Legalities of moving someone else's vehicle?

[Pete.]

Ok here's one for you - *looks at Roger*

Alleyway behind my house runs along the rear of our street, does a right turn and exits on the pavement between a house and a shop. Shop front is set back from the road so the shop has a wide frontage which is a continuance of the pavement. house on the other side has a wall that continues up to the pavement. Shop has closed and the owner has parked a large van on the front which doesn't move. The van is parked too close to the garden wall to get my bike in and out of the alley, and apart from that I have just bought a chunky lathe that I want to bring in via the alley, and there's no room for that either.

I plan to bring home a large trolley jack, pick up the back of the van and roll it forwards to make the gap behind the van as wide as the alley to preserve my access. If I do this without causing any damage - what laws might I be breaking?
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[daemonoid]

Assuming you can't get in touch with the owner. You could probably get the cops involved in this one - he's blocking an access/right of way and they should sort it. They might try to claim it as a civil matter though.
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[thx1138]

I have a vague memory of the boxer Chris Eubanks being 100% let off, case dismissed in court for moving someones vehicle.

[Nexus Icon]

None, as far as I can see. As long as there's no damage, no attempt to enter the vehicle and no intent to cause distress to the owner I'm not sure how you could be breaking a law.

I suppose they could stick a TWOC on you but no justice system in the world would consider that a case worth pursuing.

In fact, when I went for my first mod 1 test there was a car parked on the course and the police advised the dsa guys that we could move it if we could do so without entering or damaging the vehicle. Unfortunately neither of the assessors had a trolley jack in the pannier of their Pan Euro.
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[Raffles]

[Pigeon]

Interesting one, it's not TWOC as your not driving the vehicle.

If I was sure I could do it without damage....or getting caught. I probably would do as you say.

But in life in general, I'm 100% wrong in every gut-feeling decision, so cops is probably the best thing to do if you can't contact the owner.

[wilz1234]

Just cut the handbrake cable. Dont leave any traces it was you
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[soforene]

[Joncrete Cungle]

What nick is the van in? When some idiot blocked me in a mates yard with his van against the gate, three of us pushed it across the road with the hand brake on left it blocking the side road opposite and rang the rozzers to report a dangerously parked van blocking the side road.

[stinkwheel]

Looks like a fire hazard to me.

Phone the fire brigade on their non-emergency number. Tell them there is a van parked across the auxilliary fire exit for a row of houses in which you live.

They'll move it with extreme prejudice when they have a minute because they spend a lot of time bored out of their box.

If it's wide enough to count as an access point for a fire engine, they'll move it even worse.
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[st3v3]

[Yoyo]

Slide under it, then slacken the handbrake cable and push it just enough out the way. Then do it back up.

If it is a couple of inches then the owner shouldn't even notice. Round the block maybe he will.
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[jeddy11]

jack the back up with a trolley jack and wheel it along there is no crime committed unless you damage the van when moving it..
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[Pete.]

[Skudd]

Just make sure the trolley jack will wheel while loaded with the van.
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[thegubner]

when I had a transit tipper I used to live next to a very attractive but dim ka driver. She would park over both spaces in her little ka so every night upon my return I'd get bumper to bumper and push her car forward 6 foot or so. I'm guessing if you move it just enough for proper access he'll not even know.

[Pete.]

[thegubner]

[The Artist]

This may sound like BS but a friend of mine was in a similar situation. Car was blocking entrance to his driveway so he got a trolley jack, a block of wood wrapped in an old towel so as not to damage any paintwork. Jacked up the car and rolled it forwards about 5 feet.

An hour later the cops were round asking him loads of questions and I can't remember what actually happened but he will never do it again and IIRC the owner claimed there was damage to the car when it must have been caused before this incident.

Do what stink said and call the brigade.

[duhawkz]

[DrDonnyBrago]

Can you find the owners details on companies house?


EDIT: to clarify - owner of the business, ergo, owner of the van.

[andyscooter]

bloke who repairs bikes used to do this in worcester regulary

he used to get market traders parking out side his unit

jacked up the cars and moved them up the road and left them on double yellows

traffic wardens booked the cars

trader used to get back at the end of the day to find a ticket on the car go down to complain and then change their mind

bloke was an ex hells angel and was about 6 foot 5 tall

and looked like captain caveman
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[Rogerborg]

[fatjames]

[map]

Another vote for stinkwheel's plan.
I take it the van is taxed and has disc showing? If not can you not report as abandoned? (from what you said van parked on pavement. Pavement is part of road. Although that may take days/weeks to get removed).
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