Neighbours blocking off driveway... grrr

Lum

If there's a garage and there is a car in that garage, then parking in front of that driveway would be causing an illegal obstruction.

I think I misread my post. I was not advocating parking in front of someone's driveway, I think it's something only douchebags do, I was merely pointing out that the OP has no recourse if someone does this while their driveway is vacant.

derrick

Lum wrote: »

If there's a garage and there is a car in that garage, then parking in front of that driveway would be causing an illegal obstruction.

I think I misread my post. I was not advocating parking in front of someone's driveway, I think it's something only douchebags do, I was merely pointing out that the OP has no recourse if someone does this while their driveway is vacant.

I wasn't having a go, just pointing out that because a driveway is empty, there could be a car in the garage, (assuming there is one), or behind full wooden gates half way up the drive, (as in my case), your post, (quoted), seems to contradict itself, as you agree that "If there's a garage and there is a car in that garage, then parking in front of that driveway would be causing an illegal obstruction.", then you say, "the OP has no recourse if someone does this while their driveway is vacant", how would the obstructer know that they are obstructing just because the driveway is vacant"?

The driveway should never be blocked out of common courtesy. IMO, obstruction to a driveway should be covered both ways,(in and out).

Obstruction:- Act of obstructing; that which impedes progress; obstacle,

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EdGasket

bryanb wrote: »

It is against the law to park accross a dropped kerb. Except your own.

Wrong. Having a dropped kerb associated with your driveway does not imply you have a right to the stretch of road adjacent to said dropped kerb. NO ONE, not even the owner of the property may park across a dropped kerb. You risk having your own car towed away and paying the charges as per a previous poster on this thread.

Lum

derrick wrote: »

I wasn't having a go, just pointing out that because a driveway is empty, there could be a car in the garage, (assuming there is one), or behind full wooden gates half way up the drive, (as in my case), your post, (quoted), seems to contradict itself, as you agree that "If there's a garage and there is a car in that garage, then parking in front of that driveway would be causing an illegal obstruction.", then you say, "the OP has no recourse if someone does this while their driveway is vacant", how would the obstructer know that they are obstructing just because the driveway is vacant"?

The OP has not given any indication that they have a garage or other form of non-driveway vehicle storage so I was picturing a typical driveway that starts at the edge of the property and ends at the front of the house. The post was not intended as formal legal advice that covers every possible house configuration, such as driveways, carports or driveways that extend around to the back of the house.

How is the obstructor supposed to know if it's vacant in the case of a driveway with a garage? they have no way of knowing and frankly I don't care because they're parking in front of someone's driveway and thus they are a douchebag even if the driveway is vacant.

If they park in front of a driveway with garage and there happens to be a car in that garage then they have committed and offence If they park in front of a driveway and the owner has a rotting old Mk3 Ford Escort in their back garden then they have committed an offence if the way to get that car out of the back garden is down the driveway.

derrick

Lum, I am in full agreement with you re obstructing driveways, except I cannot accept that because a drive way is vacant then it is permissible to park across it, (for reasons mentioned above), I also accept this post is "not intended as formal legal advice", but to state carche blanc that an empty driveway is fair game is a blanket statement that is not acceptable, (for reasons mentioned above).


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Lum

I stated that the OPs unoccupied driveway is fair game (subject to the assumptions I stated in my previous post)

It really depends on the setup. Take this driveway for example. If it were unoccupied it would be permissible to park in front of their dropped curb. There is no way they have a car stashed elsewhere on their property that needs that driveway to get out onto the road. It is legally safe to park there.

The houses either side of that house have garages. If their driveway is unoccupied, and you park in front of their dropped curb, and they have a vehicle in that garage you have committed an offence. If they do not have a vehicle in that garage then you have not committed an offence.

derrick

Yes, but my point is that you cannot see into the garages, so the blanket statement it is OK if the drive is vacant does not hold water, no one, in any circumstance should block a driveway, occupied or not, it is pure inconsideration for others.

Have you noticed in your link the caravan obstructing the pavement?Another selfish prat.

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Lum

You've missed my point though. I said the OP's driveway, not any driveway.

I agree entirely that parking in front of anyone's driveway is bad, just pointing out what is and isn't legal so that the OP doesn't waste their time calling the police when they can't get into their driveway.

And yes that caravan owner is indeed a prat. Any wheelchair or pushchair users would be stuffed getting past that. Dropped curbs are hard enough to negotiate in a wheelchair as it is without being forced halfway onto the road. Looks like that curb isn't dropped far enough for a wheelchair anyway.

fivetide

derrick wrote: »

Yes, but my point is that you cannot see into the garages, so the blanket statement it is OK if the drive is vacant does not hold water, no one, in any circumstance should block a driveway, occupied or not, it is pure inconsideration for others.

Have you noticed in your link the caravan obstructing the pavement?Another selfish prat.

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Derrick. Give up. Getting anyone on here to hold their hands up and say "fair point" is a Sisyphus task.

5t.

Lum

fivetide wrote: »

Derrick. Give up. Getting anyone on here to hold their hands up and say "fair point" is a Sisyphus task.

Actually I agree with him and have confirmed as such several times.

The point about garages is still irrelevant to the OPs query, however.