Wouldn't it be common sense to knock on the door of that property or business. Takes only a couple of minutes. And find out if that vehicle belongs to that address. If it does leave alone. If it doesn't you do that person a service by ticketing that vehicle so they don't do it again.

The real reason we all know is that local wardens do not use common sense in any shape or form because at the end of the day its revenue for the local council and a rolling contract for that particular company.

When we had police run "yellow" banded wardens, they used discretion and common sense. It worked well. Deregulation and private companies lead to only one thing... profits. And get those fines in using the law and any means possible. Use of common sense doesn't come into it.

Yes I think it should be his/her duty. How many tickets are issued for this type of offence compared to other parking offences. Few I would bet. So I don't think it would be too much bother to enquire if a vehicle is owned by the owner of the driveway. If it's not then issue away.

Edited by Ben 10 on 01/08/2010 at 00:55

.....and if no one is at home?

Then give them a ticket. It wont happen again and the owner will not be so foolish in future. I was looking at it from a spur on the moment decision. At least try and see if the car belongs to the driveway owner. If that cannot be established within a couple of minutes then ticket that car. Whats the hassle. And how can using a bit of common sense cause more problems than it solves.

There would appear to scope for common-sense/discretion by the parking enforcement authority.

Our local council has the following policy:

A Penalty Charge Notice at the higher rate (£70) can be issued if a vehicle is parked at a dropped footway unless the following circumstances occur:

.... The vehicle is parked outside a residential premises by or with the consent of the occupiers of the premises (this does not include shared driveways)