"michael adams" wrote in message
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"NY" wrote in message
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!michael adams" wrote in message
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"Roland Perry" wrote in message
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But people with the householders permission can ignore the "no parking
across the drive" restriction.

Anyone *can* can ignore the "no parking across the drive"
restriction, regardless of whether they have the householder's
permission or not. At least providing there's not already
a car parked there and there's sufficient room for
manouvere.

What surprises me is how powerless the police seem to be when a car is
parked across a drive, blocking access. Given how assiduously the
tow-away trucks take cars that are parked where they are not causing an
obstruction (just outstaying their welcome, which is a *much* less
serious offence IMHO), it's surprising that cars which are causing an
obstruction across a drive cannot legally be towed away, as long as they
have valid tax, MOT and insurance.

My parents have a long layby outside their drive (and outside lots of
neighbouring houses). People park in their in order to walk the 1/4 mile
to the railway station. Fair enough, as long as their are nor blocking
anyone's drive. But on several occasions people have been blocked from
getting their cars out, and the police do not want to know, because the
layby is deemed not to be part for the highway, even though it needs to
be crossed to access drives. (*) One of our neighbours very carefully (so
as to avoid causing damage) jacked up the rear wheels (**) in turn and
put wheelskates underneath, and pushed the car a couple of feet forwards.
The police said that providing no damage was done, this was not illegal.


(*) Interestingly, they weren't even interested in cars parked in the
marked bus stop part of the layby.

(**) The ones which would be locked by the handbrake. I presume he had
already established that the car was not in gear which would have locked
the front wheels, requiring them to be raised as well.

And yet its a potential source of revenue. Is there maybe an ongoing
dispute between the Police and the Local Authority ? Who at least here
in West London, actually cop all the revenue from parking and similar
fines.

It might be a matter of who is going to pay for the tow truck as well.

The owner of the towed car does to get it back.

As to which of them. the designated TT company have the
arrangement with. Maybe its argued it should be the responsibility of
Wardens employed by the Council, general buck-passing IOW.