Partner Article

London entrepreneur employs "car sitters" to dodge fines

A London property maintenance firm has found an innovative way to beat parking inspectors, by offering unemployed people positions as “car sitters.”

Will Davies, the boss of Aspect.co.uk, maintains that the scheme is within the law, as young car sitters look after company vehicles while Aspect’s maintenance teams go into premises to carry out work.

Mr Davies is paying on average £8 per hour for young unemployed people with a driving licence to take the driving seat and double park until a traffic warden approaches and they move off.

The scheme is designed to beat parking fines of up to £120 in London, as well as clamping and car pound release fees.

Mr Davies explained: “With Transport for London’s red routes, we are working carefully with the allocated time for drop off and departure in critical areas to avoid CCTV cameras” says Davies. “Importantly, in those areas we are keeping vehicles moving. An unemployed youth takes the driver seat of the vehicle whilst the Aspect worker attends premises and conducts property maintenance work”.

“There’s no issue finding a park, no paying the parking charge, no parking fine, no hassle.

“In the City of Westminster areas we have much more flexibility with car sitters engaged in double-parking until a traffic wardens approach the vehicle and they then move off for a period of time until they leave.

“No one likes to pay fines. It’s crippling and unfair in a lot of cases. But the money paid out in fines can go to excellent use paying for young people to have meaningful employment. Everyone wins.”

The say they have approached Traffic Enforcement Offices for Transport for London and the City of Westminster to ensure the scheme is always working within the law.

Mr Davies plans to roll out the service to the public, if it works well.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .