Slow public charge points in town centres are sometimes treated as free parking. You’ll see it all: EVs left sitting at 100%, petrol or diesel cars, even car-share vehicles with nowhere to plug in. It’s maddening, we know — so here are a few sensible ways to deal with a blocked charge point.
Often the quickest fix is to head for a different charge point. Your app or sat nav can point you to the nearest available bay.
If the driver’s nearby and looks approachable, a polite chat can work wonders. Plenty of people genuinely don’t realise they’re causing an issue.
Steer clear of anything heated or aggressive. It rarely helps and can escalate fast.
If the driver’s nowhere to be found and there’s no alternative charge point, let the local council’s parking team know. Best case, they’ll track down the driver and ask them to move; in some cases they may tow at the owner’s expense. It’s at their discretion, so they might simply issue a ticket.
If you can’t reach local enforcement or they won’t take it on, contact the police via the non-emergency number. As with councils, they’ll decide what’s appropriate based on the situation.
Never authorise a tow for someone else’s car at your own expense — it can land you in legal hot water.
Don’t park in a way that traps the other vehicle. Tempting as it is to teach a lesson, you could end up in trouble for obstruction. Not worth it.
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