Selfish parents outside a school in Leicestershire have been slammed by police as they continue to park on double yellow lines, with officers claiming parents were putting lives at risk
Police have said parents parking outside a school in Leicestershire are “selfish” because the situation is risking children’s lives. Parents have continued to park on double yellow lines outside the St Clares Primary School in Coalville, to the dismay of officers from North West Leicestershire Police.
PCSO Rose from the Coalville Town Beat Team posted on social media this week that the dangerous parking was forcing parents and children to walk in the road. The officer said it was “a shame” that parents only decided to move their vehicles when police were present at the school.
“This selfish behaviour is putting lives at risk and action will be taken,” PCSO Rose warned, reports to LeicestershireLive. The officer added that due to the nature of the parking problems, they would be revisiting the school between other enquiries.
Parking on double yellow lines can be punished with fines varying depending on where they are. According to the Highway Code, motorists must not park or wait on double yellow lines for any period of time.
Technically, that means drivers can still be fined even if their vehicle breaks down. Cases can be appealed, however and people can use them for dropping off passengers and unloading goods “for very short time periods and where it is safe to do so”, the RAC said.
Simon Williams, RAC fuel spokesman, said: “Technically, a broken-down vehicle on double-yellow lines is in contravention of parking regulations and a penalty charge notice could be issued. But as yellow lines are generally ticketed by hand, it’s unlikely a driver would be given a ticket by a civil enforcement officer in the first place, as long as they are with the car and can clearly explain why they’re stuck.
“If a civil enforcement officer cannot ascertain the reason for the contravention, for example if the owner of the vehicle is no longer at the scene, or the contravention is only caught remotely, then a penalty charge notice may be issued. Enforcement officers tend to be very wary of notes left in cars saying they are broken down.”
Blue badge holders can park on double yellow lines for up to three hours. Drivers who break down can also appeal directly to the council that issued a parking ticket.
Williams said: “We’d like to think that even drivers who have had to leave the scene for some reason would be able to get their tickets overturned at appeal at the informal stage by writing to the local authority, detailing the reason for the contravention and providing evidence such as receipts from a garage or recovery company.
“Drivers should always endeavour to move their vehicles away from double-yellow lines, if at all possible. If not immediately possible, it’s worth noting that leaving the vehicle there for an unreasonable amount of time may negate the ground for appealing the penalty charge notice.”