Safe Speed Forums

Is it true that double yellow lines are only enforceble when they have the vertical bar at each end?
And do they have be unbroken in their length ie they don't count if the lines cross a grid or are covered with snow/leaves etc.
Seem to remember Ernest talking about this but I can't seem to see it anywhere.

Don't they have to be complete and of a certain width does that vary on speed limits?

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I walk I cycle I drive and I vote

Yes, they do have to have bars otherwise they're not legally double yellow lines. Not sure about leaves and snow though, as that is out of reasonable control of the council. If the line is painted and valid, I think that is enough to make it enforceable.

I agree, otherwise you would end up in the absurd position of the car parked on the line invalidating it as well!

Also, even if the line is technically deficient, you will be at the mercy of the judge or adjudicator, do don't take it to ridiculous extremes.

You can find the definitions for yellow lines in here.

Note that it says Variations: None permitted

Both single and double lines must be continous and T-barred

Not so.

If the line is technically deficient (eg not continuous / not properly terminated at the ends) then it is unenforcable. No parking adjudicator can legally find otherwise. He cannot say (for example) "the lines were wrong but it was obvious that there was a restriction", as binding case law states that it doesn't matter whether or not the restriction was obvious - in short the technicality "trumps" the intent in deciding whether the restriction is enforcable.

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CSCP Latin for beginners...
Ticketo ergo sum : I scam therefore I am!

Ah yes, this old chestnut.

Next time the missus is dragging you around town shopping or what-have-you, take a look at the double yellow lines. Around Oxford I barely found a set that wasn't either incorrectly terminated, or broken by overbanding/pavement extensions/etc.

That said, double yellows are almost always there for a reason, and I personally judge people who flout them purely for their own convenience to be amongst the most inconsiderate and self-centred drivers on the roads; on a par with those who feel they have more rights to the road than other users and drive/park accordingly.

Again - we see it - or we don't because the arbitrator is missing. The test surely is "is parking there liable to cause an obstruction" -- if yes don't - and when we had town centre beat police officers ( not toofless plastic PCSO's) at the beck and call of traffic wardens, people didn't -or if they did , they got ticketed for "causing an obstruction" ---trouble is that nowadays unless the town /etc has council anti parking officials - then all respect for the law and use of judgement goes out the window.

Now we have decriminalised parking enforcement they are now only sometimes there for a reason.

Also remember that "blue badge holders" are allowed to park on double yellow lines for 3 hours. So obviously it has nothing to do with safety.

Here's a link to the diagrams:
1017 - 1018.1

I'm sure I read somewhere that snow/leaves covering the lines is a valid defence. Otherwise councils would deliberately pile snow/leaves on the lines in order to raise money. It's the same as if someone paints over a sign, that invalidates it. It is the council's responsibility to maintain the signs.

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Andrew.