Dublin clamping is back

Victor · 09-06-2020 06:32PM #1

I live on a side road that the clampers use for dumping cars that they have towed from bus lanes, etc. Usually there might be 1-2 cars per day, but I've seen 4 today.

So, be careful out there and obey the rules.

Marcusm · 09-06-2020 07:16PM

They’ve been back clamping in DCC for a month or more.

Atlantic Dawn · 09-06-2020 10:36PM

What would happen if your car was damaged or destroyed at the new location they decided to move it to? I thought they always had to bring them to the Garda storage unit?

Victor · 10-06-2020 01:09AM

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

I thought they always had to bring them to the Garda storage unit?

No, they use a private pound. It used to be in Harold's Cross, now it's in Dolphin's Barn.

The Garda pound is in Santry.

Patrick2010 · 10-06-2020 02:12PM

Where in Dolphins barn?

Rodney Bathgate · 10-06-2020 02:12PM

Clamp on!

Victor · 10-06-2020 03:04PM

Patrick2010 wrote: »

Where in Dolphins barn?

I think the industrial estate on Herberton Road.

double jobbing · 10-06-2020 09:58PM

Saw a car clamped for being within 5 metres of a junction on a street that's one of the few islands of free parking within walking distance of town.

Unbelievably sneaky- there's dbl yellows on the other side of the street at the same spot, but not where this person parked.

It might be the law but it's a forgotten law by most people, I think everyone generally assumes anywhere without yellow lines and that doesn't obstruct a view is fair game.

Snakes.

Victor · 10-06-2020 10:19PM

double jobbing wrote: »

Saw a car clamped for being within 5 metres of a junction

double jobbing wrote: »

doesn't obstruct a view is fair game.

You might try to reconcile these two bits.

Marcusm · 11-06-2020 08:40AM

double jobbing wrote: »

Saw a car clamped for being within 5 metres of a junction on a street that's one of the few islands of free parking within walking distance of town.

Unbelievably sneaky- there's dbl yellows on the other side of the street at the same spot, but not where this person parked.

It might be the law but it's a forgotten law by most people, I think everyone generally assumes anywhere without yellow lines and that doesn't obstruct a view is fair game.

Snakes.

Parking that close to a junction irrespective of the yellow lines is one of my pet hates. It’s a safety issue for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers alike, ie everybody. The only reason people do it is because they are self-absorbed, self-centred idiots who can’t exercise an iota of judgement. Exactly the sort of people you want in control of 2 tons of metal moving at speed.

double jobbing · 11-06-2020 08:41AM

Victor wrote: »

You might try to reconcile these two bits.

The car was parked to the left of the turn onto a one way street, meaning, while you should obviously be looking both ways when turning out, your most important line of site is to the oncoming traffic on the right.

The car was essentially causing zero obstruction. It was deliberate enforcement of a petty rule irrelevant in the situation that the person parking was no doubt unaware of.

double jobbing · 11-06-2020 08:58AM

Marcusm wrote: »

It’s a safety issue for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers alike, ie everybody. .

How?

No view was being blocked. They weren't slap bang on the junction. It's a commission happy clamper enforcing a barely known rule- if DCC cared about safety rather than noticing a sneaky way to rob a few quid off someone who refuses to use their rip off pay parking they would paint yellow lines on it.

Let me guess. You strongly support the new 30kph proposals too.

Victor · 11-06-2020 09:54AM

double jobbing wrote: »

It's a commission happy clamper

They don't get a commission.

double jobbing · 11-06-2020 11:37AM

Victor wrote: »

They don't get a commission.

And I'm sure they get a bollicking if they don't hit x clamps per week either. If anything in the current climate clamping/ charges for street parking should be suspended bar where it's causing an obstruction.

KaneToad · 11-06-2020 11:40AM

double jobbing wrote: »

And I'm sure they get a bollicking if they don't hit x clamps per week either. If anything in the current climate clamping/ charges for street parking should be suspended bar where it's causing an obstruction.

What has the current climate (I presume you mean Covid 19) got to do with illegal parking?

Marcusm · 11-06-2020 03:39PM

double jobbing wrote: »

How?

No view was being blocked. They weren't slap bang on the junction. It's a commission happy clamper enforcing a barely known rule- if DCC cared about safety rather than noticing a sneaky way to rob a few quid off someone who refuses to use their rip off pay parking they would paint yellow lines on it.

Let me guess. You strongly support the new 30kph proposals too.

Not a fan of 30kph, personally so fewer of the admonition s.

Even on a one way street, you will find cyclists, kids walking in street (especially at the moment), lots of other potential hazards. Larger vehicles may find it harder to traverse the junction with, say, a trailer when it is constrained by the illegally parked cars. Lots of different potential reasons which self-centred people are too thick or too self-centred to consider. It’s one of those reasons why we have rules and laws.

Marcusm · 11-06-2020 03:41PM

double jobbing wrote: »

And I'm sure they get a bollicking if they don't hit x clamps per week either. If anything in the current climate clamping/ charges for street parking should be suspended bar where it's causing an obstruction.

DCC pay a much higher price per clamp than the penalty for the clamp. They are not incentivised to insist on higher targets. Personally, a dangerously parked car should be lifted rather than immobilised. There are a fair few newer tow vehicles around (easier to notice as they are right hand drive). Don’t act like a dick and don’t get penalised!

zg3409 · 11-06-2020 04:12PM

Victor wrote: »

I think the industrial estate on Herberton Road.

Passed it yesterday. Think its here:
32 Herberton Rd
https://maps.app.goo.gl/WHpiLy81T2P7d3g58

Signs now say pound or similar.
Very badly marked, only noticed as I was stuck in traffic.

I believe the clampers tow out of bus lanes and clearways but then dump nearby and clamp car rather than bringing to pound. They take photos of vehicle to prove they did not damage it. I expect pound is only used in exceptional case like repeat cutting of lock offenders.

They were clamping nurses working late during covit.

double jobbing · 11-06-2020 10:25PM

KaneToad wrote: »

What has the current climate (I presume you mean Covid 19) got to do with illegal parking?

Encourage shoppers back into town?

Dissuade people from packing on to public transport?

I'm embarrassed to even have to spell it out.

Del2005 · 11-06-2020 11:04PM

double jobbing wrote: »

Encourage shoppers back into town?

Dissuade people from packing on to public transport?

I'm embarrassed to even have to spell it out.

They are doing the best to keep cars out of our cities not trying to encourage them back in. Have you missed all the car parking spaces that have been removed and the cycle lane down the quays of Dublin, they definitely aren't designed to encourage cars.

markpb · 12-06-2020 12:23AM

double jobbing wrote: »

Encourage shoppers back into town?

Dissuade people from packing on to public transport?

I'm embarrassed to even have to spell it out.

Let’s take your embarrassment up a notch, shall we?

Car is parked on a footpath - people can’t socially distance when walking past. Oh oh, that sounds like a bad thing.

Car is parked on a cycle lane - cycling becomes less attractive and those people either stop coming into town or change to busy public transport (bad in the current climate) or busy roads (bad always). None of those are good outcomes right now.

Car is parked dangerously at a junction - a pedestrian is hit by another driver who couldn’t see them. They are brought to ICU taking up a bed that might be needed by a Covid-19 patient. I think we can all agree that now isn’t the time to be putting pressure on hospitals?

Car is parked legally but the driver overstays their parking ticket - other people find it hard to get parking in the city centre and decide to go to Dundrum next time.

So which offences do you think should be ignored/encouraged by the council to entice people to shop in the city centre?

Atlantic Dawn · 12-06-2020 12:33AM

markpb wrote: »

Let’s take your embarrassment up a notch, shall we?

Car is parked on a footpath - people can’t socially distance when walking past. Oh oh, that sounds like a bad thing.

Car is parked on a cycle lane - cycling becomes less attractive and those people either stop coming into town or change to busy public transport (bad in the current climate) or busy roads (bad always). None of those are good outcomes right now.

Car is parked dangerously at a junction - a pedestrian is hit by another driver who couldn’t see them. They are brought to ICU taking up a bed that might be needed by a Covid-19 patient. I think we can all agree that now isn’t the time to be putting pressure on hospitals?

Car is parked legally but the driver overstays their parking ticket - other people find it hard to get parking in the city centre and decide to go to Dundrum next time.

So which offences do you think should be ignored/encouraged by the council to entice people to shop in the city centre?

And then you observe the clampers coming out and the first thing they do is look at the tax disc on the car to decide if they will clamp it or not, something majorly wrong with that, especially in the current climate.

Victor · 12-06-2020 02:46AM

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

And then you observe the clampers coming out and the first thing they do is look at the tax disc on the car to decide if they will clamp it or not, something majorly wrong with that, especially in the current climate.

Traffic wardens will check tax, as it is part of their job. I've never seen clampers doing it.

markpb · 12-06-2020 07:20AM

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

And then you observe the clampers coming out and the first thing they do is look at the tax disc on the car to decide if they will clamp it or not, something majorly wrong with that, especially in the current climate.

Plenty of people get clamped with in-date tax. The location of the wheels determine if you get clamped, not a piece of paper in your windscreen.

And what does an emissions tax have to do with ‘the current climate’ anyway? Did you know there is mounting evidence that cities with higher air pollution seem to have more Covid-19 cases?

boombang · 12-06-2020 07:26AM

Marcusm wrote: »

DCC pay a much higher price per clamp than the penalty for the clamp. They are not incentivised to insist on higher targets. Personally, a dangerously parked car should be lifted rather than immobilised. There are a fair few newer tow vehicles around (easier to notice as they are right hand drive). Don’t act like a dick and don’t get penalised!

DCC lose money on each car they clamp at €80 a go? They need to sort out their operation if that's true.

boombang · 12-06-2020 07:28AM

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

And then you observe the clampers coming out and the first thing they do is look at the tax disc on the car to decide if they will clamp it or not, something majorly wrong with that, especially in the current climate.

Are you sure the clampers aren't just checking for a resident's parking permit?

Irishphotodesk · 12-06-2020 07:43AM

Victor wrote: »

Traffic wardens will check tax, as it is part of their job. I've never seen clampers doing it.

I can confirm that they do check a tax disk, I watched clampers years ago walk up the street checking vehicles for tickets, when they came to my vehicle the guy walked to the road side of the vehicle and looked at my tax and insurance ... Then went back to the footpath and checked cars for tickets.

I sent a letter to DCC to complain and ask why my vehicle was picked out and if the clampers were permitted to check tax and received a letter saying they are entitled to check tax disk, they ignored my question asking why my vehicle was the only one singled out by clampers for this treatment.

I had a valid ticket and have in the past been clamped with a valid ticket (DCC offered me half the money back on appeal - which is a bit of a joke)

Will try to find the letter mentioned above, I came across it recently during bit of a tidy up.

Marcusm · 12-06-2020 04:00PM

boombang wrote: »

DCC lose money on each car they clamp at €80 a go? They need to sort out their operation if that's true.

Service goes out to tender for lowest price. IIRC average cost of clamping was €120 or something like that which was cited when the council sought permission to increase the clamp fee.

ED E · 12-06-2020 04:01PM

Victor wrote: »

Traffic wardens will check tax, as it is part of their job. I've never seen clampers doing it.

DSPS are acting as traffic wardens! They just pick and mix what they want to be bothered with.

Marcusm · 12-06-2020 04:01PM

Irishphotodesk wrote: »

I can confirm that they do check a tax disk, I watched clampers years ago walk up the street checking vehicles for tickets, when they came to my vehicle the guy walked to the road side of the vehicle and looked at my tax and insurance ... Then went back to the footpath and checked cars for tickets.

I sent a letter to DCC to complain and ask why my vehicle was picked out and if the clampers were permitted to check tax and received a letter saying they are entitled to check tax disk, they ignored my question asking why my vehicle was the only one singled out by clampers for this treatment.

I had a valid ticket and have in the past been clamped with a valid ticket (DCC offered me half the money back on appeal - which is a bit of a joke)

Will try to find the letter mentioned above, I came across it recently during bit of a tidy up.

If your motor tax is out by more than 2 months they are empowered to immobilise it and tow it. Is there a valid reason why they should not check?

Ger Roe · 12-06-2020 04:22PM

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

What would happen if your car was damaged or destroyed at the new location they decided to move it to? I thought they always had to bring them to the Garda storage unit?

I saw a funny incident to do with moving parked cars, in Bray. It was the day of the Airshow and I saw a driver pull into a side street, before the road closure enforcements and then ask a passing Garda if it was OK to park there. There didn't seem to be a problem and the Garda said it was OK. The driver locked up his car and headed to the seafeont for the show.

An hour later, the road was closed off and used as a temporary terminus for buses, since the usual location at the DART station was too busy with people milling about, to be used safely. The parked car was now in a different scenario and was causing an obstruction for the buses. A tow truck arrived to take it away and the embarrassed Garda had to explain that it was his fault it was left there.

They found a suitable spot further down the same street and moved the car to there. Using the tow truck trolley jig they slid it under the car and pulled it from its obstructive space, before leaving it neatly at the far kerbside and away from the bus traffic. I often wondered how the driver reacted when he got back and found his car sitting a considerable distance away from where he left it, with no obvious sign of being opened and driven there.

Dublin clamping is back

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