What happens if you use Police sliproad?

[98elise]

vikingaero said:

I know several people who used Police/Works exits on the M26 as they all got tickets for the offence.

There is a commonly used exit at Farthing Corner Services on the M2. The services used the private parking company to police it and issue invoices. That didn't last long until someone constantly disabled the cameras and the signs went missing. Without the signs they couldn't enforce anything.

I know the Farthing Corner exits well (a relative has lived there for decades). Over the years there have been a few attempts to police it, but they never last long.

They once installed powered barriers which lasted about a week before someone pulled the arms off. They were never replaced.

Some new ANPR cameras went up recently though so they might start trying to enforce it again.

[anonymous-user]

Go on then I'll admit it, i was for the last several years one of the only 2 'policy advisors' looking after all the 'Signed roadside facilities on Englands strategic road network', ie motorway service areas, trunk road service areas, truckstops, etc

Until i walked out for 2nd and final time exactly 12 months ago due to some of the never ending bullcarp and slopey shoulders of the senior managers. (oh and the extremely poor pay and never ending promises).

Not all MSA's have rear access roads. They were knocked out of policy about 15 years ago due to the problems and issues they cause.

One of the latest applications for a new MSA on the western side of the M25 by EXTRA was recently knocked back, not helped by the bullcarp, inuendo and more etc from Thames Valley police about the rear access provision or lack of (then the water fairies tried to muscle in on it) but i didn't expect any different to be honest with it being the police, they keep getting caught out.

silverfoxcc said:

IIRC, there was a thread on pepipoo some time ago where drivers using the Heston 'back roads' were being done by the council using cctv.

Correct and it may be going in on more rear access roads

eldrich said:

Keele services used to be great for getting on/off M6 until they installed automatic bollards - now can only be done on a motorbike.

I have had email after email after complaint and ministerial questions about that so many times as 'mad cat woman' insists that it was a vehicle 'ratrunning' the rear access road that ran over her cat

I knocked up a spreadsheet when i first started several years ago as there was no asset management or knowledge, that has on it where all the rear access are, overbridges by type etc.

The info in the pic below is a general overview as of last spring/summer, all publicity available and has been asked in FOIs which it isn't it is 'business as usual'
Excuse the left hand border, done from phone file.

[Armchair_Expert]

I'm sure the Heston example has a sign prohibiting vehicle traffic / no motor vehicles - although I haven't been there for years.

Not sure what the OP means in terms of signage, but if it is the general "police patrol vehicles only" in blue then I have no knowledge of it being enforceable in any way. However, it may be covered under motorway regs. But then, what if it isn't a motorway? The A3 has plenty of piggy perches and areas marked patrol vehicle only, I wouldn't hesitate to use them in my own car. What's the offence?

[Solocle]

Armchair_Expert said:

I'm sure the Heston example has a sign prohibiting vehicle traffic / no motor vehicles - although I haven't been there for years.

Not sure what the OP means in terms of signage, but if it is the general "police patrol vehicles only" in blue then I have no knowledge of it being enforceable in any way. However, it may be covered under motorway regs. But then, what if it isn't a motorway? The A3 has plenty of piggy perches and areas marked patrol vehicle only, I wouldn't hesitate to use them in my own car. What's the offence?

A roads are very different.

Of course, big A roads often still have clearway regulations, but it's far more debatable. For example, the "hard shoulder" here is a made up surface to the left of the edge of carriageway line.

Since clearways by default prohibit stopping on the carriageway, I'd argue it's legal to park up here.

Certainly stopping on the verge is fine - if that's prohibited the signs will say so.

[Armchair_Expert]

First, if it is an A road, the hard shoulder is not enforceable as it is not a hard shoulder. A3 in surrey is a perfect example, 3 lanes and a ful width hard shoulder, but it is not an actual hard shoulder as it is not a motorway.

The sign means no stopping or waiting at any time. however as you say, that relates to the carriageway - meaning anything off it ( including piggy perches or such like ) can't be in play.

[The Moose]

caziques said:

Many years ago I used to use Corley Services on the M6 every day to go to work and home - barriers were tried, (which a low car fitted under), then chains (wrap round the barrier).

Don't know what happened in the end - I moved to NZ

Quite a drastic step to take

[NikBartlett]

Solocle said:

NikBartlett said:

The Westbound barrier has not been in operation since my wife has been working there ( so at 5 years now ) and there is no barrier on the Eastbound side. There are cameras but have never received a ticket on any of the vehicles we have owned including ones that have not be registered on the car park system. From time to time have even exited off one side to get to the other side services if only to avoid the rat run through the village and narrow lanes.

Maybe the cameras are there just to clock your exit for the ANPR

Agree with the ANPR. You can only register one vehicle on the system at a time for parking. If you are a 2 car household and sometimes swap cars, you have to remember to register the other car temporarily in the WH Smiths on the site before you start your shft, otherwise they'll fine you after 2 hours, even if you did sneak in and out the side entrance.

[S11Steve]

Many years ago when living in near Stoke and working in Chester, I would frequently, almost near daily, use the rear access road from Sandbach services - it would save about 10 minutes each way instead of using J17 or J16.

Until one day I was met with a team of TrafPol waiting at the end to have a word with people about it.

At the time, the road simply hd a large "Authorised access only" sign, but we (plenty of us were stopped that day) were advised that it would soon have a No entry sign placed on it, and failing to comply with that signage could result in a FPN - 3 points and £60 at the time.

And soon enough, the sign appeared, and remains there to this day.

https://goo.gl/maps/WVhF9NcCvCDGbsiu5


Now, I know that sometimes the police may be "mistaken" when it comes to the legal nuances of roads signs and stuff, but I would struggle to argue against the point they were making.

[anonymous-user]

S11Steve said:

And soon enough, the sign appeared, and remains there to this day.

https://goo.gl/maps/WVhF9NcCvCDGbsiu5

Now, I know that sometimes the police may be "mistaken" when it comes to the legal nuances of roads signs and stuff, but I would struggle to argue against the point they were making.

The bold bit is correct.
It's unlikely to even have the relevant side roads order on it never mind the TRO.
Even more so given it is in Cheshire East and their highways department in cahoots with Ringway Jacobs are shockingly incompetent.

[FatboyKim]

Was on the north part of the M25 headed west just before the M11 there is one of these little emergency service sliproads. A police traffic Volvo made its way through the fairly heavy but still fast flowing traffic in the afternoon. It zigzagged for about a mile with all its rear lights on and a big 'KEEP BACK.... KEEP BACK' scrolling message on LED display.

Cars held back a bit and it was quite a sight when the Volvo veered at speed from lane 4 straight over to lane 1 and U-turned on the hard shoulder to zip the wrong way up this slip road, presumably to nip across the bridge and down the opposite sliproad the wrong way to head back eastbound.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.6680612,0.156506...

[J__Wood]

Solocle said:

Since clearways by default prohibit stopping on the carriageway, I'd argue it's legal to park up here.

But wouldn't you then risk get caught by the 1835 Highway Act (and RTA 1988 sect 34):
The offence back then was “driving” on the footway, mostly driving – i.e. herding – animals on the footway.
While all other parts of the 1835 Highway Act have been either amended or repealed, clause 72 remains in force:
“If any person shall wilfully ride upon any footpath or causeway by the side of any road made or set apart for the use or accommodation of foot passengers; or shall wilfully lead or drive any horse, ass, sheep, mule, swine, or cattle or carriage of any description, or any truck or sledge, upon any such footpath or causeway; or shall tether any horse, ass, mule, swine, or cattle, on any highway, so as to suffer or permit the tethered animal to be thereon.”

I'm sure if bored plod saw you driving on the verge they could ask you how you intended to move from your carriage/motor carriage and if you admitted a plan to walk on verge/footway/path they would have their 'driving on the footway'... ?

[Solocle]

J__Wood said:

But wouldn't you then risk get caught by the 1835 Highway Act (and RTA 1988 sect 34):
The offence back then was “driving” on the footway, mostly driving – i.e. herding – animals on the footway.
While all other parts of the 1835 Highway Act have been either amended or repealed, clause 72 remains in force:
“If any person shall wilfully ride upon any footpath or causeway by the side of any road made or set apart for the use or accommodation of foot passengers; or shall wilfully lead or drive any horse, ass, sheep, mule, swine, or cattle or carriage of any description, or any truck or sledge, upon any such footpath or causeway; or shall tether any horse, ass, mule, swine, or cattle, on any highway, so as to suffer or permit the tethered animal to be thereon.”

I'm sure if bored plod saw you driving on the verge they could ask you how you intended to move from your carriage/motor carriage and if you admitted a plan to walk on verge/footway/path they would have their 'driving on the footway'... ?

The verge isn't exactly made or set aside for foot passengers, though. And people drive across footways to access property, which is an exception.