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Don't Plonk It – Park It In the Tipton, Great Bridge, and Princes End areas, neighbourhood policing teams use this WMnow initiative to crack down on anti-social parking that compromises pedestrian safety. What Counts as "Plonking It" in Tipton? Local policing teams in the DY4 postcode define "plonking" as any inconsiderate parking that forces vulnerable pedestrians into the road. You are violating the campaign if you park across: Pavements and Footways: Leaving a vehicle fully or partially on a pavement so that a wheelchair user, mobility scooter, or parent with a double pushchair cannot safely pass.Junctions and Bends: "Plonking" your vehicle right on a corner blocks critical sightlines for other drivers and children attempting to cross the street. [Residential Driveways: Blocking dropped kerbs and property access routes for local Tipton residents.Existing Road Markings: Parking on a pavement next to double yellow lines. Restrictions apply from the centre of the road all the way back to the property wall. The Multi-Stage Enforcement Process West Midlands Police and Sandwell Council use a combination of education and strict penalties to enforce the campaign: Advisory "Polite Notices": On initial sweeps of problematic streets, officers place official "Don't Plonk It – Park It!" warning leaflets on windscreens to educate drivers.Fixed Penalty Notices: If a vehicle is logged a second time or is found to be causing a major criminal obstruction, officers issue an immediate £30 to £70 fine.Vehicle Seizure: In severe cases where a "plonked" vehicle completely blocks emergency access or a public footway, police will physically tow and seize the vehicle if it is also found to be untaxed or uninsured. How to Report Illegal "Plonking" in Sandwell If an abandoned or badly parked vehicle is plaguing your street, use the correct reporting channel: For Pavement Obstructions: If pedestrians are forced into traffic, report it online via the WMP Report Illegal Parking Tool.For Council Violations: For cars parked on yellow lines or blocking dropped kerbs, report it through the My Sandwell web site. Digital Video Evidence: Send dashcam or smartphone footage directly to the police via operation snap to trigger automated prosecution. |