People who block driveways

[andy_quantum]

Got up this morning and one of the neighbours had parked across the drive, blocking me in. They've done it before and I havent had a problem with it as usually a knock on the door and a quick request to move it sees it moved. Up until I find out today that he's done it again, got a lift to work and taken the keys with him

So cue me, needing to get a car out to run a couple of errands and see a customer, cant because numbnuts thinks it's OK for him to leave his car wherever he wants

A quick call to the local police and it's apparent there's not a lot they can do. I had it in my head that there's something the police could do to bump it out of the way legally, but turns out they can write a ticket and thats it.

The guy isnt in his most affluent state, and much as I wanted the police to give it him with whatever they could, it still wouldnt help me move his car so I didnt see the point.

So, legally - can I optimise the parking strategy he has adopted?

With a friends 4x4 and some rope?

[crmcatee]

he's blocking a junction with the road.

4x4 and a Winch will soon move him.

[silversun]

Ooh, this infuriates me. I used to live near a school and an old people's home and the driveway was regularly blocked by idiots who would literally refuse to move until they had dropped their child off/delivered the meals on wheels.

Personally, I would tow his car out of the way.

[soprano]

I can't remember exactly but I think its either the police or the local authority who can move a vehicle if it is blocking access to a public highway.

One of my neighbours a couple of years ago decided they would start to park ON my driveway!!! Neither the police nor council would help as it wasnt blocking access to a public highway - one of them did send a tow truck pretty quickly but the guy couldn't touch it because it was on private property (my private property!) - I s**t you not!!

He told me if it was blocking access he could have taken it away.

[Moose1978]

My Dad used to have a very good solution to this. A Scimitar GTE with tow bar attached - engage reverse and

[AJS-]

Moose1978 said:

My Dad used to have a very good solution to this. A Scimitar GTE with tow bar attached - engage reverse and

My Dad used to ahve a Scimitar with a tow bar. Useful weapon! I remember when a boy racer Escort with rally style spot lights across the front into the back of him. Totally demolished the spot lights and didn't touch the Scimitar. Good cars in their way.

[Glassman]

AFAIK the police can remove a car (or move it) if it is blocking you in.

But if you're blocked out, they won't get involved.

[Richard C]

Glassman said:

AFAIK the police can remove a car (or move it) if it is blocking you in.

But if you're blocked out, they won't get involved.

use 2 pairs of AWD1 from Machine Mart
and move the offending car easily to the nearest double yellows. Gojaks ( more expensive ) are even easier to use.

Edited by Richard C on Tuesday 23 October 13:59

[AJS-]

How about a big medeaval catapult type thing and just launch their car out of the way?

[bite-me]

Correct

Glassman said:

AFAIK the police can remove a car (or move it) if it is blocking you in.

But if you're blocked out, they won't get involved.

[Glassman]

Law or not, there will always be someone who'll come along and cause an obstruction to your driveway.

I personally have some issues with the commuters who leave their cars in front of my house and walk up to the nearby station on their way to the city for the day (sometimes the cars are left all weekend).
I can't stop them from parking, after all, it is their right to park on a public highway (as long as they are permitted to do so and they are displaying a valid RFL).

So, I've decided to lower the kerbs on both sides of my house leaving anough space for, err... nothing in the middle. Unless someone comes along with half a Smart car, they aint parking in front of my house.

[andy_quantum]

Some good suggestions!!

But my question on the legality still stands. I'm presuming it's unreasonable of me to move the car say, into the middle of a main road and just leave it there horizontal on to traffic flow? After all, I'm now 7 hours behind schedule of what I wanted to do.

But, is it OK to move it enough for me to get my car out?

ETA

Glassman said:

So, I've decided to lower the kerbs

Thats an interesting point, as the kerbs around here arent lowered. So in theory they're not for vehicular access to property

Edited by andy_quantum on Tuesday 23 October 14:09

Edited by andy_quantum on Tuesday 23 October 14:10

[Glassman]

andy_quantum said:

Some good suggestions!!

But my question on the legality still stands. I'm presuming it's unreasonable of me to move the car say, into the middle of a main road and just leave it there horizontal on to traffic flow? After all, I'm now 7 hours behind schedule of what I wanted to do.

But, is it OK to move it enough for me to get my car out?

Erm, maybe not. If it is casuing an obstruction you should consult the local plodski.

[DAVEVO9]

andy_quantum said:

Got up this morning and one of the neighbours had parked across the drive, blocking me in. They've done it before and I havent had a problem with it as usually a knock on the door and a quick request to move it sees it moved. Up until I find out today that he's done it again, got a lift to work and taken the keys with him

So cue me, needing to get a car out to run a couple of errands and see a customer, cant because numbnuts thinks it's OK for him to leave his car wherever he wants

A quick call to the local police and it's apparent there's not a lot they can do. I had it in my head that there's something the police could do to bump it out of the way legally, but turns out they can write a ticket and thats it.

The guy isnt in his most affluent state, and much as I wanted the police to give it him with whatever they could, it still wouldnt help me move his car so I didnt see the point.

So, legally - can I optimise the parking strategy he has adopted?

With a friends 4x4 and some rope?

jack the car up.. drain out the engine oil.. put the sump plug back in.. at least you then know it won't be around for a while

[Chrisgr31]

andy_quantum said:

Thats an interesting point, as the kerbs around here arent lowered. So in theory they're not for vehicular access to property

Well thats probably why the Police can't do anything!

[AJS-]

DAVEVO9 said:

jack the car up.. drain out the engine oil.. put the sump plug back in.. at least you then know it won't be around for a while

Haha, no it won't be going anywhere - it will be blocking your drive until he changes the engine!

[DAVEVO9]

AJS- said:

DAVEVO9 said:

jack the car up.. drain out the engine oil.. put the sump plug back in.. at least you then know it won't be around for a while

Haha, no it won't be going anywhere - it will be blocking your drive until he changes the engine!

It will go bang up the road, so if it was towed back to his place.. I don't think he would then leave it blocking your drive again as it would be awaiting engine repairs. This works a treat a mate of mine did it to a stupid bitch that parked her car all day in front of his drive and went off on a school day trip!

[Hooli]

jack it up & push it into the middle of the road, remove the fuel cap & call the police to report a dangerous (risk of fire due to no fuel cap) car dumped in the middle of the road. it has to be towed within 24hrs.
or move it nicely & go mental at the tosspot when he gets home.

last time it happened to me i just pushed the damn thing across the as it was my landy with winch bumper etc he'd blocked in. considering the car had no tax and obviously illegal tyres (he used for spares for his other car) id have been quite amused to see how he'd want to report it.

Edited by Hooli on Tuesday 23 October 15:52

[Aranell]

Glassman said:

I personally have some issues with the commuters who leave their cars in front of my house and walk up to the nearby station on their way to the city for the day (sometimes the cars are left all weekend).
I can't stop them from parking, after all, it is their right to park on a public highway (as long as they are permitted to do so and they are displaying a valid RFL).

Be glad they aren't parking on your drive. My father caught one lady commuter parking on his drive a little while back. He asked her what she was doing and she replied that there was no room on the road and she didn't want to walk too far to the station and as our drive had plenty of space on it, she was sure my father didn't mind if she parked there for the day

[andy_quantum]

I decided against moving it today, I managed to rearrange the appointments I had to tomorrow. Hoping that the guy turns up this evening though, firstly to give him the gobful I've been saving up all day, and secondly so he moves it in time for tomorrow.

Now if it is still there tomorrow I'll be hiring something pretty powerful, strapping on the tow rope and whipping past as many gatsos as I can find. Hopefully the tyre smoke from handbrake wouldnt obscure the numberplate, and of course I'd return the vehicle to where I found it, so there's no TWOC