The moment a clamper got clamped himself
In the natural world, it's known as the hunter becoming the hunted. On the mean streets of Britain, it is poetic justice. This was the moment a clamper got a taste of his own medicine when his vehicle was impounded by council parking wardens.
The white Renault van was spotted without a valid tax disc and clamped before being loaded onto a flatbed lorry and driven away.
Unable to contain his fury, the driver made an obscene gesture at a passerby who captured the scene in Southend, Essex, on their mobile phone.
The vehicle is owned by LSB Enforcement, who clamp and tow vehicles across the county and charge drivers up to ?500 to retrieve them.
The photographer, who asked not to be identified, said: 'He couldn't believe it when he saw a yellow clamp on his van. He was swearing furiously.
'For once the shoe was on the other foot and I hope it makes the people running this company think a bit before leaving people severely out of pocket.
'Wheel clampers are parasites and they hold driver to ransom for the smallest infringement.'
Southend Council confirmed one of its wardens had sprung into action on the morning of March 5.
Spokesman Imran Kazalbash said the decision to tow the van away was authorised by the DVLA.
'If the owner of the vehicle arrives at the pound to claim their vehicle, and they bring with them their up-to-date tax disc, it will cost them ?100 to reclaim their vehicle. This was the situation with the vehicle in question, which has now been reclaimed,' he added.
'However, if people do not bring their up-to-date tax disc with them, they will be charged ?260. They would then be refunded ?160 if they returned shortly afterwards with their up-to-date tax disc.'
The Daily Mail has waged a campaign against cowboy clampers who have been running a ?1billion-a-year 'legalised mugging' racket.
It won a landmark victory in January when ministers announced fines, which often reach ?500, will be more than halved.
Other proposals included the creation of an independent tribunal that drivers can appeal to if clamped on private land.
It means clampers will have to refund in full any unfair fines or towing charges and face paying uncapped compensation.
A spokesman for LSB Enforcement yesterday accepted the council had acted fairly.
He said: 'One of our guys was changing a vehicle which has been in our yard for a couple of months. He had just had the MOT done and was on his way to get a tax disc at the time.
'However, that's no excuse - he shouldn't have been driving on the Queen's Highway. He was clamped - quite rightly so - and has paid the fine out of his own wages.'
In the natural world, it's known as the hunter becoming the hunted. On the mean streets of Britain, it is poetic justice. This was the moment a clamper got a taste of his own medicine when his vehicle was impounded by council parking wardens.
The white Renault van was spotted without a valid tax disc and clamped before being loaded onto a flatbed lorry and driven away.
The boot's on the other foot: The clamper stands beside his clamped white van
Unable to contain his fury, the driver made an obscene gesture at a passerby who captured the scene in Southend, Essex, on their mobile phone.
The vehicle is owned by LSB Enforcement, who clamp and tow vehicles across the county and charge drivers up to ?500 to retrieve them.
The photographer, who asked not to be identified, said: 'He couldn't believe it when he saw a yellow clamp on his van. He was swearing furiously.
'For once the shoe was on the other foot and I hope it makes the people running this company think a bit before leaving people severely out of pocket.
No escape: The council truck driver won't budge despite the pleas of the clamper
'Wheel clampers are parasites and they hold driver to ransom for the smallest infringement.'
Southend Council confirmed one of its wardens had sprung into action on the morning of March 5.
Spokesman Imran Kazalbash said the decision to tow the van away was authorised by the DVLA.
'If the owner of the vehicle arrives at the pound to claim their vehicle, and they bring with them their up-to-date tax disc, it will cost them ?100 to reclaim their vehicle. This was the situation with the vehicle in question, which has now been reclaimed,' he added.
'However, if people do not bring their up-to-date tax disc with them, they will be charged ?260. They would then be refunded ?160 if they returned shortly afterwards with their up-to-date tax disc.'
The Daily Mail has waged a campaign against cowboy clampers who have been running a ?1billion-a-year 'legalised mugging' racket.
It won a landmark victory in January when ministers announced fines, which often reach ?500, will be more than halved.
Other proposals included the creation of an independent tribunal that drivers can appeal to if clamped on private land.
It means clampers will have to refund in full any unfair fines or towing charges and face paying uncapped compensation.
A spokesman for LSB Enforcement yesterday accepted the council had acted fairly.
He said: 'One of our guys was changing a vehicle which has been in our yard for a couple of months. He had just had the MOT done and was on his way to get a tax disc at the time.
'However, that's no excuse - he shouldn't have been driving on the Queen's Highway. He was clamped - quite rightly so - and has paid the fine out of his own wages.'
screw you nag3 
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