Selling Cars in Lay-bys.

NAR

We have a lay-by outside our property, used mainly by folk who wish to post letters in the post box or visit residents.

However frequently people are parking their vehicles with For Sale signs up. They do not belong to any of the properties in the locality. At present there are two such vehicles in the lay-by using up half the parking space available. :mad:

Is this legal? Can they be reported to any of the authorities for doing this? I know what I would like to do, but that would get me a charge of causing criminal damage! :rolleyes:

Browntoa

if they have the same contact details I'd report them to trading standards

http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/GenerateContent?CONTENT_ITEM_ID=6338&CONTENT_ITEM_TYPE=0&MENU_ID=10789

We monitor newspaper and other advertisements to identify traders claiming to be private sellers

http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=30263

Crackdown on Roadside Car Sales
We are currently visiting devious motor traders in Cornwall who are posing as 'private sellers' of cars by selling them by the roadside from verges, lay-bys and housing estates.

Purchasing goods from a trader gives the public greater rights if things go wrong than if they were bought from a private individual. Traders selling cars by the roadside and not declaring themselves as such are not only deceiving their customers but are also trading unfairly as they have less overheads and are not paying rates.

Additionally, some of the sites being used are dangerous as the vehicles cause a distraction for road users, obscure visibility at junctions and block lay-bys intended for motorists to use to take a break.

Belair

Not sure if same rules apply in Northern Ireland.

robby-01

NAR wrote: »

We have a lay-by outside our property, used mainly by folk who wish to post letters in the post box or visit residents.

However frequently people are parking their vehicles with For Sale signs up. They do not belong to any of the properties in the locality. At present there are two such vehicles in the lay-by using up half the parking space available. :mad:

Is this legal? Can they be reported to any of the authorities for doing this? I know what I would like to do, but that would get me a charge of causing criminal damage! :rolleyes:

If the cars are being sold by a trader then it could be classed as illegal street selling.If they are owned by a member of the public they are doing nothing wrong.

real1314

robby-01 wrote: »

If the cars are being sold by a trader then it could be classed as illegal street selling.If they are owned by a member of the public they are doing nothing wrong.

There was a story in one of the papers at weekend where members of the public had been done for this too. In fact it seemed as though they had signs in their car all the time and had just parked somewhere that "selling" was prohibited, so they got done for it.
OP could ask the council to make it unlawful, and get a sign put up. Then any car can be fined / other action taken.

NAR

I have emailed the Council to see what their take on this is.

motorguy

Any chance its obscuring vision down the road? Is it definitely taxed and road legal?

steveymp

Keep an eye out on who brings and collects the cars if its the same person time and time again with different vehicles its definately a dealer, a quiet word in their ear then should deter them;)

Failing that send your kids out to play football on the street with a really muddy football;)

IvanOpinion

What amazes me is that people are stupid enough to buy a car from someone n a layby (fools and their money). If the cars are not taxed or do not have an MOT disc displayed (if required) then they are illegal and can be towed ... a simple call to the police should suffice.

Personally I think these are becoming a blight on our streets. Cars with big 'for sale' signs sitting in many laybys and grassy areas on corners etc.

Ivan

Cherryscone

who does the layby belong to? because if the cars being sold are not taxed they wont be parked legally ,why dont you and your neighbours park your own cars there for a day or 2 to see if it stops them .

fredy34

If you dont get any joy from the council then go down the muddy football route or better still just pour filthy water over the cars.

If that doesnt work it would be a real shame if some of the air in the tyres escaped somehow. Ive seen this be used to great effect before ;-D