letting down tyres

[PAULJ5555]

Simple question, is it an offence to let down someones tyres?

Just letting the air out, not cutting them so no damage is caused.

[blugnu]

I doubt it's a specific offence, but I'm sure it would be covered by the 'behaving like an idiot' legislation.

Plus, the weight of a car on a flat tyre will damage it.

and it's not your property.

And you may be liable for any losses directly resulting from your actions.

Why would you want to let someone's tyres down? Please don't tell me it's some petty 'revenge' ...

[Citizen09]

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/52/sectio... - s.22A RTA 1988 might cover it - "Causing danger to road-users."

RTA 1988 said:

(1)A person is guilty of an offence if he intentionally and without lawful authority or reasonable cause—

(a)causes anything to be on or over a road, or

(b)interferes with a motor vehicle, trailer or cycle, or

(c)interferes (directly or indirectly) with traffic equipment,

in such circumstances that it would be obvious to a reasonable person that to do so would be dangerous.

I had to look it up though TBH; traffic offences aren't my forte.

Edited by Citizen09 on Sunday 21st November 11:49

[14-7]

It can be classed as criminal damage even if no actual damage is caused to the tyre itself.

For instance if the driver comes back to the car and sees that the tyre is flat then takes it to be changed and buys a new one.

[insanojackson]

if its on a road or local authority parking place its an offence of tampering with a motorvehicle

[CommanderJameson]

Vincent Vega said:

What's more chickenst than fking with a man's automobile? I mean, don't fk with another man's vehicle.

Words to live by.

[WeirdNeville]

I'd class it at interference with a motor vehicle, or criminal damage if permanent damage is done.

[PAULJ5555]

Not going to let down anyones tyres lol

Just reading a lot of threads on here about people getting blocked in/out buy idiots with no brains, most people say tow it down the road, let the tyres down, put a note on the car.

[Petemate]

Just see the recent thread Parking across drive - all covered ('scuse the pun....)

[Scraggles]

find that removing the tyre valves and sticking them on the windscreen with a note works well, no damage and as most drivers not have a tyre valve tool, takes them a long time to refit

[Mr GrimNasty]

Interfering etc. aside, criminal damage does not have to be permanent e.g. daubing with mud that can easily be washed off. It is still criminal damage.

[jmorgan]

Scraggles said:

find that removing the tyre valves and sticking them on the windscreen with a note works well, no damage and as most drivers not have a tyre valve tool, takes them a long time to refit

Good idea, immobilise a car blocking something.

[10 Pence Short]

ajstephe said:

WeirdNeville said:

I'd class it at interference with a motor vehicle, or criminal damage if permanent damage is done.

The offence of vehicle interference is where there is an intention to take or steal the vehicle or anything in or on a vehicle having interfered with it. I don't think it would cover letting someone's tyres down (unless you were going to steal the car). You'd probably best off looking down the criminal damage route for an offence.

Not sure I agree with your interpretation. The word 'dangerous' at the end of offence description tends to suggest it's about dealing with a person who is trying to 'booby trap' a road or vehicle.

[Starfighter]

Most places charge for the air now, could removing someshing that will require cost to replace be termed as theft?

[insanojackson]

someone look up tamering with a motor vehicle and there is your answer, its not the same thing as vehicle interference

[Ray Luxury-Yacht]

Section 5 if caught in the act?

[WeirdNeville]

ajstephe said:

10 Pence Short said:

ajstephe said:

WeirdNeville said:

I'd class it at interference with a motor vehicle, or criminal damage if permanent damage is done.

The offence of vehicle interference is where there is an intention to take or steal the vehicle or anything in or on a vehicle having interfered with it. I don't think it would cover letting someone's tyres down (unless you were going to steal the car). You'd probably best off looking down the criminal damage route for an offence.

Not sure I agree with your interpretation. The word 'dangerous' at the end of offence description tends to suggest it's about dealing with a person who is trying to 'booby trap' a road or vehicle.

10p you are right, section 22a RTA:

.....interferes with a motor vehicle, trailer or cycle, or interferes (directly or indirectly) with traffic equipment, in such circumstances that it would be obvious to a reasonable person that to do so would be dangerous.

That's the one I was going for. One of those cases where I knew there was an offence, but would have had to look it up for the wording!

Anyway, it' ain't right, so nick 'em for something and sort it out at the nick!

[BertieWooster]

When I was in BiB training school nearly a decade ago we had a very lengthy discussion with our training Sgt on this very issue (he thought it would be amusing). The outcome of the fairly animated debate was that in all probability it wouldn't be criminal damage as merely letting the air out of the tyres shouldn't cause damage. The damage would be caused if the tyres were left in that condition and not re-inflated. However, he said that if we caught any toes rags letting down tyres we could lift them for vehicle interference (Sec 22a RTA).

Bertie W

[Funk]

Let's face it; in a world where a chav can get away with a slap on the wrists for stealing a car or beating seven shades of st out of someone, it's highly unlikely that anyone's going to get done for letting air out of tyres.

[Finlandia]

What if there was a sign,"No parking, tyre deflating in action". Then you could charge £500 for inflating the tyres.