PARKING can be a problem on Britain's crowded streets, with many weary workers and busy mums struggling lớn find a space when they get home.
Bạn đang xem: Is it illegal to park across someone’s driveway and can people park in front of your house?
And it can be especially frustrating when somebody keeps taking "your" space, right outside your house. But is there anything you can vì about it?
On-street parking can be a problem in Britain's crowded towns và citiesCredit: PA:Press Association
Are you entitled lớn the parking space outside your house?
Your neighbours might try to lớn leave the space outside your house for you out of niceness, but it's no legal requirement.
The police are keen to lớn remind people that it's not 'your right' to lớn park in front of your house - unless you have a designated parking space.
And before you try your luck, you're not allowed lớn save 'your' space with a cone, either.
Leaving anything on the road can be seen as an obstruction & is against the law unless you've been given permission by the council.
Provided your street isn't governed by residents' parking permits, any member of the public can park there - as long as they are complying with restrictions and not causing obstructions.
And if your street uses permits, anyone with the requisite permit can park anywhere in the relevant zone.
There's also no law on how long someone can park in the same space for, unless police think the car has been abandoned.
Do your neighbours take up a space on the street while they have a perfectly good driveway they don't use?
Again, they're doing absolutely nothing wrong in the eyes of the law, even if they're denying you access to that much-needed last parking space.
It is, however, illegal to lớn park directly outside a school, on the zig-zag lines lớn a pedestrian crossing, and in designated marked bays you don't have a permit for.
On a pedestrian crossing, including the area marked by the zig-zag linesIn marked taxi baysIn a cycle laneOn red linesIn spaces reserved for blue Badge holders, residents or motorbikes (unless entitled to bởi so)Near a school entranceAnywhere that would prevent access for Emergency ServicesAt or near a bus/tram stopOpposite or within 10 metres of a junctionOver a dropped kerbIn front of the entrance khổng lồ a property
Is it illegal to lớn park across someone's driveway?
If someone is blocking your driveway, or their wheel is over the dropped kerb, they are committing a parking offence.
There are two types of dropped kerbs: those for pedestrians, especially those with buggies or in wheelchairs, và those for drivers to access driveways.
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Vehicles parked across dropped kerbs can be ticketed, even if they're not fully blocking it.
But parking very close to lớn a dropped kerb or directly opposite it isn't illegal, even if it restricts access.
Is it illegal for someone khổng lồ park on your driveway?
A strange legal loophole means anyone can park on your driveway - & there's not much you can bởi vì about it.
There have been a number of cases in the UK where homeowners have been stuck with a stranger's oto on their driveway, only lớn be told neither police nor local authorities have the power lớn move it.
In the instance of a stranger parking on your driveway, an issue arises when the line between criminal & civil law is blurred.
If a car is parked on a public road and it's blocking your driveway, local authorities certainly have the power to issue a fine.
But once the oto moves onto your drive, it's technically on private property - và local councils have no jurisdiction.
Councils are required lớn remove abandoned cars from both public và private property, but if the motor in question is taxed, insured, has a valid MOT và isn't in a dangerous condition, they are unlikely khổng lồ touch it on private land.
Police will acknowledge the car is technically trespassing, but they will classify it as a civil offence, dropping it far down their priority list & meaning you would need an eviction notice from the courts.
Jack Cousens, head of roads policy for the AA, said: “In a bizarre way, the system seems lớn favour the offender over the victim in this case.
“Because the offence of trespass is a civil matter the police cannot get involved, & as the vehicle is on private land the council cannot help either.
“So the only options available to homeowners seeking lớn get back what is rightfully theirs, costs both time and money."
