Need to know the law (not car related)
Discussion
Can some one please tell me if it is illegal to block someone’s right of way and if my back gate is regarded as a right of way?
Our house backs onto a small blissfully quiet lane (no through road) which is smashing unless the infants’ school across the back is taking in or chucking out the kids. I can live with the huge numbers of people carriers with 2 people in them) and 4x4s that congest the place but I'm getting very hacked off with not being able to open my back gate (it swings outwards) because some tosser has parked across it.
We have put a very large red sign on it (no parking) which helped a little until someone ripped it off yesterday (after we politely asked if she could move her espace).
I've had enough, we do have a front door but that is three steep steps on to a very narrow pavement and a very busy main road, not handy with a baby in a buggy. So I want to take some action.
I have considered a number of things but most will involve me and criminal damage and I know that I'll end up in the wrong.
What I would like to do is every time we see someone doing it, politely tell them that they are causing an offence and then call the local police and report it, I don't expect an instant reaction from the police but we do have a new village bobby and I get the impression he is keen so hopefully with a bit of badgering he might show up one day and book someone...
However before I do anything I need to know what the law states as I may be wasting my time and the anonymous wheel clamping idea might the way forward..
Thanks
David
Our house backs onto a small blissfully quiet lane (no through road) which is smashing unless the infants’ school across the back is taking in or chucking out the kids. I can live with the huge numbers of people carriers with 2 people in them) and 4x4s that congest the place but I'm getting very hacked off with not being able to open my back gate (it swings outwards) because some tosser has parked across it.
We have put a very large red sign on it (no parking) which helped a little until someone ripped it off yesterday (after we politely asked if she could move her espace).
I've had enough, we do have a front door but that is three steep steps on to a very narrow pavement and a very busy main road, not handy with a baby in a buggy. So I want to take some action.
I have considered a number of things but most will involve me and criminal damage and I know that I'll end up in the wrong.
What I would like to do is every time we see someone doing it, politely tell them that they are causing an offence and then call the local police and report it, I don't expect an instant reaction from the police but we do have a new village bobby and I get the impression he is keen so hopefully with a bit of badgering he might show up one day and book someone...
However before I do anything I need to know what the law states as I may be wasting my time and the anonymous wheel clamping idea might the way forward..
Thanks
David
Nightmare scenario David...some people are just ignorant. My parents have the same problem where they live so I see it from both sides...
Firstly obstruction, if they block your gate, it's an obstruction (it's not always but yours sounds fine). Call the police, say you need to be somewhere urgently and take the message (CAD) number.
When you have a few CAD numbers collected, write to the school (who will send out a letter to parents) and your local bobby. Keep doing this! You will probably be upgraded to the staus of "beat complaint" at some point which means they will send a really mean, hairy arsed copper (like me
) to keep an eye on the situation and deal as necessary, maybe for a week (commitments permitting)
People who abuse you commit an offence. People who rip signs from your gate commit an offence. Take their reg number. Phone up. Get a CAD number. Once the message is recorded we will at least speak to them (if you don't want to press charges)
I KNOW it sounds petty but keeping the Queens peace is what we're paid for and I get sent to jobs like this almost daily! It's part of what we get paid for...you pay the tax that pays our wages (as I'm often reminded
) so you might as well get something back! 
Hope it helps, good luck!
Firstly obstruction, if they block your gate, it's an obstruction (it's not always but yours sounds fine). Call the police, say you need to be somewhere urgently and take the message (CAD) number.
When you have a few CAD numbers collected, write to the school (who will send out a letter to parents) and your local bobby. Keep doing this! You will probably be upgraded to the staus of "beat complaint" at some point which means they will send a really mean, hairy arsed copper (like me
) to keep an eye on the situation and deal as necessary, maybe for a week (commitments permitting) People who abuse you commit an offence. People who rip signs from your gate commit an offence. Take their reg number. Phone up. Get a CAD number. Once the message is recorded we will at least speak to them (if you don't want to press charges)
I KNOW it sounds petty but keeping the Queens peace is what we're paid for and I get sent to jobs like this almost daily! It's part of what we get paid for...you pay the tax that pays our wages (as I'm often reminded
) so you might as well get something back! Hope it helps, good luck!
Mad Dave said:
My best mate has the same problem, also with a school - people keep parking in his parking spaces!
Hes taken to shouting abuse at them when they won't move and threatening to block them in with his works van.
He'll do it too, crazy bastard
Great stuff
! Direct action is the only thing that works with some of these people! Had a car parked in my office parking space for over 2 hrs, left lots of stikcy notes on it, kept checking about every 30 mins to see if it was there, in the end I just blocked it in (all on private land).
About an hour later this woman (lentle looking) came to our offices in a huf and whinged about being blocked in etc.. blah blah and you obvoulsly dont have children blah blah and my children are waiting for me to pick them up and they wont know where I am and Im now late because of you!
the cheeck of it ! :haha:
About an hour later this woman (lentle looking) came to our offices in a huf and whinged about being blocked in etc.. blah blah and you obvoulsly dont have children blah blah and my children are waiting for me to pick them up and they wont know where I am and Im now late because of you!
the cheeck of it ! :haha:
I occasionally have a similar problem. The first time this happened I called the police and they came and put a fixed penalty on the windscreen. This lentlist, caftan wearing pile of hormonal imbalance appeared and got all stroppy and abusive with the copper and told hime he was a 
arsehole and she was not happy she had been done and was therefore going to leave her car there all night (so I couldn't get in my garage to put my car away). He smiled and said fine. When she had gone, the tow truck appeared and it cost her £130 to get it out of the pound. She hasn't spoke to me since.
arsehole and she was not happy she had been done and was therefore going to leave her car there all night (so I couldn't get in my garage to put my car away). He smiled and said fine. When she had gone, the tow truck appeared and it cost her £130 to get it out of the pound. She hasn't spoke to me since. Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff