Wheel clamp

If I were to get clamped (I've not!) whats there to stop me cutting it off and driving away with it? I appreciate that it's criminal damage but is it not my word against the clampers that a clamp existed?

[Bluepete]

They usually photograph the clamp in place with the number plate in view.

Pete

Some time ago there were people cutting them off and admitting criminal damage as opposed to paying the extortionate fine.....
If you cut it off and drove away, without evidence of you actually doing it then why not say somebody else must have cut it off ????

Reasonable doubt ......

Originally Posted by FG1

Reasonable doubt ......

Aren't vandalism and parking enforcement civil matters so instead of reasonable doubt you're looking at the balance of probabilities?

[Red Herring]

Vandalism is normally criminal damage, and that's a criminal offence (the clue is in the name), although under a certain value it's summary only so the worse you can get is 6 months. Sounds like a bargain compared to what they charge these days to release a clamp.

Originally Posted by FG1

Some time ago there were people cutting them off and admitting criminal damage as opposed to paying the extortionate fine.....

If you cut it off and drove away, without evidence of you actually doing it then why not say somebody else must have cut it off ????



Reasonable doubt ......

Yes, that's what I thought. I wonder if it's ever been used as an argument - I expect it has, and presumably it didn't work!

Clamping is illegal now though, isn't it?

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

[Red Herring]

A friend of mine came up with the perfect solution when a particular school run mum kept parking her car on his property for about forty minutes each afternoon. He finally jacked up the front of the car and took off both drive wheels, taking them into the police station and reporting them as "found" property. No damage to the vehicle, no theft as he had no intention of keeping them, and he didn't move the vehicle so no TWOC either. It did ruffle a few feathers but he appears to have been well advised so nothing came of it..... except she did stop parking there!

[Bluepete]

DVLA and bailiffs with warrants can still clamp.

Originally Posted by Red Herring

A friend of mine came up with the perfect solution when a particular school run mum kept parking her car on his property for about forty minutes each afternoon. He finally jacked up the front of the car and took off both drive wheels, taking them into the police station and reporting them as "found" property. No damage to the vehicle, no theft as he had no intention of keeping them, and he didn't move the vehicle so no TWOC either. It did ruffle a few feathers but he appears to have been well advised so nothing came of it..... except she did stop parking there!

I think he must have been pretty sure of himself! Nice solution.