Clamping Warning Notices

[ilovebrie]

I have just seen two of these fixed on the outer walls of two private
residential premises that back on to a public lane-way. They don't have any company names on them. Are they legal or is permission needed from some authority (Roads Service/Police, etc). I am curious about them because if they are legal then surely everyone could do it.

[delboy3]

I thought clamping on private property was now illegal in England & Wales?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19782680

[ilovebrie]

delboy
The notice is for vehicles parked on a public highway.

[Buenchico]

This is relevant:
http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/wales/consumer_w/consumer_cars_and_other_vehicles_e/consumer_driving_and_parking_e/consumer_wheel_clamping_e/when_your_car_can_be_clamped_or_towed_away.htm

Whether the signs you've seen are legal or not might depend upon how they're worded. For example, if I lived in a house with double yellow lines outside it and regularly observed council parking officials clamping cars parked there, I could put up a sign, attached to my own property, stating "Vehicles Parked Here Are Likely to Be Wheel-Clamped". My notice would simply be stating a fact, not issuing any threats, so it would be both truthful and legal.

[ilovebrie]

I must take a little dander and have another 'casual' look at the wording when I can get the dog off the sofa. I am just curious (OK, nosey).

The double yellow lines are on the other side of the laneway, and there are no official parking restrictions outside any of the houses that back onto it, just polite requests from homeowners asking drivers not to obstruct their garage exit. People generally obey these requests.

Both houses have new garage doors giving access onto the laneway, the same as all the other houses along there.

Thank you for the link, Buenchico. There is a lot of confusion about parking fines and clamping, I know. Your link makes things very clear.

[ilovebrie]

The 'clamping notice' says 'Cars parked here without authorisation are liable to be clamped and charged a release fee'. No phone number, nothing.
This is on a public road that has no parking restrictions on that side.
Surely some law is being contravened? But which one?

[jeffa]

There's nothing illegal about the signs per se, as they are merely warning drivers who park there that it's an area where clamping is rife.

Whether that clamping is legal or not is another matter.

[ilovebrie]

jeffa
I have never seen a car clamped there in over 30 years!

[Baldric]

///The notice is for vehicles parked on a public highway///

[EDDIE51]

Buenchico's post makes it absolutely clear that the notice is illegal and cars parked there can not be clamped apart from the circumstances listed, none of which apply here. Just ignore the notice it is worthless.

[ilovebrie]

Methyl- this is the full wording of the sign, as I posted earlier.
The script is black on a yellow background.
The notice says 'Cars parked here without authorisation are liable to be clamped and charged a release fee'.