Safe Speed Forums

Hi there,

Im in college and have always parked in the same place each day. However, today my car was stickered beacsue I was 5 minutes late after some 'signs' in the college car park said parking was allowed.

I was even advised to park here by the tutors.

The problem is the sticker. It is bright orange and very hard to get off. Have they any right to do this?

I'd class it as vandalism. Is there anything I can do? What would you suggest?

Thanks for any replies.

Take photographs of the sticker and any resulting damage for a start.

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Science won over religion when they started installing lightning rods on churches.

Thanks I'll do that.

But another problem is the fact that I pan to park there tommorow, simply because the alternative spaces is a 15 minute walk ( its ridiculous!)

I suppose I'll just let them stick one on top of the other.

But how do I stop this in the long term?

Roll clingfilm over the outside of your window. They'll have to stick the stickers to that, then you can take it off, and replace it each time you park there!

I might try that.


I'm definately not moving where I park. The stickers are rather expensive, so fool them I say.

I have however, made a formal complaint to the college in addition to claiming that it is criminal damage. (The sticker is still on the windscreen now)

I say I'm pressing charges for criminal damage if they dont stop it.

Any other ideas?

Yes, grow up and stop acting like a petulant child.

Putting a sticker on your car is highly unlikely to be classifed as criminal damage as no actual 'damage' has been done.

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Political Correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical, liberal minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.

Yes it is, as it is temporary damage. Criminal damage doesn't have to be permanent. Please see section 1 of the Criminal Damage act 1974.

... I have a feeing you are a troll, however judging by the fact that you are a member and your signature stance, Im inclined to give you the benefit of the doubt.

I stand by what I said. Try it on and see how far it gets you.



And am therefore obviously not....



Ohhh, thats really BIG of you

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Political Correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical, liberal minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.

It is no different to if anyone stuck a sticker on your car for any reason.
The whole "civil parking enforcement" thing is done using a contract which you are supposed to agree to by 'parking' your vehicle. These are (almost?) always wrong in that they don't form a contract, even if they did you can pay whenever you like, or they have got something else wrong.

One of the funniest ones I've seen said something along the lines of "Any cars parked here will have to pay £150".

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Andrew.

But its not 'criminal damage'.

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Political Correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical, liberal minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.

How is that defined in law? (I ask because I don't know)

I would call it damage, even if it can be removed easily Painting over the car could be removed too, but a lot harder.

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Andrew.

Well a quick google search reveals a number of sources all of which cite more or less the same thing.

This is from Norfolk Constabulary..

Criminal Damage is more broadly known as vandalism but vandalism really only covers crimes against households and household property, including cars. There are a broader range of crimes within the criminal damage category with vandalism being the most significant one.

Criminal damage is the highest 'volume' crime with nearly 3000 crimes of this nature committed in 2005 and it falls under the umbrella of Anti-Social Behaviour.

What is Criminal Damage?

Criminal damage refers to crimes where any person without lawful excuse intentionally or recklessly destroys or damages any property belonging to another.

Perhaps the most common is damage to cars parked on the street – such as smashed windows, broken wing mirrors and aerials, windscreen wipers ripped off and scratches to the body work.

The next most common is damage to peoples own property - stones or bricks thrown through windows, walls and fences being kicked over, garden ornaments smashed and shrubs and plants uprooted and destroyed.

Another is damage to council property such as bus shelters, parks and childrens play areas - and the use of graffiti on walls and buildings.

What isn't Criminal Damage?

Anything that results in non-permanent damage (i.e. that can be rectified, cleaned off or removed at no cost) is not considered to be criminal damage - for example letting down car tyres.

Damage around a point of entry to a house or vehicle also isn't criminal damage and should instead be treated as attempted burglary / vehicle crime.

I found the above citation most apt because it quite clearly outlines what isn't criminal damge. A sticker can be peeled and the residue cleaned off with a bit of warm water and a cloth, unless its been affixed with some high-bond adhesive and removing it will damage the surface underneath to the extent that it may need respraying or replacing (whicver is applicable).

Ultimately it seems to be up to a court to decide where simple interference becomes damage because, as you say, paint could be removed and/or oversprayed. Thats why I stood by what I originally said. I'd be darned surprised if someone were to cite for criminal damage on the basis of a sticker, and win!

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Political Correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical, liberal minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.

I'm actually tempted to side with the OP on this one (apart from the part where he accuses RigPig of being a troll). Proper parking tickets use an adhesive that doesn't damage paintwork or glass and is easy to remove without leaving any residue. I'm fine with that (the sticker aspect, at least)

At the opposite end of the scale, if someone used paste and stuck a flyposter on your windscreen, you'd have a right old job getting that off, probably involving a scraper and an awful lot of time and effort and you might end up scratching the glass in the process. I'd probably call this criminal damage. If it was on the paintwork then there is absolutely no doubt about it.

It all comes down to where this orange sticker falls on the above scale, so OP. if 1 is an easily removable parking ticker and 10 is a poster stuck to your windscreen with paste, where would you place it?


As an aside, someone egged my car (parked outside a hotel) last Halloween. I'd call that criminal damage since the egg will damage paintwork if left unattended, and it cost me a fiver at the nearest Arc car wash to get the thing removed.

Hi there, thanks for the replies.

I have the following photos of the offending sticker...

(High quality)

http://www.fileden.com/files/2007/4/22/ ... CF1171.JPG

http://www.fileden.com/files/2007/4/22/ ... CF1170.JPG

http://www.fileden.com/files/2007/4/22/ ... CF1169.JPG

http://www.fileden.com/files/2007/4/22/ ... CF1168.JPG


..

Those marks are what is left after endlesly trying to scrape the sticker off with my fingernails in the college car park. (about 10-15 minutes)

The sticker is impossible to remove without some sort of liquid. I am particualy concerned if it rains tommorow because of the posibility of the sticker effecting my wipers.


Another thing to point ask is; if you were in my situation, what would YOU do?

I have already fired an email off to the colege, (the complaints department). as yet, I have recieved no reply. Should I contact the principle? Is there a way I can contact the police via email?... other relevant autorities.

It's not I am parking in disabled areas, its just a place where supposed signs say you cant park there after 3.30pm. I have always parked there until 4pm, and yesterday was the first time the little hitlers gave me a sticker.

Thanks in advance for any more replies. I'd also like to say sorry to RigPig for calling him a troll after disagreeing with me.

So you admit you are parked in contravention of the regulations? I assume this is private land so the college authorities can make their own rules.

I agree it is a bit obnoxious to use a hard-to-remove window sticker for a first offence, but at least they didn't put it on the driver's side, which I have seen before.

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"Show me someone who says that they have never exceeded a speed limit, and I'll show you a liar, or a menace." (Austin Williams - Director, Transport Research Group)

Any views expressed in this post are personal opinions and may not represent the views of Safe Speed

I suppose that is correct.

But the people who park blatently in disabled bays also get the same sticker. Where I park is the place the busses come at 5pm. I am usualy one of the last cars out at 4pm. There is no problem whatsoever. It was only yesterday where this has been enforced.

As mentioned earlier, I was even advised to park there by the tutors. (course finishes at 4pm)

Despite this however, my main concern here is the use of the stickers, and whether or not they are lawful, that is my main point.

Or, as one of our foremen at the leccy board did, simply drive home with your neck at a funny angle and let the morning dew lift it off for you.

The offending hospital that liked to put A4 stickers over the drivers view side of the windscreen stopped the practice shortly afterwards.... they wouldn't admit why, but were suddenly so scared they were out using solvent to remove stickers they'd only just applied minutes earlier. Perhaps you should tell your colledge if they sticker an uninsured car, they'll be the ones being sued in event of some ****wit driving it off and having an accident...

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Fear is a weapon of mass distraction

Hehe, forget it. Gave me a bit of a chuckle actually, and you realise I mean no offence by the following I hope.

What we have here is a case of dented pride at having some stranger slap a sticker on your car and a bit of indignation at being told you were in the wrong. And you want to 'get your own back' on the system in some small way. I'm right aren't I

These 'rules' are usually drawn up in response to a real problem identified by the organisation concerned. We, in our fleeting transit through their grounds, may not see it as a problem and tend to assume its being done to mess us around or because someone wants to be an arse.
Someone, somewhere will get caught out on the cusp of the system changing or at the changeover threshold time - you were that person in this instance.
Someone else will be employed by the organisation to enforce the rules they have drawn up, the 'hitlers' (as we so readily dismiss them as) are in a no-win situation.

The bottom line is that its the college's land and they can enforce whatever rules they like. OK, a big orange sticker may seem a bit harsh for a first offence and so close to the switchover, perhaps an amnesty during which time something were popped under your windscreen wiper would have been a better option.
But in the meantime I suggest you grab a sponge and some warm water to get the sticker off and wait for a reply to your EMail but leave it at that. And respect the rules of the college or find another one to attend.

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Political Correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical, liberal minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.

..and don't sit your just turned 16 year old daughter in the passenger seat while it's still there looking like that or you might get some strange looks.

I once had a similar experience in a Sainsburys car park where I had to use the delivery car park to park a scout mini bus as it was too tall to go under their normal car park barrier. A large sticky notice was stuck over the driver's window while we were shopping in their store.

We had spent quite a bit of money in the store so I wasn't particularly amused! Yes, they removed the sticker themselves (with difficulty.) Why were they so b****y minded to have put it on there? Senseless.




It may be worth having a quiet word with this tutor to point out that his advice caused you to 'earn' that orange sticker. At best he may be able to elicit an apology for you, while at the least you may prevent him from giving the same erroneous advice to your colleagues at the college.