Homeowners can be left seething when they find their driveways blocked by inconsiderate drivers. In a recent case, one annoyed resident sought police advice on how to handle such a situation.
The individual turned to the Ask the Police website, run by the Police National Legal Database, querying: “Someone has parked their car and it is blocking my driveway. What shall I do?”.
The initial suggestion from the police is to ask around the neighbours to find the owner of the obstructing vehicle, especially if it hinders access to your property. Some local councils may also be able to provide assistance in these scenarios.
The guidance on the website reads: “In most areas local councils have now taken on responsibility for enforcing parking provisions under what is known as Civil Parking Enforcement (CPE). Under CPE, it’s an offence to park a vehicle that blocks a dropped kerb driveway. You can check if your local council has taken on CPE via the link here.”
It further advises: “If your council has taken on CPE, you will usually need to report vehicles that are obstructing a dropped kerb directly to them – you can contact them via the link here.”
However, if CPE isn’t in place in your area, the next step is to reach out to the local police force. But bear in mind, the police may only intervene if a vehicle is trapped, preventing you getting out from the driveway.
The Metropolitan Police have addressed the common gripe of blocked driveways, expressing sympathy for the inconvenience it causes. They stated: “If someone has blocked your driveway so you can’t drive in, we appreciate this can be very frustrating.”
They suggest a neighbourly approach to resolve the matter: “If you can find the owner of the vehicle, we’d first recommend asking them politely to move it. If you can’t find them, try leaving a note on their windscreen. After all, they may not realise they have caused a problem.”
Should these measures prove ineffective, the Met advises contacting local authorities: “If this doesn’t work, please contact your local council. If a person has blocked your driveway and is preventing you from getting your own vehicle out, we may be able to help. You can report antisocial behaviour online.”
The RAC has also given insight into the legalities of parking on the road: “It is perfectly legal to park outside someone’s house, unless the vehicle is blocking a driveway or a wheel is over a dropped kerb. Where no parking controls exist, drivers do not have an ‘automatic spot’ for parking outside their homes.”
They provide additional guidance for situations where access is blocked: “If your vehicle is on your driveway and another car is parked on a public highway and blocking your access out of your driveway, the council has the power to act. But if that other car is on a drive, it’s technically on private property – and the council has no authority to remove it.”