So I'm clamped.

The_Valeyard · 17-02-2014 07:17PM

Use fire....

Burn it all!!!!

Mickey H · 17-02-2014 07:29PM

Ah Banjo, my dear man. Get yourself one of these.

Femme_Fatale · 18-02-2014 12:34AM

wil wrote: »

spoken only as someone unaffected by the draconian parking measures imposed on Dublin (predominantly) motorists.

Clamping is these days pretty much a tax (out of the mouth of a clamper) as they don't necessarily address obvious and often very serious parking issues.
Cars are regularly parked across pedestrian crossings, (daily photos on request if you don't believe), on 24hour cycle lanes, blocking commercial accesses etc with relative impunity, even disabled parking spaces, but god forbid you park 10 minutes over time in an otherwise deserted side street, or a few seconds in a loading bay. It is a rip off tax, that doesn't serve many people well.

I'm not saying it couldn't serve a purpose but although it is not as stupid as used to be by the crowd that were dumped out, but it needs to have sense behind it

If a parked car is causing a problem, tow it away and clamp it on a side street like they do in other countries. What is the madness of clamping a car a buslane etc?.. to make sure it is blocking it for at least another hour???
If over time, put a ticket on it.
Clamping is a very big hammer for every size of transgression and that makes for bad law.

I've been clamped twice. It was my own fault. First time I took way too long a chance and returned to my car ages after the parking disc expired; second time it was due to a parking disc hiding my parking permit. Complete balls but it was still my fault.

It's a horrible practice, and pretty stupid - a car is parked in the wrong place so keep it there?

But it's there - if there was a way to stop it, I'd be all for it. And it's avoidable. And it's doubtful it's illegal, even if sh1tty. While I agree those who run such operations seem like grossly greedy types, I'm not sure their employees are always spiteful types. That's an easy one to throw out there. Some people just need to take whatever job they can get, in order to provide for their families.

Fr_Dougal · 18-02-2014 12:42AM

Artful_Badger wrote: »

I'm talking state of the art clamping technology here that may or may not already be used in libraries. You drive in, you're "docked" and after a couple minutes grace the timer starts. You go about your business and whenever you get back you pay what ya owe and leave.

No more tickets, no more clamps, no more abuse, no more extortion.

Excellent idea. I've even thought of a name for it, 'multi-story carpark'...we'll make millions!

Stavros Murphy · 18-02-2014 12:47AM

Fr_Dougal wrote: »

Excellent idea. I've even thought of a name for it, 'multi-story carpark'...we'll make millions!

There could be tickets you take on the way in and pay before you leave...this might have merit. Dougal, you're a genius.

Artful_Badger · 18-02-2014 01:11AM

Fr_Dougal wrote: »

Excellent idea. I've even thought of a name for it, 'multi-story carpark'...we'll make millions!

Stavros Murphy wrote: »

There could be tickets you take on the way in and pay before you leave...this might have merit. Dougal, you're a genius.

I like the name but I'm not sure how we'll fit these multi story car parks into every parking space in towns across the country. Is there space/time manipulation involved in the ticketing system ?

wil · 18-02-2014 02:43AM

Femme_Fatale wrote: »

But it's there - if there was a way to stop it, I'd be all for it. And it's avoidable. And it's doubtful it's illegal, even if sh1tty. While I agree those who run such operations seem like grossly greedy types, I'm not sure their employees are always spiteful types. That's an easy one to throw out there. Some people just need to take whatever job they can get, in order to provide for their families.

I've had more polite and informative conversations with these gents (don't think I've ever seen a female clamper) than I care to explain and never implied they were spiteful.

The previous crowd lost their contract after several years of taking the proverbial, this new operator is far "better" within the confines of a clamping industry
They do their job as instructed by their bosses, some with more enthusiasm perhaps, but they
1 - cost more than they take in
2 - I have not met a garda with a good word for them
3 - admit themselves that the policies/instructions/rules they have to follow don't necessarily have much to do with traffic.

Dublin City council seem to be intent on monetising every single parking space plus 24 hour parking restrictions and in many cases forcing more cars on to main throroughfares so that once cyclelanes now become default parking spaces.
Once busy shops are now empty as people struggle to park anywhere near (a peculiarly Irish trait) and are in a constant battle to ensure deliveries and customers aren't clamped outside their premises.

People who constantly jump to on their rocking high horses don't have a clue about the reality.
You can drive on the wrong side of the road, through red lights and pedestrian crossings, up wrong on one way streets with relative impunity but 10 minutes over a three hour ticket (€7 plus) on an empty side street gets you an immediate €80 fine.
There's wrong and their is wrong.

TireeTerror · 18-02-2014 02:51AM

Lets not argue about this folks, only one course of action as far as I can see.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtLCd7JgMpA

Stavros Murphy · 18-02-2014 08:33AM

Artful_Badger wrote: »

I like the name but I'm not sure how we'll fit these multi story car parks into every parking space in towns across the country. Is there space/time manipulation involved in the ticketing system ?

There could just be one big one every few miles or so, say located close to shopping centers or busy commercial areas. I really think you're not taking this seriously. Everyone disses Dougals ideas. Grossly unfair. That one for the cardboard flood barriers was brilliant as well.

fergus1001 · 18-02-2014 08:38AM

Anyone suggest removing the tyre to "repair" it which is perfectly legal and campers can't do a thing about it cause its your property and its your right to do so !

Stavros Murphy · 18-02-2014 08:47AM

fergus1001 wrote: »

Anyone suggest removing the tyre to "repair" it which is perfectly legal and campers can't do a thing about it cause its your property and its your right to do so !

We're all hoping he's free at this stage, especially considering the children. They'd be right huffy by now, I'm guessing.

keithclancy · 18-02-2014 08:48AM

fergus1001 wrote: »

Anyone suggest removing the tyre to "repair" it which is perfectly legal and campers can't do a thing about it cause its your property and its your right to do so !

Clampers really can't do anything if you cut the thing off either.

The people that get into problems with them are the ones that engage with them.

E.G. Someone keys your car and your almost 100% sure who it is ?
Doesn't matter, the Gardai can do nothing unless you saw them do it or have video evidence.

Banjo String · 18-02-2014 08:48AM

So this story had a happy ending for me.

Got the €95 back.

A Law · 18-02-2014 09:04AM

Banjo String wrote: »

So this story had a happy ending for me.

Got the €95 back.

How?

Banjo String · 18-02-2014 09:38AM

Stroke of luck.

Was on a quiet country Road yesterday, and an NCPS van was pulled in with its hazards flashing.

The male driver was in the middle of changing his wheel, so I offered to help. Grabbed the wheel brace, knocked him over the head and rummaged through his wallet.

Took out the 2 x 50s he had, threw in a fiver change.

I also ate his Ham sandwiches, and helped myself to a cup of tea from his Flask. **

**may not be true

Artful_Badger · 18-02-2014 10:02AM

Stavros Murphy wrote: »

There could just be one big one every few miles or so, say located close to shopping centers or busy commercial areas. I really think you're not taking this seriously. Everyone disses Dougals ideas. Grossly unfair. That one for the cardboard flood barriers was brilliant as well.

What do we do with all other parking spaces then, fill them with no parking signs? What if they get clamped?

keithclancy · 18-02-2014 11:37AM

My main issue with clamping is that it doesn't fix anything, its the reason they banned clamping in the Hague.

If the car being there is such a problem then why immobilise it so you can't move it.

If its breaking the rules then come up with a controlled way with regulations governed by a public body to issue tickets.

If its obstructing a road then tow the car away.

Tzardine · 18-02-2014 11:46AM

keithclancy wrote: »

Clampers really can't do anything if you cut the thing off either.

Not true. They can report a case of criminal damage to recover the cost of the clamp.

If it is a private car park and you can take the clamp off without damaging it, such as lock-picking or removing the wheel / suspension then there is not much they can do.

If you are parked in a city council area and are clamped by them its a different story. You should pay the fine and appeal if you believe you are in the right.

Clamping sucks as a parking enforcement option, but generally if you are clamped you are in the wrong.

keithclancy · 18-02-2014 12:01PM

Tzardine wrote: »

Not true. They can report a case of criminal damage to recover the cost of the clamp.

If it is a private car park and you can take the clamp off without damaging it, such as lock-picking or removing the wheel / suspension then there is not much they can do.

If you are parked in a city council area and are clamped by them its a different story. You should pay the fine and appeal if you believe you are in the right.

Clamping sucks as a parking enforcement option, but generally if you are clamped you are in the wrong.

Ah ... so they are still search for that clamp removal enthusiast that removed the clamp from everyones car then.

TheDoc · 18-02-2014 12:02PM

BNMC wrote: »

What you on about? What gives these wanker clampers the right to interfere with an other person's property.

There's no way I'd pay the release fee. I'd rather spend €100 on a consaw and cut it off.

There a licensed sanctioned organisation that various county councils and at a high level, government, allow to carry on.

I believe clamping will be gone this year so I heard, replaced with fines that are payable within a certain amount of time. Which would be much better.

I got clamped by Dublin Corpo, completely incorrectly. Standing the pissing rain. They refuse to remove the clamp until getting payment, clamper was sitting on his hole in his van until I rang up.

Got the money back in the end, but just such a ****ed up, backward system.

As for the private organisations. It's been very clearly covered on many a thread. A private clamping organisation, have no right to clamp your vehicle as it's tampering with your private property. However damaging the clamp or lock, leaves you liable to covering damages, as your damaging THEIR private property.

Such a mess. I've been clamped twice by private clampers and each time took the clamp of myself and never heard anything after.

anncoates · 18-02-2014 12:03PM

TireeTerror wrote: »

Lets not argue about this folks, only one course of action as far as I can see.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtLCd7JgMpA

Got to love our country.

Take it up the ass all day long with arbitrary stealth taxes and corruption but clamp somebody's car because they couldn't be fucked managing their time or park across an ambulance bay and then it's an apocalyptic struggle between right and the dark agencies of the state.

arybvtcw0eolkf · 18-02-2014 12:19PM

humbert wrote: »

I read that as a story of some who made a balls of driving and made a balls of parenting.

Its only through the safety of a keyboard and the anonymous of an internet username that someone would say that sh*t.. Such a cowardly act.

Tzardine · 18-02-2014 12:25PM

keithclancy wrote: »

Ah ... so they are still search for that clamp removal enthusiast that removed the clamp from everyones car then.

I doubt it.

I have no doubt however that if some evidence appeared of somebody cutting off one of their clamps (such as a video on you tube etc) they would be straight to the Gardai.

keithclancy · 18-02-2014 12:31PM

Tzardine wrote: »

I doubt it.

I have no doubt however that if some evidence appeared of somebody cutting off one of their clamps (such as a video on you tube etc) they would be straight to the Gardai.

And if that doesn't happen ? How do they prove who cut it off ?

Tzardine · 18-02-2014 12:36PM

keithclancy wrote: »

And if that doesn't happen ? How do they prove who cut it off ?

They cant of course. But there is always a risk that you can be caught if you are cutting off the clamp. The consequences of this are not good at all and the clamping company would be only too happy to push it all the way to make an example of somebody caught doing it.

Its best to pay the removal fee if you are in the wrong. Simple.

If you insist on removing the clamp yourself then be sure to do it in a way which wont damage it and dont take it with you. The clampers will have a picture of their clamp on your car. If it disappears then they can report it stolen to the Gardai. Again not worth the hassle.

funk-you · 18-02-2014 12:49PM

Zachary Easy Lodger wrote: »

You were illegally parked.

Zachary Easy Lodger wrote: »

Oh for pity's sake!
First you advocate illegal action but talking about removing the clamp. Then you think parking without sufficient fee paid is not illegal parking? The clampers are acting within the law and on behalf of the law in clamping vehicles parked, like you, illegally.

You need a large dose of reality.

Unless it was the council or an agent of the council, he has done absolutely nothing illegal. A private company or person cannot 'fine' anyone. Only the government can. It's a release fee the private companies charge that masquerades as a fine.

If you can remove the private companie's clamp without damaging it, there is also absolutely nothing illegal about it. The only area you can have any interaction with anything illegal is if you damage the clamp. Then that's criminal damage and you can be brought to court. When you're there, you're not being prosecuted for anything to do with clamping. You're there because you damaged someone else's property.

Why do people have this notion that private companies or individuals can make laws? They have the same rights as you and you have the same as them.

-Funk

Banjo String · 19-02-2014 09:25PM

funk-you wrote: »

Unless it was the council or an agent of the council, he has done absolutely nothing illegal. A private company or person cannot 'fine' anyone. Only the government can. It's a release fee the private companies charge that masquerades as a fine.

If you can remove the private companie's clamp without damaging it, there is also absolutely nothing illegal about it. The only area you can have any interaction with anything illegal is if you damage the clamp. Then that's criminal damage and you can be brought to court. When you're there, you're not being prosecuted for anything to do with clamping. You're there because you damaged someone else's property.

Why do people have this notion that private companies or individuals can make laws? They have the same rights as you and you have the same as them.

-Funk

Thanks for that Funk.

I can confirm it most definitely wasn't a council property, nor were NCPS acting on behalf of the council.

I did pay to use the carpark. I was late back however and got clamped.

I have taken away one very valuable lesson from the whole kerfuffle though.

A battery powered angle grinder is now in my boot, next to my spare wheel. I'll continue to pay in NCPS car parks. But if I'm ever unlucky enough to get clamped again, then that clamps going home with me. No danger next time.

Holsten · 19-02-2014 09:26PM

I would cut off any clamp that wasn't a Dublin City Council one.

Cut it off, take it with you, drive off and dump it somewhere.

super_furry · 19-02-2014 09:34PM

Tzardine wrote: »

Not true. They can report a case of criminal damage to recover the cost of the clamp.

Has this ever happened? I was under the impression that the legislation surrounding private clampers was so weak and along with the law that prevents them from interfering with a private vehicle in place, they never want to be challenged in court.

Femme_Fatale · 19-02-2014 09:34PM

Bang of barstool law on this thread.

So I'm clamped.

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