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there must be notices up where you can clearly see them, warning that unauthorized vehicles will be clamped the landowner does not charge more than a reasonable fee to release your vehicle your vehicle is released as soon as you have said you will pay the release fee there is a way for you to get in touch with the landowner (or their agent) to make arrangements to pay, for example a telephone number on the warning notice. Your vehicle must not be clamped if: it displays a valid disabled badge is a marked emergency service vehicle attending an emergency. Use of licensed wheel-clampers Wheel-clampers used by private landowners must have a licence from the Security Industry Authority (SIA). It is a criminal offence for anyone without a licence to clamp your vehicle. It is also a criminal offence for someone to employ an unlicensed wheel-clamper, or for a landowner to allow a wheel-clamper who they know is unlicensed to operate on their property. When you pay to have your vehicle released, the wheel-clamper must provide a receipt which includes the following information: the place where the vehicle was clamped their name and signature their SIA licence number (a 15 digit number on the front of their licence) the date. Licensed wheel-clampers should also wear their SIA licence where you can see it at all times when they are working. You can check whether someone has a valid SIA licence by looking on a public register of licences on the SIA website at www.the-sia.org.uk, or from the SIA call centre on 08702 430 100. What to do if you are clamped If you are clamped: keep calm, don't lose your temper or attempt to remove a wheel clamp unless you have exceptionally good reasons - you could be sued for criminal damage contact the telephone number shown and ask for release check whether warning signs and boundaries are clear enough. You could also take a photograph to use as evidence later on ask the wheel-clamper who they work for, whether the landowner's authority can be produced, and if they have a licence from the SIA if you don't think a wheel-clamper is licensed, don't pay the release fee. If they refuse to release your vehicle without a fee, call the police. An unlicensed wheel-clamper is committing a criminal offence report unlicensed wheel-clampers to the SIA (see above) if the wheel-clamper uses threatening or intimidating behaviour, you should report this to the police if the wheel-clamper is licensed, you will have to pay the release fee, but insist on a receipt. Try to get the address and phone number at which the wheel-clamper can be contacted if you think you should not have been clamped, for example because the warning notices were inadequate, or the release fee was too high, the only way to get your money back may be through the courts. A solicitor will be able to advise you on what chance you have of winning your case. Towing away It may be necessary to tow away a vehicle parked on private land if it is: dangerously parked; or causing an obstruction; or blocking an emergency access. If your vehicle is towed away from private land: look for any notices with contact information for the site owners or managers if you are in London and you think your vehicle has been towed away, you can use the TRACE service to find out where it is (tel 020 7747 4747) you will have to pay to get the vehicle released, but you may want to get legal advice from a solicitor. Further help Citizens Advice Bureau Citizens Advice Bureaux give free, confidential, impartial and independent advice to help you solve problems.
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