Wheel clamping and the law

[toomush2drink]

Further to the other thread being locked I did a search and found this.

http://www.west-midlands.police.uk/FAQ/faq_clamping.shtml

It appears our friend in the previous post didn't break the law but was borderline if any damage to the clamp had been done. Please remember if you parked illegally you should pay the fine, take responsibility for your own actions !!

I got threatened with the same thing the other day and I was paying for my ticket at the time for a car park ! I was told if it wasn't displayed correctly I would be clamped, I laughed as I was in my sign written van and pointed out it wouldnt be a problem, the guy lightened up when he saw the "all locks opened" bit.

It is a big thing in this country as there are a lot of cowboy outfits in operation ripping people off and could do with some licensing ( a bit like the locksmith trade ) . The biggest thing is you can get clamped parking in an area with very poor signs displayed so you dont even know your commiting a crime. The thing is though it works both ways, you can't damage the clamp and they cannot damage your vehicle, also they must try to fit it to the drive wheel. My friend found out about the drive wheel bit when he came back to find a confused clamper trying to fit one to his car but he couldnt work out why it wouldnt go on, my friends car had lowered suspension so there was no way it could fit.

{edited by Varjeal: Thanks for the info, your post has been locked and stickied in a more appropriate forum. }

[reboot_zero]

I know this sounds like a silly question, but if a cop puts a wheel clamp on your car...and you pick it off (can you?), is it a felony or anything? I mean, surely it can't be your fault if the clamp "falls off"...right? PS. I'm talking about US laws...dunno if it's the same in the UK (and Canada) or not.

[Slam]

I'm not sure about the US laws, but in the UK you could get away with removing the clamp without damage if the car was clamped on private land by a private contractor. This is because it comes under civil laws.

If you car had been clamped by the police, they've done it because you're in violation of a criminal law and you could get yourself into a bit of trouble by attempting to remove it.

[reboot_zero]

I'm not sure about the US laws, but in the UK you could get away with removing the clamp without damage if the car was clamped on private land by a private contractor. This is because it comes under civil laws.

If you car had been clamped by the police, they've done it because you're in violation of a criminal law and you could get yourself into a bit of trouble by attempting to remove it.

I see. But I really dis-like it when I get into "trouble" because I parked in a "firezone"...where there aren't any real buildings, and I look down at the ground and see maybe enough red on the curb to fill up a ketchup packet x_x. So, if they had put a clamp on my truck, I WOULD have removed it. I wouldn't damage it though, because then it's damaging property...and that is un-skillful craft, and simply stupid. Just didn't know what the cops would say about a tire clamp just..."falling off".

[MrB]

Hmmm...I thought this sticky was locked. Now I notice a bunch of stickies here are unlocked. How and when did that happen?