Parking...

[Jas1975]

I've seen several SP's say "parking" when I assume they work from home.  Do people really park on their driveway for a punt? 

[NigelF]

Yes, they really do. While it is obviously handy, I presume it's because they don't care about the WG being able to easily identify them (by making a note of the plate and paying the small fee to find out the full name and address of the registered keeper).

[Sinnerman50]

On the few occasions where there was space on the driveway, I've always parked the car some distance away and walked.  I just dont want to unnecessarily over-complicate things with either the WG or more likely neighbours making a note of my car number plate.

[houseboot]

I have on a few occasions.

Three of those were very rural locations and it would have been difficult to find anywhere else.

Once in a suburban area where it was mainly yellow lines and if I had parked elsewhere I'd probably had upset a neighbour drawing even more attention to myself.

In the main though I'll park in a local supermarket car park and walk 5-10 minutes.

[BernardBlack]

In the main though I'll park in a local supermarket car park and walk 5-10 minutes.

Same here.  Generally park away and walk up.  Might take a bit more planning (easier now with google maps) but have never parked at SP's location.

[Laudanum]

One SP once said she preferred clients to park in a certain location so she could see them as they approached, and decide whether they were suitable. Apparently she sometimes thought 'Fuck, no'...

Not the best business model I wouldn't have thought.

Since I'm Brad Pitt's double I was ok (if you believe that you'll believe anything).

[lewisjones23]

I have parked on the drive once at Glistening Jools’ incall

As I suspect many NW punters have

Couple of years ago now and not had any comeback from it so it doesnt cross my mind

[Murray Mint]

I've seen several SP's say "parking" when I assume they work from home.  Do people really park on their driveway for a punt?

Yes – often. It’s never really occurred to me not to.

Two ladies I currently see work from their homes. One opens her drive gates as I arrive and the other, who lives on a bust street, I park in the closest available parking spot. I can think of many others over the years.

One of my earliest punts was with a WG on a large estate near Wantage. She suggested I park in a layby opposite her house, and on arrival she opened the door and stepped outside to welcome me!

[shagmore]

Always parked close by, never had an issue. only concerns you if you have something to hide, as I was single when punting, it did not bother me

[houseboot]

One SP once said she preferred clients to park in a certain location so she could see them as they approached, and decide whether they were suitable. Apparently she sometimes thought 'Fuck, no'...

The flip side of this is that neighbours become aware of the strange behaviour of a succesion of men in cars thus drawing attention to the SP.

It's the same with them giving you just a post code and asking you to ring when you get there ..... it just draws attention to themselves.

[Home Alone]

Two ladies I currently see work from their homes. One opens her drive gates as I arrive and the other, who lives on a bust street, I park in the closest available parking spot. I can think of many others over the years.

One of my earliest punts was with a WG on a large estate near Wantage. She suggested I park in a layby opposite her house, and on arrival she opened the door and stepped outside to welcome me!

Quite an image you paint there, MM!

[Murray Mint]

Quite an image you paint there, MM!

It's all in the mind!!….

[HarryZZ]

It has been at the back of my mind that if the car can be seen then Sergie, or some guy might have your keys off you and be away with your car, not that that's ever happened, but I like to park close but not in front of the house I'm visiting.

I have had one, like above, who wanted to have a look at me on the way in, when there was an electric board van parked in her preferred piece of waste land nearly opposite and I had to go somewhere else she wasn't happy.

[django0700]

I always park a street away...take a long slow walk down the street, just to make sure all is ok....an old habit from punting days in a different country where the cops would be waiting in plain clothes pretending to be either fellow punters or just someone going about their own business.

[DastardlyDick]

Yes, I used to park on the drive of a certain Hertfordshire SPs place, at her instructions. She had a much classier car than me!

[jordan452]

Most WGs with driveways live in shared accommodation/houses I always thought the neighbors will certainly make a fuss about it. I always park a street away.

[Jas1975]

I guess I was just concerned that perhaps one nosy neighbour may produce a website and one day you could find a nice pic of your car on "These people visit prostitutes" page or even newspaper column... Not to mention as above, if they decide to look up your license plate and address, I guess not a worry with a long term regular SP but a first timer whom you don't know well etc?!?

[luv2kiss54]

I've seen several SP's say "parking" when I assume they work from home.  Do people really park on their driveway for a punt?

The timing of this topic is very interesting as i would like to draw attention to a situation i found myself in recently. I booked to see a young girl in Ashford External Link/Members Only. Her address was in the middle of nowhere with no on street parking of any description. She told me to ring her when i arrived and i would be able to park on her drive. I have always avoided this and usually park a good distance away. Anyhow i nearly decided to use her drive as there was nowhere nearby. Thank goodness i didn't. I have just clicked on her Ratings tab which shows zero but if you look at it someone has set out details of a reg no. She did say she would be moving from that location shortly but im glad i stuck to my guns and eventually found somewhere about half a mile away. By this time i was well late but luckily( or maybe unluckily if someone was watching people go in and out) she still saw me.Very dodgy not sure whats occurring there. So no matter how tempting or convenient i would always steer clear of using driveways unless you know the escort well !

[BernardBlack]

The timing of this topic is very interesting as i would like to draw attention to a situation i found myself in recently. I booked to see a young girl in Ashford External Link/Members Only. Her address was in the middle of nowhere with no on street parking of any description. She told me to ring her when i arrived and i would be able to park on her drive. I have always avoided this and usually park a good distance away. Anyhow i nearly decided to use her drive as there was nowhere nearby. Thank goodness i didn't. I have just clicked on her Ratings tab which shows zero but if you look at it someone has set out details of a reg no. She did say she would be moving from that location shortly but im glad i stuck to my guns and eventually found somewhere about half a mile away. By this time i was well late but luckily( or maybe unluckily if someone was watching people go in and out) she still saw me.Very dodgy not sure whats occurring there. So no matter how tempting or convenient i would always steer clear of using driveways unless you know the escort well !

Weird... why would someone leave feedback with a car registration number in it...they mist have had a booking in AW to allow them to leave it.

Luckily with google maps, you do have the chance to look ahead of time and scout out where to park, if you don't know the area.

[daviemac]

Weird... why would someone leave feedback with a car registration number in it...they mist have had a booking in AW to allow them to leave it.

Luckily with google maps, you do have the chance to look ahead of time and scout out where to park, if you don't know the area.

It's 'feedback only' so doesn't need a booking. It's not a valid genuine registration number anyway.

[Josler]

I have on occasion used driveways or resident parking permits provided by the WG, albeit these were always on return visits and back then a company car.

Today I rarely venture from my preferred hot list so all visits are repeats, each of these has local parking that does not necessitate parking on drives.  I tend to agree that anonymity is beneficial.

[PepeMAGA]

being single etc doesnt bother me, unless it was a rough area or not a well reviewed girl

[Skeleton]

A few years ago I visited an SP who was only a ten min walk from where I lived. Made out I was driving and was told to park on the drive, when I arrived she quizzed on where my car was and I told her I had parked in the supermarket at the end of the road. She went on for ages about why I hadn't parked in the drive which made me wonder why it was so important to her!

[Edward Trotter]

On the very rare occasion that I’ve been forced to park close to, or outside an SP’s location, I’ve temporarily applied a couple of small pieces of black insulating tape to my number plates.

[Jas1975]

On the very rare occasion that I’ve been forced to park close to, or outside an SP’s location, I’ve temporarily applied a couple of small pieces of black insulating tape to my number plates.

Do you carry some in the boot for such emergencies?

[rocket88]

Most of my punts are during the working day and sometimes in the works vehicle I always park where I would have a reasonable excuse e.g. Supermarket car park getting a sarnie

[Murray Mint]

On the very rare occasion that I’ve been forced to park close to, or outside an SP’s location, I’ve temporarily applied a couple of small pieces of black insulating tape to my number plates.

You are joking, aren't you?...………….

[houseboot]

You are joking, aren't you?...………….

Why would he be?

Having read some of the comments here, and other threads, some of you guys have not thought it through and risk assesesd.

Yes, there is the issue of family, friends, colleagues etc seeing your car in strange places and asking questions ..... some of you may not be worried about that.

Then there is the "disgusted of Tonbridge Wells", the nosey neighbour who collects registration numbers because he suspects there are shenanigans going on in "No 69".

The "wronged woman" who develops EAS for you and doesn't understand that you pay to walk away.

Not to forget the scam artists, blackmailers, muggers etc.

In the main it's all manageable with a bit of forethought .... perhaps I ought to get some black insulation tape ..... just in case.

[daviemac]

Why would he be?

Having read some of the comments here, and other threads, some of you guys have not thought it through and risk assesesd.

Yes, there is the issue of family, friends, colleagues etc seeing your car in strange places and asking questions ..... some of you may not be worried about that.

Then there is the "disgusted of Tonbridge Wells", the nosey neighbour who collects registration numbers because he suspects there are shenanigans going on in "No 69".

The "wronged woman" who develops EAS for you and doesn't understand that you pay to walk away.

Not to forget the scam artists, blackmailers, muggers etc.

In the main it's all manageable with a bit of forethought .... perhaps I ought to get some black insulation tape ..... just in case.

All well and good, until a police car with ANPR fitted drives past and flags up a dodgy reg number, has a closer look then turns up at your house. Falsifying number plates is illegal.

[Edward Trotter]

All well and good, until a police car with ANPR fitted drives past and flags up a dodgy reg number, has a closer look then turns up at your house. Falsifying number plates is illegal.

Jesus, it’s not rocket science. Pull up round the corner. Apply a piece of tape to a 6 to change it to an 8. Do the same in reverse when finished. Chance of being caught by ANPR? Virtually nil. If you are caught, how the hell are they going to prove I did it? Simple. They aren’t. And they’re hardly likely to fingerprint the tape.

[Edward Trotter]

Do you carry some in the boot for such emergencies?

Yes, of course. I actually tried it first at a hotel near Huddersfield that had Parking Eye in operation. I’d been fleeced by them a month earlier. I did it simply to see whether changing the number prevented me getting a fine. It worked.

[Edward Trotter]

You are joking, aren't you?...………….

No. Why?

[houseboot]

All well and good, until a police car with ANPR fitted drives past and flags up a dodgy reg number, has a closer look then turns up at your house. Falsifying number plates is illegal.

You missed the whole point of my reply though ..... which is just don't park anywhere which connects you to the SP for all the reasons I stated.

[daviemac]

Jesus, it’s not rocket science. Pull up round the corner. Apply a piece of tape to a 6 to change it to an 8. Do the same in reverse when finished. Chance of being caught by ANPR? Virtually nil. If you are caught, how the hell are they going to prove I did it? Simple. They aren’t. And they’re hardly likely to fingerprint the tape.

More chance of an ANPR camera car driving past than you being blackmailed when parked round the corner from a prossie's house. They don't need to prove anything, if they did see it they will turn up at your house to ask you about it.

 Like has been said many times, if you're worried park away from their premises. Why do something that could lead you to being prosecuted when you aren't doing anything illegal in the first place.   

[Murray Mint]

No. Why?

Given that the act of changing your number plate is itself a crime aren’t you worried that you might get stopped or have an accident? How would you explain that away?

The levels of the paranoia expressed by some here suggests to me they should find a different hobby!

[Edward Trotter]

Given that the act of changing your number plate is itself a crime aren’t you worried that you might get stopped or have an accident? How would you explain that away?

The levels of the paranoia expressed by some here suggests to me they should find a different hobby!

And I thought Peter Kaye was funny. 

[Wooderz]

Yes, they really do. While it is obviously handy, I presume it's because they don't care about the WG being able to easily identify them (by making a note of the plate and paying the small fee to find out the full name and address of the registered keeper).

I was wondering how this could be and on investigation they would need a proper reason..

[houseboot]

The levels of the paranoia expressed by some here suggests to me they should find a different hobby!

It's a hobby which does carry a certain number of risks and, yes, you do need to watch your back.

It's not paranoia .... it's called common sense.

[Anadin]

I've only parked in one WGs driveway in my own car. Usually in London it's a matter of parking in the first spot you can find within a 5 minute walk, if I don't then half the time I'll regret it.

If I'm in my work vehicle I'm parking as far away as possible.

[Laudanum]

Yes, of course. I actually tried it first at a hotel near Huddersfield that had Parking Eye in operation. I’d been fleeced by them a month earlier. I did it simply to see whether changing the number prevented me getting a fine. It worked.

I like the idea of Parking Eye being flummoxed. They deserve it as they are quite aggressive.

I have actually parked a couple of times in the grounds of an escort agency, who operate from a detached private house, a little away from the neighbours. It didn't really occur to me to be concerned about my car being identified, but if I was in a relationship or married I would be more careful.

[pling]

I remember a girl from years ago worked out of an industrial estate near Guildford. For miles around it was country lanes with no parking spaces. You had to drive up to the security barrier (CCTV) and enter a PIN code to get in. Lovely girl. Never any trouble. I think the place caught fire in the end...

[hungrypunt]

(by making a note of the plate and paying the small fee to find out the full name and address of the registered keeper).

I thought you had to have reasonable cause for this. i.e. parking enforcement, theft etc

[justdesserts]

Just a warning to anyone thinking of putting tape on their number plate - you run the risk of being arrested or having your car seized for the offence of 'going equipped' as it's a common ploy used by people who do drive offs from petrol stations.

[justdesserts]

I thought you had to have reasonable cause for this. i.e. parking enforcement, theft etc

Reasonable cause can include the following -
finding out who was responsible for an accident
tracing the registered keeper of an abandoned vehicle
tracing the registered keeper of a vehicle parked on private land

[charming_red]

Just a warning to anyone thinking of putting tape on their number plate - you run the risk of being arrested or having your car seized for the offence of 'going equipped' as it's a common ploy used by people who do drive offs from petrol stations.

Yeah true. Better still, punt late in the day when its dark, less chance of getting caught with an amended plate.

Or best of all, don't drive to a punt if you can help it.

[justdesserts]

One of my first punts, about 10 years ago, I was just about to park up outside the WGs house when a police car drove down the road. I kept going and turned round a few streets away before coming back a few minutes later, laughing at myself for being paranoid.
After an extremely enjoyable hour I walked back down the drive to find the police car stopped right behind my car!
No idea if it was just a coincidence or not but completely shit myself!! I just avoided eye contact and got back in my car and drove off!
Ever since then I've always done a recce first and either parked a few streets away or at a local supermarket, train station or whatever is nearby.

[Home Alone]

It's one of the times when I'm really grateful that I qualify for a blue badge.

[Doc Holliday]

I remember a girl from years ago worked out of an industrial estate near Guildford. For miles around it was country lanes with no parking spaces. You had to drive up to the security barrier (CCTV) and enter a PIN code to get in. Lovely girl. Never any trouble. I think the place caught fire in the end...

More lube needed?

Not punting related but around a year ago I parked in someone's drive and couldn't get out because of cars restricting the access and one parked opposite in what was quite a narrow road.

Altering the number plate is madness. The risk of being picked up by ANPR must surely be greater than anyone else logging your plate? although both risks are small.

[dkn]

I like the idea of Parking Eye being flummoxed. They deserve it as they are quite aggressive.

They're not "quite aggressive" - they're complete cunts!   

[HornyWanderer]

I tend to use taxis and trains. If I have to drive I park somewhere anonymous.
My strangest experience was the girl who gave me a lift back into town as it was raining and made me a sandwich to eat on the way. She became a regular.