Those impossible-to-remove "don't park here" notices stuck on your car window

[ChickenVindaloo2]

Hey all,

I was at a very large shopping centre today. When I returned to my car, I noticed several people had come back to one of those "you have parked here for 4 hours, don't do it" notices. They said on them "please remove before driving" but of course, they are impossible to get off! People were standing in the freezing cold trying to scrape them off. They were mainly on rear passenger windows.

This is not so much a thread about parking notices/charges on private property as it is a question about whether this counts as criminal damage or vandalism? Surely no-one is allowed to mess with your property even if it is parked on their land?

I'd be interested to hear opinions as I'm now scared to shop for more than 4hrs lest I come back to find a sticker on my car!!

Thanks!

For anyone who is imagining the Trafford centre or bluewater etc. The gyle is not like that! No cinema, handful of not great chain restaurants, big M&S, Morrisons and maybe 30/40 maximum high street shops.

I'd probably struggle to spend 2 hours there let alone 4.

It is however in a very handy place to leave your car to commute into the city centre by train, bus or tram.

Redactio

OP insisted that parking fines are NOT enforcable in Scotland and that is wrong. Perhaps if she feels like 'rebelling' (how old is she ffs??) and ignores parking conditions in other parts of Edinburgh she will find out to her cost when she comes back to a clamped car?

I just wonder how anyone could spend more than 4 hours in the Gyle!

I'm prepared to be proved wrong, but I think clamping is illegal in Scotland other than by DVLA or police.

Manager sets rule. OP breaks rule. Manager presumably sends minions to put sticker on car. Rule broken --> consequence.

vs.

Manager sends minions to put sticker on car after clearly posted rule was broken. OP, per PP's suggestion, writes him a scathing letter full of why she's so special that his pesky rules don't apply to her, and how much she spends in his shopping center that entitles her to ignore the rules, and superglues it to his windshield. Vandalism.

Consequences vs. vandalism.

Excellent advice, that PP.

I stand by my advice to OP to grow up and suck it up, basically.

They use this method in our local children's hospital. Selfish buggers park right outside the door rather than pay 60p for parking. It then means that access to the disabled parking is restricted. I wish they would plaster them all over the windscreen.

Given the hours and money I've invested in my spiritual home Bluewater I'm always surprised they haven't dedicated a space just to me.

If you're reading Bluewater, could I have the first one on the top deck by HOF please?

When I was at uni the car park staff used these kind of labels on those cars that did not have parking permits but they used to stick them on the windscreen.

Jeez, what is with entitled twats who think the rules don't apply to them?
"Yeah, I'll just leave a note to say not to apply the rules to me."
I absolutely agree with this.

If you want to stay there for more then 4 hours, why don't you just move your car to a different space after 3 1/2 hours as I am sure that they only notice how long a car has been in a certain space??

Willow, please distinguish between the authorities (police/Government/Council) and private entities (such as me or you, or a shop manager).

One has the power to fine and clamp. (And have you jailed).
One does not.

(in Scotland at least).

It really worries me that people don't seem to understand the difference between the state and the private sector in terms of law enforcement.

Now I bet you if I said to the Gyle - "if I am a genuine shopper and I want to stay for over 4hrs, is that ok?" they would say yes.

I'm minded to tweet it but then you would all find out my real identity! Perhaps I shall email it to them.

OK, I've emailed them.

According to Citizens Advice, Parking Eye vs Beavis is a relevant precedent in Scotland, so a fine of up to around £100 is enforceable for over staying on private land in Scotland.

Emailed them to say what, that you don't want the rules to apply to you?

And everyone working in the gyle will do the same....

Oh god you haven't really just made a complete tit of yourself by emailing them have you? What did you say??!

My sister spent over 2 hours in a shopping centre car park and got fined £85!!!

Same rules in Scotland as elsewhere in uk.

www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/pay-dismay-warning-over-private-7527025

Stickers not vandalism as don't permanently damage or destroy and aren't intended to.

Frankly you're coming over like a petulant toddler!

And I concur with other posters cannot see any possible way to spend 4+ hours at gyle centre.

If you want to stay there for more then 4 hours, why don't you just move your car to a different space after 3 1/2 hours as I am sure that they only notice how long a car has been in a certain space??

Most places have a way of knowing if you move your car.

Perhaps "being rebellious" is an Edinburgh expression equalling to "being an entitled twat"?. Otherwise I can't fathom why an adult woman (?) would think herself rebellious for staying in a 4h-free parking for longer than 4h.

You would have been the envy of the black rights and the feminism movements, OP, with your rebellious nature, you!

im slightly worried by the "rule one: obey the rules" robot mindset!

Sadly I have a relative who spouts this kind of twatty rubbish to justify their entitled behaviour. They frequently accuse friends of slavishly 'rule following' or being 'conventional' for any behaviour that doesn't allow them special priority over all other mere mortals (ie not pushing in at the front of the queue, not helping them sneak in somewhere without paying etc).

I am frequently tempted to 'break the rules' in ways that don't favour them and see if they find out so admirable. "Oh, I know there are eight of us, but I cut the cake into seven and gave everyone but you a peice because I'm breaking the conventional rules on sharing, I'm such a rebel, lol." Etc. I suspect they'd find it terribly unfair (much like the OP is finding the stickered notices) without ever considering how unfairly their behaviour treats everyone else.

Frankly I find this whole "I vas only obeying orders" attitude deeply disturbing.

Wow! So people who follow rules are no better than Nazis? Quite a leap there.

"...I'd be interested to hear opinions as I'm now scared to shop for more than 4hrs lest I come back to find a sticker on my car!!..."

So those stickers DO work!

You weren't clamped, your vehicle wasn't towed away, and you weren't fined. So take it on the chin and just accept that they're more entitled to put enforcement stickers on your windows as you are breaking their rules.

The answer is perfectly simple... Don't park in the car park for more than 4hrs or park elsewhere. The rules apply to everyone!