Are parking violation stickers illegal?

DukeDredd

I mean the ones that are put on the windscreen of a car and can't be taken off easily? i.e. hot bucket of soapy water and cloth required.

Security where i work use these things when people aren't in a proper parking space - they are these half A4 size labels done in a laser printer and are complete ba$tards to get off the windscreen.

A secretary came back from lunch very upset as she had a near miss with another car and says that the sticker was in her field of view. If you're rushing off to pickup children at lunchtime it's not easy to go looking for a hot bucket of soapy water and a J-cloth!

So anyone know if these stickers are allowed? I mean if they were put on the bodywork of the car surely it would be vandalism so what makes the windscreen any different?

( . )( . )

i pondered this too. they'd have to be illegal???

i seen a car with one the other day, right on the windscreen, i was shocked... :eek:

Creamy Goodness

disregarding the legal status, would anyone seriously drive a car if something blocked their view?

I.S.T.

I'm not sure if they're illegal but I reckon if you were in an accident because they blocked your view the company could be liable. A lof of places will put them on the rear passenger door which is a better idea.

I.S.T.

Cremo wrote:

disregarding the legal status, would anyone seriously drive a car if something blocked their view?

Yeah they would, ever see the idiots driving with all their windows frosted up in winter?!!

saobh_ie

I can't remember where but once I saw a car with a number of these stickers on every window and the windscreen. For sure he shouldn't have parked them but by putting stickers on the windows they've immobilised it.

Cars have more than enough blind spots already and putting more obstructive materials on the windows makes it unsafe to operate them.

fletch

AFAIK they can only place the sticker on the rear drivers side window. I seem to recall hearing about an individual taking a company to court for placing the sticker on a window which obstructed their view. (Anybody else remember hearing this/have a link?)

Mitch Connor

Cremo wrote:

disregarding the legal status, would anyone seriously drive a car if something blocked their view?

if the sticker is for a parking violation, if they do not move the car (and it may not be within range of hot soapy water!) then there problem is being compunded.

Fey!

IIRC, they can put them on a side window but not on the windscreen, front or back, as it obscures the drivers vision.

I once made a clampers spotter (guy on a moped who used to go around putting stickers on cars so that the van guys could spot them easier) remove one he had put on my car; he tried to run away, but a van "accidentally" blocked his moped in where he had (illegally!) parked it. Curiously, my car was legally parked when he stickied it...

Anan1

IrishSpeedTraps wrote:

I'm not sure if they're illegal but I reckon if you were in an accident because they blocked your view the company could be liable.

I'd be surprised if that were the case. The responsibility is on the driver of the car to ensure that their vision is unobstructed. In fact, i'd imagine that anyone involved in an accident while driving with a sticker blocking their view could fairly be charged with dangerous, or at least careless, driving.

DukeDredd

Anan1 wrote:

I'd be surprised if that were the case. The responsibility is on the driver of the car to ensure that their vision is unobstructed. In fact, i'd imagine that anyone involved in an accident while driving with a sticker blocking their view could fairly be charged with dangerous, or at least careless, driving.

Yes but is it not the people who put the sticker there that would be at fault?

The whole idea of these ones is that they are really difficult to remove which i take objection to - i don't think anyone would complain if they were a type that could be peeled off reasonably easily.

It's hardly the car owners fault that someone has placed something in their field of view that they can't remove!

Stephen

Where I work they put the stickers on the small rear quarter window on the drivers' side, assuming the car in question has one. If not they place it low on one of the rear side windows.

I'd hazard a guess that most employers in places where security does this kind of thing have small print somewhere stating that by parking on their premises you are allowing them to sticker you if you park somewhere you're not supposed to.

Edit: Also, if it was easy to peel the stickers off they wouldn't be much of a deterrent would they?

DukeDredd

Stephen wrote:

Edit: Also, if it was easy to peel the stickers off they wouldn't be much of a deterrent would they?

Yes but on the sticker it says "Parking Violation...blah blah blah..." so message received - surely it's outside their remit to also punish the offenders?

WindSock

If it was obstructing your view and you hadnt access to soapy water, couldnt you just roll down the window until you could get it off?

Dr. Seuss

Cremo wrote:

would anyone seriously drive a car if something blocked their view?

The same idiot who parked illegaly to start with probably would.

PaulieC

I often wondered that myself. The notices are so sticky that it takes more than hot water and soap to remove them - you need some kind of thinners or paint stripper or something like that to fully remove all the adhesive. This is effectively vandalism being carried out on a Council's behalf. I know if I ever get one I'll be taking a claim in the small claims court for cleaning costs. I guess that will tell me one way or the other

Del2005

As Fey! said, they can be placed anywhere on a car except the windscreen and they can also stick them onto the panels if they want.
The reason they are hard to get off is cause they are supposed to shame people into not parking illegally and also that if secruity see the sticker already on then they may clamp etc. But some people seem to ware them as a badge of honour.

I know it a bit high horse ish, but the easist way of dealing with them is to park legally then you don't have to worry about it.

Also it's the drivers responsiblity to make sure the car is in a road worthy condition before driving it, so if theres a sticker on the window the driver has to remove it before driving, not the security companies.

gibo_ie

Had this done to me in college, i went into the directors office and complained that it blocked my view and was dangerous as it could not be pealed off easily and cleanly. If it caused an accident i wuold hold him personally responsible.
That evening it had been removed and cleaned and i was told that in future they would not be placed on the driver side window unless it was easily removable!!!
1-0

Anan1

DukeDredd wrote:

Yes but is it not the people who put the sticker there that would be at fault?

No, it's the person who chose to drive even though they couldn't see.

DukeDredd wrote:

It's hardly the car owners fault that someone has placed something in their field of view that they can't remove!

In this case, it kind of is. In any case, if you can't see, for whatever reason, than you can't drive.

Come on, if someone stole your brakes would you still drive?:)

DukeDredd

Anan1 wrote:

Come on, if someone stole your brakes would you still drive?:)

Yes but only because i won't have realised it until i came to the first stop sign!

Anan1

DukeDredd wrote:

Yes but only because i won't have realised it until i came to the first stop sign!

You might realize that your vision was blocked a bit earlier, though?;)

They are not that hard to get off. Use warm water and a window scraper, the blade ones.

Zaph

I believe that the companies who put the stickers on the car are only permitted to put them on the rear passenger windows, as placing them on windscreens or front passenger windows obstructs visibility. I seem to remember a case being taken about this after someone had been in an accident after a sticker had been attached to their front window and they couldn't see oncoming traffic properly at a junction. Of course just because they're not supposed to put them on certain windows doesn't mean they won't.

The tax man

saobh_ie wrote:

I can't remember where but once I saw a car with a number of these stickers on every window and the windscreen. For sure he shouldn't have parked them but by putting stickers on the windows they've immobilised it.

.

Saw something similar a few years back. Car parked on the footpath at the entrance to a gated small estate near Xtravision in Rathgar.
All the windows completely covered with these things. They left one clear spot on the windscreen about the size of a cd case so the driver could see out.

DukeDredd

The tax man wrote:

Saw something similar a few years back. Car parked on the footpath at the entrance to a gated small estate near Xtravision in Rathgar.
All the windows completely covered with these things. They left one clear spot on the windscreen about the size of a cd case so the driver could see out.

This happens where i work too - some of the cars around are more sticker than glass. What i don't understand is why they continue to put new ones on these cars when the owner won't even notice!

( . )( . )

Cremo wrote:

disregarding the legal status, would anyone seriously drive a car if something blocked their view?

so what do you do?, leave the car there?

Anan1

( . )( . ) wrote:

so what do you do?, leave the car there?

Is this a joke? You remove the stickers.

( . )( . )

Anan1 wrote:

Is this a joke? You remove the stickers.

no.

how do you remove the stickers?

Anan1

( . )( . ) wrote:

no.

how do you remove the stickers?

I'm finding it hard to believe that these are serious questions. You soak the sticker in soapy water and gradually peel/scratch it off.

( . )( . )

Anan1 wrote:

I'm finding it hard to believe that these are serious questions. You soak the sticker in soapy water and gradually peel/scratch it off.

i must remember to bring water and a bar of soap with me lol

Anan1

( . )( . ) wrote:

i must remember to bring water and a bar of soap with me lol

You buy them in a shop. If the nearest shop is too far away to walk to then you take a bus or a taxi. Are you honestly telling me that none of this would occur to you? What would you do, just stand there? Drive the car when you couldn't see out of it? And there was me assuming your choice of name was just a coincidence.;)

hermit

Anan1 wrote:

I'm finding it hard to believe that these are serious questions. You soak the sticker in soapy water and gradually peel/scratch it off.

So you're parked on a street in the middle of a town? Where do you get soapy water, a sponge, and something to scrape the sticker off?

fletch

Or just wind down the window for the duration of your journey

( . )( . )

Anan1 wrote:

You buy them in a shop. If the nearest shop is too far away to walk to then you take a bus or a taxi. Are you honestly telling me that none of this would occur to you? What would you do, just stand there? Drive the car when you couldn't see out of it? And there was me assuming your choice of name was just a coincidence.;)

i wouldn't park in an illegal spot.

( . )( . )

fletch wrote:

Or just wind down the window for the duration of your journey

not if it's on your windscreen

DukeDredd

Anan1 wrote:

You buy them in a shop. If the nearest shop is too far away to walk to then you take a bus or a taxi. Are you honestly telling me that none of this would occur to you? What would you do, just stand there? Drive the car when you couldn't see out of it? And there was me assuming your choice of name was just a coincidence.;)

Right ya - get a taxi to a shop to buy some materials and get the taxi back - get real.

I'd sooner tie the security guard to my bonnet and force him to shout directions to me while i'm driving!

Anan1

hermit wrote:

So you're parked on a street in the middle of a town? Where do you get soapy water, a sponge, and something to scrape the sticker off?

Read the thread...

( . )( . ) wrote:

i wouldn't park in an illegal spot.

Then you'll never have to worry about it.;)

Anan1

DukeDredd wrote:

Right ya - get a taxi to a shop to buy some materials and get the taxi back - get real.

What are your options here? You can either drive when you can't see, just sit there and look at it, or take it off and go on your way.

DukeDredd wrote:

I'd sooner tie the security guard to my bonnet and force him to shout directions to me while i'm driving!

Of course you would, big guy.

fletch

( . )( . ) wrote:

not if it's on your windscreen

I don't think any security company is stupid enough to stick it on the windscreen?? Surely

el tel

I have heard from a UK lawyer that placing a wheel clamp or a sticker on a car can be considered as tresspass on the vehicle. I think this may have been the basis of court cases but I don't know the outcomes.

( . )( . )

fletch wrote:

I don't think any security company is stupid enough to stick it on the windscreen?? Surely

well i've seen it so it must be true... see 2nd post in this thread.

Anan1

el tel wrote:

I have heard from a UK lawyer that placing a wheel clamp or a sticker on a car can be considered as tresspass on the vehicle. I think this may have been the basis of court cases but I don't know the outcomes.

I've noticed that many of the places that sticker cars have signs up warning of clamping, I wonder does that cover it? Honestly though, who here has ever come back to a sticker on their car when they didn't deserve it?

Anan1

fletch wrote:

I don't think any security company is stupid enough to stick it on the windscreen?? Surely

I haven't seen it, but it wouldn't surprise me. The whole point is to cause you aggravation.

( . )( . )

Anan1 wrote:

I've noticed that many of the places that sticker cars have signs up warning of clamping, I wonder does that cover it? Honestly though, who here has ever come back to a sticker on their car when they didn't deserve it?

i agree, but what's the idea the the sticker which is very hard to remove and placed on the windscreen. is it to embarrass the owner, as they'd have to remove it in usually a very public area?

DukeDredd

Anan1 wrote:

Of course you would, big guy.

Ah yes, hard man on an internet forum - would LOVE to have you say that to my face.

fletch wrote:

I don't think any security company is stupid enough to stick it on the windscreen?? Surely

Yip! Thats exactly what they're doing.

Anan1

( . )( . ) wrote:

i agree, but what's the idea the the sticker which is very hard to remove and placed on the windscreen. is it to embarrass the owner, as they'd have to remove it in usually a very public area?

The idea, quite simply, is to cause the driver enough of a pain in the @rse that they won't do it again.:)

DukeDredd

Anan1 wrote:

Honestly though, who here has ever come back to a sticker on their car when they didn't deserve it?

How about a maxillofacial surgeon rushing to A & E to work on someone out of a car crash and finds theres no space for his car?

Mitch Connor

DukeDredd wrote:

How about a maxillofacial surgeon rushing to A & E to work on someone out of a car crash and finds theres no space for his car?

what hospital doesn't have a doctors car park?

Anan1

DukeDredd wrote:

Right ya - get a taxi to a shop to buy some materials and get the taxi back - get real.I'd sooner tie the security guard to my bonnet and force him to shout directions to me while i'm driving!

Anan1 wrote:

Of course you would, big guy.

DukeDredd wrote:

Ah yes, hard man on an internet forum - would LOVE to have you say that to my face.

Think you may be getting a little confused there, big guy.;)

DukeDredd

Tauren wrote:

what hospital doesn't have a doctors car park?

Staff car park - first come, first served.

Mitch Connor

DukeDredd wrote:

Staff car park - first come, first served.

Every hospital my GF has worked in has a DOCTORS car park, for doctors only. If they park their car here they will NOT get clamped or fined as long as they are a doctor.

Even in the staff car parks (in temple street for example) the cars are parked anywhere they will fit; no sanctions. This means people have to move their cars to let others out but it is what happens.

I really really doubt a doctor is gonna have a problem with parking his car at a hospital.