Motorcycle at railway station - cp plus fine

Cinoxshott

Hi

My husband received a "warning" that his motorcycle would be clamped for parking in an unauthorised place at Claygate station.

Southwest trains website states that charges
Are only for motorised vehicles with 3 wheels or more

The motorcycle was not taking up a parking space nor causing any obstruction

How do we handle this cp plus say they have no map to provide me with to determine what is and what is not an Authorized place for motorcycle parking. The bicycle bay is on the platform so I can't park there advice please - I don't care about threats but will go ballistic if the motorcycle is clamped

Stephen_Leak

At least it's just a warning. Clamping on private land will become illegal in October, so we are expecting a "feeding frenzy" before then.

Personally, I'd write to South West Trains. Ask them where you can park a motorcycle and also drop CP+ in the !!!! with them.

Coupon-mad

Can you scan in this 'warning' please? I assume it's a piece of paper that was attached to the bike?

Secondly, do the signs in that car park mention clamping at all? Check them. Do they state a clamp release fee as a figure as well?

Thirdly, I don't think CP Plus clamp at all, they only 'ticket' (fake PCNs, IGNORE of course!). So it's an idle threat in my view - we had a similar thread a couple of months ago with a written threat from Euro Car Parks who also are not clampers. Nothing happened of course and the OP complained to the retail occupier about the parking agent's bullyboy tactics.

A PPC can only clamp if the operative has an SIA Immobiliser's licence AND there are clear clamping warning signs up including a stated release fee (otherwise they have to release it for nowt!).

Also clamping/towing on private land is being made a criminal offence in October so not long now...!

Finally and most importantly. If ever a motorbike is clamped, you would be MAD not to just get a couple of friends to help lift and remove the whole bike, clamp and all! Anyone who pays a private clamper over a motorbike clamp situation would need their head examining surely!

Take the whole bike/clamp away from the car park, take it home (on a truck maybe) or to a garage and remove the wheel and remove the clamp undamaged. That is not an offence as long as a clamp is undamaged and is returned. You could return the offending clamp via the local Police station saying it was found on your bike, it's been removed easily without damage and you want to hand it in as you've no idea how to return it otherwise and wanted them to witness that it is indeed not damaged.

Do as Stephen Leak has suggested and also ask for clarification from SW Trains, whether CP Plus are authorised to make clamping threats (if there are no clamping signs there then specifically point out that it would be unlawful and SW Trains would be jointly liable for the actions of their agent).

Stigy

Coupon-mad wrote: »

Thirdly, I don't think CP Plus clamp at all, they only 'ticket' (fake PCNs, IGNORE of course!). So it's an idle threat in my view - we had a similar thread a couple of months ago with a written threat from Euro Car Parks who also are not clampers. Nothing happened of course and the OP complained to the retail occupier about the parking agent's bullyboy tactics

Unfortunately CP Plus do clamp vehicles at Railway Stations, and the signage is there to warn of this. They usually only do so for persistent offenders though. It's a tricky one with motorbikes, as a lot of Railway Stations don't have specific places for Motorcycles, and most riders will not want to park in a car space as there's no point given the size of the bike, plus it's asking for trouble as the space looks empty until you approach it, and could result in the bike being knocked over etc.

I'd get in touch with SWT and avoid CP Plus. SWT's Retail Standards Dept. will be able to advise exactly where, if any, specific motorcycle parking is situated. I guess CP Plus could have ticketed the bike if they deemed it inappropriately parked, but chose not to in these circumstances, but warn instead. Now from a PPC, I think this does demonstrate discretion...to an extent.

bazster

Geez, they would be taking their lives in their hands clamping a lot of people's bikes. Motorcyclists are a touchy lot when it comes to their pride-and-joy, and many would think nothing of removing the wheel, taking it to a workshop and attacking the clamp with an angle grinder. Then they would gleefully return and ride their bike away leaving a heap of yellow scrap on the floor. Call the police? Go ahead, do your worst...

But all irrelevant in a few weeks anyway.