Car Trailers

[Blenky]

Can you tell me how I can prove it is illegal to park a trailer with a car on it on the road on its own ? What law is it breaking?

[NORMANTHEDOG]

phone the police and ask them

[Panic Button]

It may well be against the law, but I can't locate anything on the net saying so. The closest I can find is Highway Code rule 224.

This seems to suggest that a trailer parked at night must be lit, even in a 30mph zone where a car does not require lighting.

However the wording may be open to different interpretations.

http://www.highwaycode.gov.uk/22.htm#213

scroll down to 224

[Ethel]

That's assuming the trailer is attached to a vehicle.

An unhooked trailer is not a vehicle, and nobody can obstruct the highway. For example, a skip can only be placed on the highway with a licence from the council.

It is s.137 of the Highways Act 1980 that states it is an offence to obstruct the highway.

I found this, which may help:

Can my neighbour park a caravan/camper van/trailer in their garden and block my vision/light?
A

A person can lawfully keep a caravan/trailer/camper van on their property without the requirement for authorisation but should the parked vehicle stick out into the highway by any amount then it is considered that the vehicle is obstructing the highway. This is then an offence contrary to the Highways Act 1980 and such is enforced by the Local Authority's Highway Enforcement team.

http://www.nelincs.gov.uk/AtoZ/atozDetail?ID=7 652#9528

[Littlejohn]

The point is, the only legal use of a trailer on the road is when that trailer is attached to a licenced, road legal vehicle.

[Panic Button]

Yes that makes sense. After all an unattended trailer would have no insurance, tax or unique registration mark.

It would also have no lights, reflectors or reflective number plate on the front to alert drivers at night.