A MOTORS expert has revealed whether you are allowed to leave traffic cones outside your home to reserve a parking space.
Multiple homeowners have taken to social media to slam “selfish” neighbours for using the controversial method – but what does the law say?
Getty – ContributorIt turns out that blocking off parking spaces with traffic cones could land you in hot water[/caption]
Road laws are actually fairly clear about this, as blocking off spaces with cones falls well within the offence of obstructing a public highway.
Section 137 of the 1980 Highways Act states: “If a person, without lawful authority or excuse, in any way wilfully obstructs the free passage along a highway he is guilty of an offence.”
Roads can only be blocked with express permission from the local authority, an issue that patriotic Brits ran into when trying to set up street parties for the King’s coronation in May.
Breaking this rule could see you slapped with a fine or even handed a prison term of up to 51 weeks.
Moreover, your efforts may all be for naught as council officials can simply remove the cones if they spot them.
Tim Alcock of Lease Car UK added that there are several other little-known parking rules that could land drivers in hot water.
He told Derbyshire Live: “Most drivers already spend a massive amount of money on vehicle fuel, taxes and upkeep, so the last thing anyone needs is a pesky yellow fine appearing on the windscreen while they’re parked.
“We’d expect the majority of motorists to know not to park on double yellow lines or in disabled bays without a blue badge, for example, but it’s likely that fewer drivers know that allowing your parked car to build up dirt could leave you open to prosecution, as having an unreadable number plate is illegal.
“Similarly, The Highway Code says that you can’t park anywhere that may restrict access for emergency services, such as leaving a residential road too narrow for a fire engine, and using the horn while a car is stationary – including whilst parked – is against the law.”