Police apparently reasssures motorist that persistent illegal parking is OK

I have reported this Jaguar car to the police on a number of occasions for parking in a raised crossing outside a local primary school over the past 9 months – the car even takes pride of place at the the top of our ‘Rogues gallery‘. I saw the owner in his car today for the first time. He told me that the police has visited him about 3 months ago and said that it was OK for him to continue parking as he was. I am very surprised to hear that because I have personally reminded the local sergeant about the Traffic Management Act 2004 (section 86) which says that it is illegal to block a raised crossing. Possibly the police were confused because there is also a single yellow line which doesn’t apply after 6pm. Whatever the truth is, it is clear that the guy didn’t stop parking illegally so the police can’t have done much to enforce the law.

The guy told me that he was moving today, so as a send-off here are some of the photos taken over the past 9 months including one taken today of the van he is using to move house parked up on the raised crossing as well! I will send a copy of this post to my local sergeant in a few days to remind him to respond to my last two letters on the subject. I will include any (polite) messages that are left at the end of this post over the next few days.

Jaguar still on the crossing in August 2011

Jaguar on the raised crossing outside the school in June 2011

Our friend the Jaguar driver again, back in May 2011)

Jaguar on a raised platform with a single yellow line in November 2010)

His removal van up on the raised crossing today!

Quiz

The law in this area is hopelessly complex and no one understands it properly! I say that with some confidence because campaigners don’t agree amongst themselves and I have seen the guidance notes given to my local police and that is wrong as well.

So…. test your knowledge in this quiz and then consider getting your local police and councilors to take it. In each of the questions below you will be presented with a situation shown in both a photograph with an accompanying description. There is enough information given in all cases for someone knowledgeable in parking law to determine in each case. In some cases multiple offenses may have been committed. In some the police and civil enforcement offices have different powers. For some questions you will be asked to respond separately for a number of vehicles. In each instance please answer the following questions:

Are any offenses being committed, if so then what offenses and who can do anything about it, the police or the civil enforcement officers. To be clear you are not being asked to comment on whether the penalty is likely to be applied. This is purely a test of your knowledge of the law. You need to know that Ipswich has opted for ‘de-criminalised parking enforcement’, but that Suffolk Coastal District has not. Kesgrave and Grange Farm are in Suffolk Coastal.

To check the answers for a question you just need to hover over the picture for about 2 seconds and the answer should show up as a ‘hover-over’.

Caudwell Hall Road, Ipswich

This car is parked across the pavement outside a post office/coop on Cauldwell Hall Road, Ipswich. There are double yellow lines. The paved area to the right belongs to the shop where there is room to pass. It is 12noon Saturday

Cauldwell Hall Road, Ipswich

Mill Road, Cambridge

A van stops to unload and parking on the pavement on double yellow lines by a litter bin outside a post-office. People can get by with their shopping as long at they turn sideways and take turns in either direction.

Mill Road, Cambridge

Bell Lane, Kesgrave

This car is parked on the pavement on a share-use path on Bell Lane in Kesgrave. There is good clearance to the side and there are no lines. It is a Sunday 3pm.

Bell lane, Kesgrave

Crabbe St, Ipswich. Q1

These two cars are parked in Crabbe Street Ipswich. There is about 800mm clearance between them. There are no yellow lines.It is 3pm Saturday and no one around. Please answer for both the BMW on the road and for the Volvo on the drive.

Crabbe Street, Ipswich

Crabbe Street, Ipswich. Q2

These two cars are parked in Crabbe Street Ipswich. There is about 800mm clearance between them. There are no yellow lines.It is 3pm Saturday and there is a woman with a ‘walker’ walking around the car in the road. You can actually see her head if you look closely. It is 3pm Saturday. Please answer for both the BMW on the road and for the Volvo on the drive.

Crabbe Street, Ipswich

Freehold Road, Ipswich

This car is parked on Freehold Road, Ipswich. It has it front two wheels up on a raised platform which is at pavement level and also has two wheels on the pavement. Sunday 5pm.

Freehold Road, Ipswich

Camden Road, Ipswich

This van is parked blocking the pavement entirely in Camden Road, Ipswich. 3pm Wednesday.

Camden Road, Ispwich

St John’s Road, Ipswich. Three questions.

These cars are parked on St John’s Road, Ipswich, the blue car is on the road marked with a single yellow line, the red one is on the pavement opposite a double yellow, the black one is on parked fully on private land belonging to the shop.  The sign near the single yellow says ‘8am-6pm Mon-Fri.  The photo was taken at 4pm on Tuesday. Please answer for all three cars.

St John’s Road, Ipswich

Gladstone Road, Ipswich.

The vehicle is fully on the pavement next to double yellow lines on Gladstone Road, Ipswich. Thursday 6pm.

Grange Road, Ipswich

Britannia Road, Ipswich Q1

A Jaguar is parked with two wheels up on the raised platform. There is a single yellow line and a notice saying ‘monday-friday 8am – 6pm’. It is Monday 11am on a school day.

Jaguar on a raised platform with a single yellow line

Britannia Road, Ipswich Q2

A Jaguar and a Mercedes car are each parked with two wheels up on the raised platform. There is no room to cross. There is a single yellow line and a notice saying ‘monday-friday 8am – 6pm’. It is Sunday 3pm.

Britannia Road, Ipswich