LOCALS risk being slapped with an eye watering fine of £1,000 for simply parking in their own driveways.
Residents in Southampton could be hit with the hefy fees if they park their motors in their front drive if there is no dropped kerb.
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The fresh ruling sparked outrage from the city’s opposition councillors.
Conservative group leader Councillor Peter Baillie opposed the move, while Labour cabinet member for transport Councillor Christie Lambert defended the rule’s implementation.
Local authorities have the power to fine anyone illegally using a vehicle to cross a footway to gain access to an address under the Highways Act 1980.
Councillor Lambert explained that highway inspectors from infrastructure group Balfour Beatty will issue a warning if homeowners park their vehicle on a driveway where it must have driven over the footway illegally to get there.
After multiple separate notices are sent out and locals still don’t address the issue, they will be slapped with a fine.
Councillor Baillie raised the issue with follow up questions at the full council meeting on September 24.
He said: “Is it acceptable to be sending residents the letters saying that they may receive a £1,000 fine if we have never actually prosecuted any and got a £1,000 fine issued?
“By the sounds of the email I received we have no intention of doing that.”
Councillor Lambert responded: “You can’t have a go at us for not enforcing things and then have a go at us for enforcing things. It is our right to enforce the legislation.”
It’s not the first time residents have been threatened with fines for parking on their own property.
In March, furious homeowners accused their council of using them as ‘cash cows’ after they were fined for parking on their own driveways.
Lambeth Council’s “Kerbside strategy” has marked nearly 200 homes in Streatham Vale with “illegal crossovers” – where vehicles are accessing properties without approved dropped kerbs.
The south London council is demanding that residents pay up to £4,000 to make their driveways official by changing the kerbs.
The reason behind the eye-wateringly expensive scheme is to “support resilience to the climate emergency” and “free unrestricted parking has an impact on our climate”, according to the authority.
Lambeth council said that the four per cent of cars parking “off street” with “unauthorised vehicle access” could clash with plans for bike parking, curbside seating and flower boxes.
According to The Telegraph, a council pamphlet told homeowners: “If these accesses are not formalised in accordance with the council’s policy, then parking bays may be placed in front of them, blocking access.”
A council spokesperson said: “It is illegal to drive a vehicle over the pavement without having an authorised vehicle crossover.
“This requires a resident to make an application, gain approval and pay for the works to adapt the highway to enable safe access.”
Rules around where drivers can and cannot park
RULE 243 of the Highway Code explains where drivers can and cannot park.
It is actually not “your right” to park in front of your property unless you have a designated parking space and although it might be tempting you’re not allowed to save “your” space with a cone either.
Leaving anything on the road can be classed as an obstruction and is illegal – unless you’ve been given permission by the council.
Any member of the public can park on your street, provided it isn’t governed by residents’ parking permits and as long as they are complying with restrictions and not causing obstructions.
If your street uses permits, anyone with the right permit can park anywhere in the relevant zone.
There’s also no law on how long someone can park in the same space for, unless police think the car has been abandoned.
