context, I am the guilty party of doing so, in order to drop off two young children at school. I know that this is not really allowed already so I'm not going to pretend I'm innocent here.
The potential issue is that some of the home owners where I stop are taking exception to parents doing this and are threatening to report to the council. For the avoidance of doubt, stopping on the double yellow has absolutely no detrimental effect on the properties in question as there are no driveways or paths being parked over, it is literally stopping on the side of the road next to the pavement. No one is mounting the pavement either.
The question I have is that if one of the house owners takes a picture of an offending vehicle (my own or any other in this case) and then reports/sends this to the council, are the council able to issue a fine of any kind or would a council parking warden have to be there in person to issue the fine?
I would add that the exact same scenario above applies to the assortment of waitrose/sainsbury's vans that stop in the same place, but I doubt that the home owners are getting worked up about these...
The guidance I have found online for London councils in general is set out below but I'm wondering do kids count as loading/unloading?
What is loading?
Loading and unloading is permitted on single and double yellow lines for a maximum of 40 minutes if loading is observed. You must not cause an obstruction and ensure that there is no loading ban
Where there is a loading ban, in addition to parking restrictions, you will see yellow stripes (chevrons) on the kerb. Double stripes are indicate that loading and unloading is not permitted AT ANY TIME and will have an accompanying timeplate. Single stripes mean no loading and unloading during certain times and will also have an accompanying time plate (see example below).
All commercial deliveries and collections (including multi-drop and couriers) are included in the exemption. Reasonable time is allowed for the checking of paperwork too – however, as soon as the delivery has finished the vehicle must be moved.
Builders dropping off or picking up tools from a site are exempt, but the vehicle must be removed immediately the loading and unloading has been completed. If it is essential for a vehicle to be parked nearby while working (e.g. a glazier’s or scaffolder’s vehicle) then you should contact the council to make special arrangements.
Loading time is restricted to either 20 or 40 minutes depending upon the location. If more time is required contact the council for permission (a dispensation) in advance.
Always remember
Many, but not all, parking restrictions allow an exemption for loading. But, wherever you are you should:
never stop where your vehicle will cause an obstruction to traffic or pedestrians
never stop on white zig-zags at pedestrian crossings
never stop on restricted areas outside schools when prohibited
only park on the pavement if there is no other way the delivery or collection could be made and if someone is left with the vehicle at all times.
Yellow lines
loading and unloading is permitted on single and double yellow lines for a maximum of 40 minutes if loading is observed. You must not cause an obstruction and ensure that there is no loading ban
As the above post says, I have a potential issue with stopping on a double yellow during the school run.
To provide some context, I am the guilty party of doing so, in order to drop off two young children at school. I know that this is not really allowed already so I'm not going to pretend I'm innocent here.
The potential issue is that some of the home owners where I stop are taking exception to parents doing this and are threatening to report to the council. For the avoidance of doubt, stopping on the double yellow has absolutely no detrimental effect on the properties in question as there are no driveways or paths being parked over, it is literally stopping on the side of the road next to the pavement. No one is mounting the pavement either.
The question I have is that if one of the house owners takes a picture of an offending vehicle (my own or any other in this case) and then reports/sends this to the council, are the council able to issue a fine of any kind or would a council parking warden have to be there in person to issue the fine?
I would add that the exact same scenario above applies to the assortment of waitrose/sainsbury's vans that stop in the same place, but I doubt that the home owners are getting worked up about these...
The guidance I have found online for London councils in general is set out below but I'm wondering do kids count as loading/unloading?
What is loading?
Loading and unloading is permitted on single and double yellow lines for a maximum of 40 minutes if loading is observed. You must not cause an obstruction and ensure that there is no loading ban
Where there is a loading ban, in addition to parking restrictions, you will see yellow stripes (chevrons) on the kerb. Double stripes are indicate that loading and unloading is not permitted AT ANY TIME and will have an accompanying timeplate. Single stripes mean no loading and unloading during certain times and will also have an accompanying time plate (see example below).
All commercial deliveries and collections (including multi-drop and couriers) are included in the exemption. Reasonable time is allowed for the checking of paperwork too – however, as soon as the delivery has finished the vehicle must be moved.
Builders dropping off or picking up tools from a site are exempt, but the vehicle must be removed immediately the loading and unloading has been completed. If it is essential for a vehicle to be parked nearby while working (e.g. a glazier’s or scaffolder’s vehicle) then you should contact the council to make special arrangements.
Loading time is restricted to either 20 or 40 minutes depending upon the location. If more time is required contact the council for permission (a dispensation) in advance.
Always remember
Many, but not all, parking restrictions allow an exemption for loading. But, wherever you are you should:
never stop where your vehicle will cause an obstruction to traffic or pedestrians
never stop on white zig-zags at pedestrian crossings
never stop on restricted areas outside schools when prohibited
only park on the pavement if there is no other way the delivery or collection could be made and if someone is left with the vehicle at all times.
Yellow lines
loading and unloading is permitted on single and double yellow lines for a maximum of 40 minutes if loading is observed. You must not cause an obstruction and ensure that there is no loading ban
Mercutio said:
Go on. Humour me.
Give me the other options…
Do some of them involve walking? You know, placing one foot in front of the other?
Or standing up to your boss or business partner and saying you’ll be ten mins later?
I mean, when I hear this, I just think lazy. Sorry. There are always other options, but they’re often not the “premium” option with convenience written all over it.
So yeah. Tell me the other options. You didn’t say “no other options”, you said “not a lot”.
You are right in principle on the above. The difficulty is having one child with the speed of a Nissan GTR and another with the speed of a non-turbo diesel and trying to walk them leads to a few brown pants moments when crossing roads etc. For the most part they are safer in the car.Give me the other options…
Do some of them involve walking? You know, placing one foot in front of the other?
Or standing up to your boss or business partner and saying you’ll be ten mins later?
I mean, when I hear this, I just think lazy. Sorry. There are always other options, but they’re often not the “premium” option with convenience written all over it.
So yeah. Tell me the other options. You didn’t say “no other options”, you said “not a lot”.
But yes, they do walk in the morning as I'm allowed to park before 9am so I do so and then finish the trip walking.
Lateness with work, not an issue.
No buses that cover the specific trip, would require combination of buses.
Underground a possibility but I resent that it's more expensive than the car... (not a valid excuse I'm sure).
CheesecakeRunner said:
Artsy said:
Why do it? Not a lot of options.
There’s always an option. I’ve managed thirteen years of school drop offs and collections, for two kids across six schools and never parked somewhere I shouldn’t. Ever. And yet I can guarantee, every day I’ll see someone who has, and without fail, they’ve done it because they can’t be arsed to walk more than a few metres.
Don’t be a dick. Leave home a little earlier. Park legally and walk a little further. Set a decent example for your kids.
Artsy said:
You are right in principle on the above. The difficulty is having one child with the speed of a Nissan GTR and another with the speed of a non-turbo diesel and trying to walk them leads to a few brown pants moments when crossing roads etc. For the most part they are safer in the car.
Just tie them together, that'll average out their speeds.Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff