Homeowners know the infuriating feeling when discovering a car has parked over your driveway restricting your ability to access your property and park your own vehicle, potentially forcing you to park elsewhere. The frustrating ordeal can also inconvenience and potentially cause delays to your day.
One resident was so annoyed by the matter that they sought advice from the police and asked: “Someone has parked their car and it is blocking my driveway. What shall I do?”. In response to their question on the Ask the Police website, operated by the Police National Legal Database, the force initially advised to check with neighbours to identify the vehicle’s owner so it can be moved if access to your driveway is impeded.
The website said: “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.”
The advice continued: “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 has not been adopted by your local council, you should contact your local police force. Those who do this should be warned the force may only take action if a car has been blocked in, preventing you from getting out your property.
The Metropolitan Police acknowledges the “irritation it can cause” but encourages people to “find the owner of the vehicle” and if you cannot find them to try leaving a note on their windscreen.
The statement reads: “If someone has blocked your driveway so you can’t drive in, we appreciate this can be very frustrating.
“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.
“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.”
Weighing in on the issue the RAC says: “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.”