Thursday, August 30, 2012
Wheel Clamp Man faces prosecution
Hoot! doesn’t know what to say about Wheel Clamp Man, the lycra jumpsuited and speedo-wearing “superhero” who takes an industrial strength saw to zealously clamped vehicles so that he can remove them.
For anyone who’s ever had their vehicle opportunistically clamped by a “clamping cowboy”, it would be easy to see how he might be viewed as some kind of hero. Stories abound of drivers having their cars clamped as they briefly pull up outside their own homes, during doctor emergency calls and even mid-heart attack with stricken drivers still actually behind the wheel.All the “superhero” asks in return for saving drivers the £88 release fee is a small donation to be given to a homeless charity.
But, in a strict interpretation of the law, police have described the man as “a menace” and have said that they “will deal with him”.
Yet, Wheel Clamp Man is not cowed. “I’m helping people out. I don’t feel I’m damaging property,” he said.
“The amount of money these companies make off innocent people is insane. Where does that money go? Not into car parks or safer streets. It goes into their pocket.”
Wheel Clamp Man describes himself as on a crusade for justice that was inspired by, he says, being unfairly clamped in the past.
But it seems he might need real-life superpowers if he is to avoid being prosecuted.
Image © Cristiano Betta via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: car, driver, law, police, vehicle, wheel, Wheel Clamp Man
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posted by Fuse @ 8:14 AM 
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