Removing a Clamp - What's the best method?
Discussion
Feel free to call me sad, but tonight I'm on a bit of a mission. How do you remove a wheel clamp (Legally)?
No, my car hasn't been clamped, or for that fact have I ever been clamped but living in London I know it is only a matter of time before I see the yellow menace on my car.
When it does happen I was to have that smug sense of satisfaction when talking to the clamper face to face, I want to ask them very nicely to take it off, that them removing it from my car would save a lot of time and hassle on both parts, and then when he refuses and asks me to fork out a release fee that is a considerable fraction of my car's worth, I can go to the boot get my trolley jack, axle stands and tools and gladly get to work.
I want them to call the Police, to fuss that what I'm doing is illegal, to take pictures of me "breaking the law". I want them to say that they'll sue for criminal damage to their clamp, etc, etc. I'll just keep that smug look on my face. I want to wind them up as much as possible
They I want to leave their clamp at the side of the road, get into my car and smuggly drive off. Not before shouting "Better luck next time, lads"
.
So, what is the best method (other that paying of course) I hear that letting the tyre down, jacking the car up and trying to angle it off of the wheel is a good way, but surely A) The clamp is quite "Tight" against the week and B) They may wrap the chain around suspension components surely?
Angle grinding is a good suggestion, but I want that smug satisfaction of beating them whilst they cannot do a single thing
.
Lock Picking also seems like an interesting way, but I'm not sure if I have the patience
No, my car hasn't been clamped, or for that fact have I ever been clamped but living in London I know it is only a matter of time before I see the yellow menace on my car.
When it does happen I was to have that smug sense of satisfaction when talking to the clamper face to face, I want to ask them very nicely to take it off, that them removing it from my car would save a lot of time and hassle on both parts, and then when he refuses and asks me to fork out a release fee that is a considerable fraction of my car's worth, I can go to the boot get my trolley jack, axle stands and tools and gladly get to work.
I want them to call the Police, to fuss that what I'm doing is illegal, to take pictures of me "breaking the law". I want them to say that they'll sue for criminal damage to their clamp, etc, etc. I'll just keep that smug look on my face. I want to wind them up as much as possible
They I want to leave their clamp at the side of the road, get into my car and smuggly drive off. Not before shouting "Better luck next time, lads"
. So, what is the best method (other that paying of course
) I hear that letting the tyre down, jacking the car up and trying to angle it off of the wheel is a good way, but surely A) The clamp is quite "Tight" against the week and B) They may wrap the chain around suspension components surely?Angle grinding is a good suggestion, but I want that smug satisfaction of beating them whilst they cannot do a single thing
. Lock Picking also seems like an interesting way, but I'm not sure if I have the patience
Not sure if the deflating the tyre method works, I've got a cheap clamp and I think even that would be too tight to shuffle off with the wheel deflated, but it might be worth a try. I'd personally go for some serious bolt cutter type things. An angle grinder would be weapon of choice but I doubt you'd have access to the mains to plug it in and you wouldn't get the power from an inverter plugged into a 12v socket.
You could go and buy a new padlock before cutting their one off. It should be up to the same quality and standard of their original one though. Just cut off said padlock, remove clamp and hand back with new padlock, criminal damage but with a suitable replacement. Be warned though, if the same clampers come across your car parked 'illegally' again you may find it on the back of a tow truck to save them the same problem again might cost a bit more this time!
might cost a bit more this time!The only legal way (and one I have done with success) is to either call a locksmith (or know one ) and then have them pick the lock on the clamp. As you are not picking the lock to gain entry to a property or building (only to free the wheels of your car) then their is no criminal damage and no breaking an entry etc etc.
If the clamper is on the scene (or area overlooked by CCTV) then the Police WILL be called and will make a load of greif but are ussually more than happy once you explain to them what you are doing (as long as they don't charge in and just make willy nilly arrests) and have checked with the boss that you are in the right.
Be warned however, clampers don't like this, and even one mark on the padlock such as a scratch whilst picking it will be treated and persued as criminal damage...on the other hand, any locksmith worth even half his weight in gold won't make any damage to the lock, thats the point of picking it.
I did get a few letters through the post asking for their £90!!! release fee but pretty much I just replied with "Why, you have not got my car anymore, good luck fellas)
To be honest, I was 17 and silly...I would just pay up these days to save the hassel but it was a good laugh in their face at the time.
As for deflating the tyre and driving off! This will not work...atleast not with the clamp that was on my car as the metal chain was wound round the suspension, if I had driven off I would have probably ripped the suspension out.
HTH
) and then have them pick the lock on the clamp. As you are not picking the lock to gain entry to a property or building (only to free the wheels of your car) then their is no criminal damage and no breaking an entry etc etc.If the clamper is on the scene (or area overlooked by CCTV) then the Police WILL be called and will make a load of greif but are ussually more than happy once you explain to them what you are doing (as long as they don't charge in and just make willy nilly arrests) and have checked with the boss that you are in the right.
Be warned however, clampers don't like this, and even one mark on the padlock such as a scratch whilst picking it will be treated and persued as criminal damage...on the other hand, any locksmith worth even half his weight in gold won't make any damage to the lock, thats the point of picking it.
I did get a few letters through the post asking for their £90!!! release fee but pretty much I just replied with "Why, you have not got my car anymore, good luck fellas)
To be honest, I was 17 and silly...I would just pay up these days to save the hassel but it was a good laugh in their face at the time.
As for deflating the tyre and driving off! This will not work...atleast not with the clamp that was on my car as the metal chain was wound round the suspension, if I had driven off I would have probably ripped the suspension out.
HTH
Tanguero said:
I would have thought that a chain around the suspension - no matter how carefully places is likely to cause some damage (if only minor scratches). Just as good grounds for perusing the clamper for criminal damage?
I suppose yes, but this would probably be covered somewhat by the fact that they are licensed to fit a clamp that you agreed to them fitting it by entering into the contract by parking.The odd, reasonable, scratch, just as wear and tear is used as a by-product of use would be a by-product of them fitting the clamp?
Mr E Driver said:
I wonder how you stand if you use a battery powered angle grinder or bolt cutters on the padlock and leave them with a good quality padlock to replace the damaged one
I would say it is the same as you smashing the crap out if someones brand new car but then saying "It's ok, here is another one for you, exactly the same as the one I just broke"You would probably get off lighter, but its stil Criminal Damage all the same.
Edited by ymwoods on Tuesday 19th January 01:55
Simps said:
Feel free to call me sad, but tonight I'm on a bit of a mission. How do you remove a wheel clamp (Legally)?
No, my car hasn't been clamped, or for that fact have I ever been clamped but living in London I know it is only a matter of time before I see the yellow menace on my car.
When it does happen I was to have that smug sense of satisfaction when talking to the clamper face to face, I want to ask them very nicely to take it off, that them removing it from my car would save a lot of time and hassle on both parts, and then when he refuses and asks me to fork out a release fee that is a considerable fraction of my car's worth, I can go to the boot get my trolley jack, axle stands and tools and gladly get to work.
I want them to call the Police, to fuss that what I'm doing is illegal, to take pictures of me "breaking the law". I want them to say that they'll sue for criminal damage to their clamp, etc, etc. I'll just keep that smug look on my face. I want to wind them up as much as possible
They I want to leave their clamp at the side of the road, get into my car and smuggly drive off. Not before shouting "Better luck next time, lads".
So, what is the best method (other that paying of course) I hear that letting the tyre down, jacking the car up and trying to angle it off of the wheel is a good way, but surely A) The clamp is quite "Tight" against the week and B) They may wrap the chain around suspension components surely?
Angle grinding is a good suggestion, but I want that smug satisfaction of beating them whilst they cannot do a single thing.
Lock Picking also seems like an interesting way, but I'm not sure if I have the patience
You don't think they'll stick one on another wheel while your trying to get the other off ?No, my car hasn't been clamped, or for that fact have I ever been clamped but living in London I know it is only a matter of time before I see the yellow menace on my car.
When it does happen I was to have that smug sense of satisfaction when talking to the clamper face to face, I want to ask them very nicely to take it off, that them removing it from my car would save a lot of time and hassle on both parts, and then when he refuses and asks me to fork out a release fee that is a considerable fraction of my car's worth, I can go to the boot get my trolley jack, axle stands and tools and gladly get to work.
I want them to call the Police, to fuss that what I'm doing is illegal, to take pictures of me "breaking the law". I want them to say that they'll sue for criminal damage to their clamp, etc, etc. I'll just keep that smug look on my face. I want to wind them up as much as possible
They I want to leave their clamp at the side of the road, get into my car and smuggly drive off. Not before shouting "Better luck next time, lads"
. So, what is the best method (other that paying of course
) I hear that letting the tyre down, jacking the car up and trying to angle it off of the wheel is a good way, but surely A) The clamp is quite "Tight" against the week and B) They may wrap the chain around suspension components surely?Angle grinding is a good suggestion, but I want that smug satisfaction of beating them whilst they cannot do a single thing
. Lock Picking also seems like an interesting way, but I'm not sure if I have the patience
I bet they can put them on faster than you can get them off.
T89 Callan said:
The easiest thing would be to learn how to pick locks.
A few useful tools may help.Jigglers, padlock picks, bumpers and a pick gun
Of course, if the police stop you with a boot full of goodies they may be a bit curious to see your MLA card.
A more discrete option is something like this.
Depends who put the clamp on your car.
If it's a private clamping firm it's trad. law and burden of proof of anything you do and any losses sustained by them lies with them.
If it's local authority then it's newlaw and then can do what the f
k they like and accuse you of what they like, burden of proof of innocence falls on your shoulders, and in the end the nice policemen will help balliffs seize your car etc.
If it's a private clamping firm it's trad. law and burden of proof of anything you do and any losses sustained by them lies with them.
If it's local authority then it's newlaw and then can do what the f
k they like and accuse you of what they like, burden of proof of innocence falls on your shoulders, and in the end the nice policemen will help balliffs seize your car etc.
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