Another Clamper thread!

BarryC

Just want to know if anyone knows what the legality / safety of clamping a vehicle carrying combustible gases. What happens if there is a fire and the fire brigade needs to move the clamped vehicle to prevent an explosion? Can clampers clamp the vehicle if it is displaying the correct signage?

Guy:Incognito

If the driver of said vehicle cant read signs that tell them when not to park I cant see why the clampers should have to.

Havent seen any refernce to them beign exempt from clamping. Would have thought if they were then they would be exempt from the parkign law in the first place.

samhail

yeah i would hope anyone who has put their trust in someone who carries something like that has the cop on to be safe about it. though i suppose.

Voodoomelon

Interesting though, can an ambulance be clamped?

Guy:Incognito

Either way, I'm sure if a fire was threatenign it the FB could shift it. It would probably take longer to smash the window to lower the handbrake than to take the clamp off.

Carawaystick

Voodoomelon wrote: »

Interesting though, can an ambulance be clamped?

physically or legally?
I know daa or Aer rianta clamped an ambulance in Dublin Airport before for parking in the set down area whle waiting for a patient

January

Carawaystick wrote: »

physically or legally?
I know daa or Aer rianta clamped an ambulance in Dublin Airport before for parking in the set down area whle waiting for a patient

That's a different scenario because it wasn't an emergency ambulance it was just a patient transfer... the driver of the ambulance had parked in the ambulance bay and went into get something to eat if my memory serves me correctly.

boomer_ie

adrieanne__x wrote: »

That's a different scenario because it wasn't an emergency ambulance it was just a patient transfer... the driver of the ambulance had parked in the ambulance bay and went into get something to eat if my memory serves me correctly.

Plus the DAA Area is private property not public so the DAA can clamp anything parked there not in accordance with byelaws.

Berty

You cannot be ticket for example if the signage is more than XX amount of mtrs from where your space is.

Parkway shopping centre in Limerick tried to clamp cars before Christmas and they were sued because they did not even have one sign.

I remember that ambulance story. A cop car in Limerick was clamped on Little Gerald Griffin Street for parking on a double yellow line on part of a private complex. They had to pay the guy. I was peering out of my apt window watching it all going on whilst some of the local scumbags were rolling around the place laughing their heads off. Saturday morning of the market, the clampers and ticketers have a field day.

Off topic a bit:

My friends 08 Passat was being taken onto the back of a loader in Enniskillen yesterday due to a complete and utter failure of the entire electrical system. Nice I was varying what I was telling passers by because we were dragging the car backwards out of a space up a hill. It was shuddering like a ****ting dog.

I told some people it was because he did not buy a long enough ticket for the car park. Some actual went back and bought a longer ticket. I told some it was a bank repo and maybe only one the truth. I was bored. :rolleyes:

TheNog

Anyone remember the clamper in Galway who clamped a car outside of a GPs surgery. The owner came running out with his child in his arms to urgently go the hospital but the clamper refused to move it until the fine was paid. The doctor even tried persuading him but no joy.

Del2005

BarryC wrote: »

Just want to know if anyone knows what the legality / safety of clamping a vehicle carrying combustible gases. What happens if there is a fire and the fire brigade needs to move the clamped vehicle to prevent an explosion? Can clampers clamp the vehicle if it is displaying the correct signage?

AFAIK the fire brigade clear the area not the danger. Buildings and cars can be replaced/repaired, people can't.

kayos

TheNog wrote: »

Anyone remember the clamper in Galway who clamped a car outside of a GPs surgery. The owner came running out with his child in his arms to urgently go the hospital but the clamper refused to move it until the fine was paid. The doctor even tried persuading him but no joy.

Yup the cops where called in that case, cop came down told the clamper to release and he refused. The cop actually paid the fine to get it released. This was one of the big incidents that really set Galway people against the clamping company at the time. Of course a couple of weeks later there was a picture in the paper of a clampers van parked:

a) Half on a foot path
b) On a double yellow
c) Facing down the wrong way on a one way St.

I honestly kid you not. Also at the time I think clamping was costing the cc not creating revenue.

Only way you will get the clampers to release you in Galway is being a member of the city or county council.

Cookie_Monster

Del2005 wrote: »

AFAIK the fire brigade clear the area not the danger.

But the vehicle carrying the (explosive) gases would be the danger in that case, no

stealthyspeeder

My personal opinion is that clamping is extortion. Also in my opinion, the only way to deal with clamping is to remove the clamp yourself.

Since I started the clamper thread before christmas for my friends car, I was clamped myself (again not breaking the signposted rules!)

An batterry alternater and angle grinder would have been an awful lot quicker but I opted for the more traditional (penny pinching!) hacksaw method! It did took an hour to get the bastard off! (had to take the wheel off and use it as a prop to get an angle for the hacksaw!)

The security guard for the area came over and told me I would be fined, get this, FIVE THOUSAND euro! So he got told to f**k off! He also said he would ring the guards (who didnt come within the half hour that I was still getting it off!)

Havent heard a peep from the Guards, Clampers or Security firm since!
Anyone else beaten the clampers?

Also just wondering if "the nog" has an opinion, proffesional or otherwise on this?

LoveDucati2

stealthyspeeder wrote: »

My personal opinion is that clamping is extortion. Also in my opinion, the only way to deal with clamping is to remove the clamp yourself.

100% Agreed

stealthyspeeder wrote: »

The security guard for the area came over and told me I would be fined, get this, FIVE THOUSAND euro! So he got told to f**k off! He also said he would ring the guards (who didnt come within the half hour that I was still getting it off!)

what is it with security, they think they are all f*ckin gardai



Fair balls to you, we should all do it. Is it criminal damage or could you argue that they have no rights to touch your vehicle. Can they prove they clamped you (a la monty python),

clamper: wheres the clamp

you: what clamp, no clamp here

I use to work around Baggot st. and they are always driving around in that van. Why are they allowed to park illegally?

Amalgam

LoveDucati2 wrote: »

I use to work around Baggot st. and they are always driving around in that van. Why are they allowed to park illegally?

Irish Times had an article on the mysterious trail of where clamping money actually goes.. it went dark and hazy very quickly..

They mentioned Baggot Street and Merrion Square (Dublin), amazing amount of revenue from those two locations alone. I think at the time the company involved had a van or two stalking Merrion Square alone, it was 'worth it'.

kayos

LoveDucati2 wrote: »

100% Agreed
I use to work around Baggot st. and they are always driving around in that van. Why are they allowed to park illegally?

They are not allow to park illegally but they are hardly gonna clamp themselves are they

Del2005

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

But the vehicle carrying the (explosive) gases would be the danger in that case, no

Yes the vehicle on fire with the expolive gases is the danger. That's why they clear the area around it and not try to move the vehicle. They've no idea how the cylinder is stored so they ain't going to send 2 or more people to move/hook up a burning vehicle to save a building. They move all the people out of the building and pump water till they are certin that it won't explode, which can be a very long time.

Del2005

LoveDucati2 wrote: »

100% Agreed




what is it with security, they think they are all f*ckin gardai



Fair balls to you, we should all do it. Is it criminal damage or could you argue that they have no rights to touch your vehicle. Can they prove they clamped you (a la monty python),

clamper: wheres the clamp

you: what clamp, no clamp here

I use to work around Baggot st. and they are always driving around in that van. Why are they allowed to park illegally?

Be carefull here. The person you quoted was removing a Private clamp from their car parked on Private property, where the law is vauge to say the least. The vans cruising around Baggot St are Dublin Corpo authorized and it's a criminal offence to interfer with these clamps.

TheNog

stealthyspeeder wrote: »

My personal opinion is that clamping is extortion. Also in my opinion, the only way to deal with clamping is to remove the clamp yourself.

Since I started the clamper thread before christmas for my friends car, I was clamped myself (again not breaking the signposted rules!)

An batterry alternater and angle grinder would have been an awful lot quicker but I opted for the more traditional (penny pinching!) hacksaw method! It did took an hour to get the bastard off! (had to take the wheel off and use it as a prop to get an angle for the hacksaw!)

The security guard for the area came over and told me I would be fined, get this, FIVE THOUSAND euro! So he got told to f**k off! He also said he would ring the guards (who didnt come within the half hour that I was still getting it off!)

Havent heard a peep from the Guards, Clampers or Security firm since!
Anyone else beaten the clampers?

Also just wondering if "the nog" has an opinion, proffesional or otherwise on this?

I have never been clamped but did have my g/f's car towed years ago. She still gives me grief over it.

In my opinion there should be no clamping at all. Instead cars should be towed away but only those that cause a hinderance to traffic flow.

As for what you did well I dont agree with it. You could have been done for criminal damage. Luckily you got away with it.

Cookie_Monster

Del2005 wrote: »

Yes the vehicle on fire with the expolive gases is the danger. That's why they clear the area around it and not try to move the vehicle. They've no idea how the cylinder is stored so they ain't going to send 2 or more people to move/hook up a burning vehicle to save a building. They move all the people out of the building and pump water till they are certin that it won't explode, which can be a very long time.

I think we're crossing wires here. I'm referring to if the building beside the clamped Boc Gas Truck was on fire then what would they do with it?

slimjimmc

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

I think we're crossing wires here. I'm referring to if the building beside the clamped Boc Gas Truck was on fire then what would they do with it?

I'd say the fire brigade would have it off pretty quick, they've plenty of toys capable of the job. I certainly hope they're allowed to do what's necessary to protect lives.

If you're parked on private property I wonder would you be clamped if you had a sticker on your car warning that anyone who clamps your car gives consent to your removing it by any means, that they agree to pay you damages for time, hassle, etc but that they can't sue you for anything.

Basically loads of consequences for them, none for you.
Granted it would have to be a big sticker with loads of legal mumbo jumbo to cover your ar$e.


I'm not asking for or providing legal advice, i'm only asking if a sticker would be a deterrent.

timmywex

Emergency vehicles cannot be clamped, if someone does decide to for some random unknown stupid reason, they will be cut off by the fire brigade, the council informed of the wrongdoings and the gardai also

Del2005

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

I think we're crossing wires here. I'm referring to if the building beside the clamped Boc Gas Truck was on fire then what would they do with it?

Got you now. Fire engines have loads and loads of cutting tools, I'd say the least of there worries is the lock on a clamp. The tonnes of parked truck would be more of an issue, but they'd just drag it clear with winches or a fire engine while keeping it soaked with water.

LoveDucati2

kayos wrote: »

They are not allow to park illegally but they are hardly gonna clamp themselves are they

So, they are not allowed to park illegally, which means they are breaking the law when they clamp someone.

I do not understand how clamping a vehicle because it is illegally parked or causing an obstruction makes any difference or helps traffic flow.

Surley it costs enough if you get a parking ticket.

I have seen the DCC clampers on the square following Traffic Wardens and clamping vehicles within 5 minutes of a ticket been issued.

What is the law on this?

brightkane

A friend of mine was clamped, he was in the wrong, tried to argue it and failed, he arrived just as he had finished putting on the clamp.

He went over to the claimpers van to pay it and when he did the clamper handed him the "so not park here ect ect ect" sticker that leaves a right mess when ur trying to take it off, as he didnt have time to put it ont he window

When the clamper went to take the clamp off he left the sticker smack bang in the middle of the clampers windscreen.

Went over when clampless and drove off.

Says it was "nearly" worth paying the fine with the thought of the clamper wasting his time trying to take the sticker off!

towel401

kayos wrote: »

Yup the cops where called in that case, cop came down told the clamper to release and he refused. The cop actually paid the fine to get it released. This was one of the big incidents that really set Galway people against the clamping company at the time. Of course a couple of weeks later there was a picture in the paper of a clampers van parked:

a) Half on a foot path
b) On a double yellow
c) Facing down the wrong way on a one way St.

I honestly kid you not. Also at the time I think clamping was costing the cc not creating revenue.

Only way you will get the clampers to release you in Galway is being a member of the city or county council.

wow those guys really are the scum of the earth

angle grinder ftw?

ca3nie

Clamping in my estate has been an on going problem, the clamper seems to think its ok to clamp the residents. They only reason there is clamping in operation is to stop the staff of a near by school parking here. So after arriving home from work last Friday with my boyfriend we were greeted with the clamper taken pictures of my boyfriends car. I had the permit in my car drove to work totally forgetting to put it in his car! So we explained to the clamper who knows both our cars belong to residents that I had simply forgot his reply "Call number and pay". So after €120 down the drain we decided to try get the money back as we were in fact parked out side our own house in a space. So coming home Monday evening I am in my boyfriends car pull up to my apartment and my car was clamped, with my permit in the dash!! Rand NCPS to ask can they send someone out to remove it, I was on hold for so long my credit went! I rang again today explained 'my permit is valid and on display can you please have the clamp removed?' Answer 'No we have photos that shows you had no permit on display' I replied 'Can you please mail me these photos?' All you could hear in the back round was people laughing!!!They only way I can get the pictures is if I pay first then contest it!! OH yeah they don't tell you its €120 a day so my bill is now €240. I am refusing to pay and am planning to remove the clampat the weekend. Anyone have advices on what they can do to me once I remove clamp?

Cookie_Monster

ca3nie wrote: »

Anyone have advices on what they can do to me once I remove clamp?

Hold onto it but post the lock back to the company demanding a ransom or you will cut the rest up:D

TheNog

TheNog wrote: »

Anyone remember the clamper in Galway who clamped a car outside of a GPs surgery. The owner came running out with his child in his arms to urgently go the hospital but the clamper refused to move it until the fine was paid. The doctor even tried persuading him but no joy.

Yeah remember I remember it alright. There was uproar in Galway after that.

To be honest with all this clamping going on I would be tempted to take a spin into town in our tractor and park it up with no ticket, then watch from a distance as the clamper's can do nothing!! Clamp that ye shower of ......!:D

cormie

Just tell them it's illegal for them to retain your car.

towel401

ca3nie wrote: »

Clamping in my estate has been an on going problem, the clamper seems to think its ok to clamp the residents. They only reason there is clamping in operation is to stop the staff of a near by school parking here. So after arriving home from work last Friday with my boyfriend we were greeted with the clamper taken pictures of my boyfriends car. I had the permit in my car drove to work totally forgetting to put it in his car! So we explained to the clamper who knows both our cars belong to residents that I had simply forgot his reply "Call number and pay". So after €120 down the drain we decided to try get the money back as we were in fact parked out side our own house in a space. So coming home Monday evening I am in my boyfriends car pull up to my apartment and my car was clamped, with my permit in the dash!! Rand NCPS to ask can they send someone out to remove it, I was on hold for so long my credit went! I rang again today explained 'my permit is valid and on display can you please have the clamp removed?' Answer 'No we have photos that shows you had no permit on display' I replied 'Can you please mail me these photos?' All you could hear in the back round was people laughing!!!They only way I can get the pictures is if I pay first then contest it!! OH yeah they don't tell you its €120 a day so my bill is now €240. I am refusing to pay and am planning to remove the clampat the weekend. Anyone have advices on what they can do to me once I remove clamp?

Probably not a whole lot. did you get it off yet? please tell me you didn't buckle to the pressure and give these scumbags your money

we had a thread a while back where someguy was looking for ways to cut the thing off and in the end the guy came back to say he chickened out and paid the ****ers. that was a pretty disappointing read

ca3nie

Taking it off on Saturday, not giving them my money!
I will let you know how I get on

McSpud

I should have taken a picture but last week the Cash & Carry next to work was using a custom clamping system.

Cardboard stuck the window with "you are clamped" written on it & a trolley (one of the vertical ones used for goods delivery) chained to the wheel.

shaywest

stealthyspeeder wrote: »

My personal opinion is that clamping is extortion. Also in my opinion, the only way to deal with clamping is to remove the clamp yourself.

Since I started the clamper thread before christmas for my friends car, I was clamped myself (again not breaking the signposted rules!)

An batterry alternater and angle grinder would have been an awful lot quicker but I opted for the more traditional (penny pinching!) hacksaw method! It did took an hour to get the bastard off! (had to take the wheel off and use it as a prop to get an angle for the hacksaw!)

The security guard for the area came over and told me I would be fined, get this, FIVE THOUSAND euro! So he got told to f**k off! He also said he would ring the guards (who didnt come within the half hour that I was still getting it off!)

Havent heard a peep from the Guards, Clampers or Security firm since!
Anyone else beaten the clampers?

Also just wondering if "the nog" has an opinion, proffesional or otherwise on this?

i have something similar for you,i once broke down in a statoil forecourt and had to park the car there overnight .when i came back next morning there was a clamp on it .of course all pleas fell on deaf ears ,so i rang a solicitor freind of mine who told me i could do what i liked with the clamp (i told him i was thinking of cutting it off)as the garage had attached it to my property(the car)it was now "my" property. so i told the smirking git behind the counter i i was off home to get a consaw and went off by the time i got home the guards were already at my house .
i told them the story and to my amazement they actually agreed with me so they put me in the back of the car brought me up to the garage ,marched the not smirking any more git out and stood over him whilst he took off the clamp.
they then gave me a tow home.

John_Mc

shaywest wrote: »

i have something similar for you,i once broke down in a statoil forecourt and had to park the car there overnight .when i came back next morning there was a clamp on it .of course all pleas fell on deaf ears ,so i rang a solicitor freind of mine who told me i could do what i liked with the clamp (i told him i was thinking of cutting it off)as the garage had attached it to my property(the car)it was now "my" property. so i told the smirking git behind the counter i i was off home to get a consaw and went off by the time i got home the guards were already at my house .
i told them the story and to my amazement they actually agreed with me so they put me in the back of the car brought me up to the garage ,marched the not smirking any more git out and stood over him whilst he took off the clamp.
they then gave me a tow home.

That was nice of them!

who007

Was just discussing this thread with a friend via e-mail and they told me this

"oh..and I had a friend of a friend of a friend..that actually worked for a clamping company..and half the time they kept the money for them selfs!! and the victim wouldn't know any different unless ya followed it up"

w@nkers!

Johnny Utah

TheNog wrote: »

As for what you did well I dont agree with it. You could have been done for criminal damage. Luckily you got away with it.

LOL, never take legal advice from a Guard!


If the car is on private property they are not allowed to detain your car. In this instance you would be within your rights to remove the clamp.

If the car is on public property, it is a different matter. In this case, removing/damaging the clamp would amount to criminal damage. This issue was discussed before on the legal discussion forum.

ca3nie wrote: »

Clamping in my estate has been an on going problem, the clamper seems to think its ok to clamp the residents. They only reason there is clamping in operation is to stop the staff of a near by school parking here. So after arriving home from work last Friday with my boyfriend we were greeted with the clamper taken pictures of my boyfriends car. I had the permit in my car drove to work totally forgetting to put it in his car! So we explained to the clamper who knows both our cars belong to residents that I had simply forgot his reply "Call number and pay". So after €120 down the drain we decided to try get the money back as we were in fact parked out side our own house in a space. So coming home Monday evening I am in my boyfriends car pull up to my apartment and my car was clamped, with my permit in the dash!! Rand NCPS to ask can they send someone out to remove it, I was on hold for so long my credit went! I rang again today explained 'my permit is valid and on display can you please have the clamp removed?' Answer 'No we have photos that shows you had no permit on display' I replied 'Can you please mail me these photos?' All you could hear in the back round was people laughing!!!They only way I can get the pictures is if I pay first then contest it!! OH yeah they don't tell you its €120 a day so my bill is now €240. I am refusing to pay and am planning to remove the clampat the weekend. Anyone have advices on what they can do to me once I remove clamp?

That's extortion!

If you had a sticker in your car, and the clamper knows the residents' cars, then he shouldn't be clamping them.




Cut off the clamp, and give them a dose of their own medicine. They can't do anything afterwards because it's on private property, and furthermore you are entitled to park there.

markpb

who007 wrote: »

Was just discussing this thread with a friend via e-mail and they told me this

"oh..and I had a friend of a friend of a friend..that actually worked for a clamping company..and half the time they kept the money for them selfs!! and the victim wouldn't know any different unless ya followed it up"

w@nkers!

That's odd. No clamping company I know will accept cash - only credit card - so there's no way for the crews to keep the money. Maybe this is a new thing though.

who007

possibly - or it's an urban myth - didn't think on it too long before I posted it

stealthyspeeder

towel401 wrote: »

Probably not a whole lot. did you get it off yet? please tell me you didn't buckle to the pressure and give these scumbags your money

we had a thread a while back where someguy was looking for ways to cut the thing off and in the end the guy came back to say he chickened out and paid the ****ers. that was a pretty disappointing read

That would have been a thread I started when my friend got clamped! I got clamped in December and am pleased to report much better news!

Took the clamp off with a hacksaw, havent heard a peep from the clampers, a secuurity compant in the area said they informed the guards, havent heard from either the guards or the security company!

Johnny Utah

stealthyspeeder wrote: »

That would have been a thread I started when my friend got clamped! I got clamped in December and am pleased to report much better news!

Took the clamp off with a hacksaw, havent heard a peep from the clampers, a secuurity compant in the area said they informed the guards, havent heard from either the guards or the security company!

Yeah, I think I may have posted in your earlier thread advising you to remove the clamp. Like I said above, if the car is on private ground, you should remove the clamp as they are not allowed to detain your car.

I'm glad you cut off the clamp on your own car. I knew you wouldn't hear anything from the security company or the Guards, and you won't hear anything in the future either. Did you take the clamp with you, or did you leave it at the scene?

stealthyspeeder

Johnny Utah wrote: »

Yeah, I think I may have posted in your earlier thread advising you to remove the clamp. Like I said above, if the car is on private ground, you should remove the clamp as they are not allowed to detain your car.

I'm glad you cut off the clamp on your own car. I knew you wouldn't hear anything from the security company or the Guards, and you won't hear anything in the future either. Did you take the clamp with you, or did you leave it at the scene?

I took it as a souvenier!

stealthyspeeder

stealthyspeeder wrote: »

I took it as a souvenier!

Another one bites the dust

Did you use the bolt cutters in the end?

Johnny Utah

stealthyspeeder wrote: »

I took it as a souvenier!

Good man yourself.

You should now cut it up with a consaw and post it back to them piece-by-piece.

(That's what I'd do anyway. Just make sure you don't send any identifying stickers/numbers on the clamp).

maggy_thatcher

One option I wonder does it work -- buy 4 clamps and just clamp yourself -- they can't tow your car away (that's theft) and they can't clamp you (how can they clamp a car that's already clamped?)

They could (potentially) block you in -- but that's a lot more expensive for them to do, as they'd have to stay there indefinitely...

stealthyspeeder

I used the bolt cutters on the sides as there is a lead pipe which runs around the rim of the triangle, then hacksawed the rest by taking the wheel off and using it as a prop!

I was thinking to get it repaired and charging them a return fee off 120 Euro and a storage fee of 5 euro per day for the last month!!

reasonable!!?

cormie

Careful, if you damage their clamp you can be done for it. Just tell them they have to remove it as they can't detain your clamp and you can bring them to court etc if they don't release your car.

stealthyspeeder

cormie wrote: »

Careful, if you damage their clamp you can be done for it. Just tell them they have to remove it as they can't detain your clamp and you can bring them to court etc if they don't release your car.

Did you read the post and see the photo? the car is no longer clamped, the clamp is f*cked, and the guards, security company and clampers haven't followed it up! They dont have to remove it in the real world, they just make you pay before they come and take it off! If you stand there and vow to take them to court, your going to be walking everywhere for a while!

cormie

But they could take it further and if they brought you to court, you'd be admitting to damage to their property, they have to remove it at your request as they can't detain your vehicle.

stealthyspeeder

cormie wrote: »

But they could take it further and if they brought you to court, you'd be admitting to damage to their property, they have to remove it at your request as they can't detain your vehicle.

the obligatiion would be on them to prove that damaged the clamp if it went to court, which if i got the clamp repaired would be next to impossible to do!

In the real world they can and will immobilise your car, in the real world, the guards will not come and sort these extortionists out, in the real world they will not take the clamp off unless you pay, the only way in the real world is to take the clamp off yourself! beacuse in the real world the guards dont give a **** bout clampers and its too difficult for the clampers to take you to court.

have you been clamped before?