You might think, “But the car is blocking my view when I reverse!” That’s a tough one. “Obstruction” is a grey area. If the car is literally making it dangerous for you to pull out, you can report it to the police. They might send someone if they have time (ha!).
But here’s the ironic kicker: for the police to act, the obstruction usually has to be seriously dangerous. Like, blocking a fire engine or an ambulance. Just annoying you because you can’t parallel park in your usual spot? Sorry, mate. The law doesn’t care about your convenience.
Parking: Parking row erupts after neighbour uses mum’s driveway without
The “Residents Only” Myth
I hear people say, “But I live here! It’s my street!” Nah. Unless your street has a Permit Parking Scheme in place, anyone can park. A permit scheme is a formal system where only residents with a special sticker can park during certain hours. You have to petition your council for that, and it costs money.
Without that permit zone, the law treats your street like a supermarket car park. If you want to park, you have to play the game. That means leaving work early, or parking two streets away. Yes, it’s infuriating. Yes, it feels unfair. That’s British parking law for you.
