Overnight Parking in Laybys

[Little owl1963]

If local authority forbid it , what is the fine if caught .
Does there have to be signs in layby to state no overnight parking .
Think the police can ask you to move on .

If someone could clarify full situation.
Think it's up to relevant local authority to decide if can park in laybys or not

 

[Azteccamper]

If local authority forbid it , what is the fine if caught .
Does there have to be signs in layby to state no overnight parking .
Think the police can ask you to move on .

If someone could clarify full situation.
Think it's up to relevant local authority to decide if can park in laybys or not

Are you asking and answering your own questions?

 

[Little owl1963]

No , just hear say what I heard wanted clarification .

Has anyone on here been fined ?
If so how much

 

[temporarysecretary]

It's not my sort of thing so very little first hand experience, however from what I gather is most people just pick a good spot and avoid the hassle.

Something like this helps : https://park4night.com/en

 

[pchmlk]

If local authority forbid it , what is the fine if caught .
Does there have to be signs in layby to state no overnight parking .
Think the police can ask you to move on .

If someone could clarify full situation.
Think it's up to relevant local authority to decide if can park in laybys or not

If the local authority forbid it, why would you stay there? Regardless of fine, it’s just an anti social thing to do.

 

[Mehdime]

If local authority forbid it , what is the fine if caught .
Does there have to be signs in layby to state no overnight parking .
Think the police can ask you to move on .

If someone could clarify full situation.
Think it's up to relevant local authority to decide if can park in laybys or not

Google “wild camping in <whatever country or region you’re interested in> and you’ll find plenty of advice.

Generally speaking, in the U.K. & Ireland, use common sense. If there’s a sign prohibiting camping or overnight stay, then don’t. Yes, you might be fined if you blatantly take the wee wee.

If a local or the police asks you to move, just move. Don’t argue, irrespective of whether or not there are signs.

Don’t park anywhere near a house of where you’d block someone’s view. Don’t park on a space that locals might need in the morning to go walk the dog or whatever.

Just common sense.

And yes, use the Park4Night app to find spot. But there again, use common sense. Not all spots in the app are good ones.

 

[KevH]

If local authority forbid it , what is the fine if caught .
Does there have to be signs in layby to state no overnight parking .
Think the police can ask you to move on .

If someone could clarify full situation.
Think it's up to relevant local authority to decide if can park in laybys or not

As you say, it’s probably up to the local authority.

 

[atk13]

If local authority forbid it , what is the fine if caught .
Does there have to be signs in layby to state no overnight parking .
Think the police can ask you to move on .

If someone could clarify full situation.
Think it's up to relevant local authority to decide if can park in laybys or not

Like others have said ‘Common sense’ comes into play. If there is a sign saying don’t park, regardless of fines we shouldn’t park there, unless there is a good reason to do so. (Too tired to safely carry on or mechanical issues for example)

As for Local Authorities fining people they would generally have to make it a bylaw offence and display signs to let people know this.

The Police generally won’t be too concerned unless they have received a complaint or you are causing an obstruction or being a nuisance.

Do remember though that you maybe committing an offence under the road vehicle lighting regulations of 1989 if you don’t have parking lights on when parked up at night on a road or in a lay-by with a speed limit over 30mph. With that in mind if you do receive a Knock in the early hours, don’t fail the ‘attitude test’ if asked to move.

——-

Rule 249

All vehicles MUST display parking lights when parked on a road or a lay-by on a road with a speed limit greater than 30 mph (48 km/h).

Law RVLR reg 24


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ArunAlec]

Also need to be aware that you could get done for being over the limit if you have a drink whilst parked up.

 

[johns6809]

If local authority forbid it , what is the fine if caught .
Does there have to be signs in layby to state no overnight parking .
Think the police can ask you to move on .

If someone could clarify full situation.
Think it's up to relevant local authority to decide if can park in laybys or not

Up until recently i spent years driving 44t artics for a living and never had any issues parking in laybys other than the obvious theft risk.
You don't need lights on either provided the layby is seperated from the road by kerbing or a ghost island hatching.

 

[Agnes_Cali]

Plenty of lorries and other vehicles is overnighting in laybays on A22, near J6 M25. There are even toilets in one of them, but I think, they closed them due to antisocial behaviour.

When I was in Dorset recently, near Ulwell, there are two laybys, one has no camping, the other is recommended on park4night. However, I saw burned down vehicle in the smaller one. https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/24629308.swanage-caravan-set-fire-arson-probe-launched/
https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/n...emains-caravan-fire-remain-three-weeks-later/ - still there in November.

 

[B J G]

I have seen signs with restricted stay times which would be a don't do it but if no sign then OK.
Be aware that there is risk of being an easy target for the night prowler types.

 

[Wannabecamperman]

I find that using https://www.britstops.com for the price of a membership and the occasional pint or meal is far, far safer than a random layby.

https://www.thecampervanbible.co.uk/campsites-and-pubstops for a slimmed-down version without the membership fee.

 

[AdamsFamily]

Its not my thing to just park roadside, but if it was, I would just find somewhere that has an artic parked up, be it a layby or an Industrial area...

 

[Little owl1963]

I find that using https://www.britstops.com for the price of a membership and the occasional pint or meal is far, far safer than a random layby.

https://www.thecampervanbible.co.uk/campsites-and-pubstops for a slimmed-down version without the membership fee.

If you join do they send you hard copy book ?
Or is it online only ?

 

[RockinNRollin]

Be aware that there is risk of being an easy target for the night prowler types.

This. A high value vehicle parked up, presumably, stealthily (so as not to attract attention as a "live camper") may end up attracting a different and equally undesirable sort of attention.

 

[Little owl1963]

This. A high value vehicle parked up, presumably, stealthily (so as not to attract attention as a "live camper") may end up attracting a different and equally undesirable sort of attention.

Valid point I had thought that , partically if alone on isolated layby .
Will join Brit stops, do they send you hard copy book , or is it just on app ?

 

[myvanrodney]

I find that using https://www.britstops.com for the price of a membership and the occasional pint or meal is far, far safer than a random layby.

https://www.thecampervanbible.co.uk/campsites-and-pubstops for a slimmed-down version without the membership fee.

Looks like you need to pay for the campervanbible too..

 

[ArunAlec]

I had a year with Brit Stops and stayed at some good locations but the majority of sites on offer are pubs and despite It not being “part of the deal” l think it’s expected that you spend money with them (which is fair enough!).

 

[Azteccamper]

Search “Dogging Sites” on the interweb. Always popular spots and a friendly crowd

 

[acer]

Most sites accept pets don’t they?

 

[Wannabecamperman]

Valid point I had thought that , partically if alone on isolated layby .
Will join Brit stops, do they send you hard copy book , or is it just on app ?

It was a large brochure they sent last year but this year they have an app which is easier to search by location.

 

[JuanVecino2023]

If you join do they send you hard copy book ?
Or is it online only ?

Try this group (edit as link was not working)

Free Campervan/Motorhome stop overs - pub stops, wild stops and more!​

 

[trev0rk]

searchforsites mobile

Motorhome stopovers and campsites in Europe

www.searchforsites.co.uk

This also picks up Pub Stops, and is free to use online.

 

[Quiddle]

To ban overnight parking a local authority must impose a Traffic Regulation Order, the reference number of which must be displayed in the area to which it applies. No overnight signs were put up in Scotland about 15 years ago without TROs and their legality was challenged by a member of another camper van forum, resulting in them being removed. Without a TRO, and if you're not obstructing the highway, a police officer cannot require you to move any more than they can require you to move when parked outside of your house.