Breaking the Law

[super gripper]

How many of you knew about this ...............

By using your RC car in a public park you are breaking the Law ....

 https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/police-order-boy-3-to-stop-playing-with-remote-controlled-toy-car-in-park-and-threaten-his-father-with-caution/ar-BBIUaJr?li=AAmiR2Z&ocid=spartandhp

[lentner3]

Would like to know the wording of said bylaw. Must be a definition and surely must be causing some kind of nuisance danger or noise to be cause for citing such law. Might just be park policy.

[Jason1145]

That was the dad’s bigger RC that was causing the issue not the 3yr olds little one.

It’s not a national law, just a bylaw and some parks will have them others won’t, best to check your local parks rules or run the risk and carry on unless your stopped.... not that I’m encouraging breaking the law but come on, as long as it’s a toy car its harmless... I’m not referring to anything too fast or big mind but this is up for debate what is too big or fast.

I wouldn’t be happy if someone ran a 20mph Clod Buster into my nearly 2 year old daughter as it could do some damage no doubt, I wouldn’t like to say where I would shove said Clod Buster but it’d be getting a nice new brown paint job against the owners will 

Be sensible, be careful and be respectful of others... don’t drive near people!

[super gripper]

To use your RC car in a public place you must have the owners permission. That goes for any public place !

 

[Jason1145]

Just now, super gripper said:

To use your RC car in a public place you must have the owners permission. That goes for any public place !

 

Who’s the public to ask?

[super gripper]

not quite the point - any public place is owned by someone.

 

[iluvmud]

22 minutes ago, super gripper said:

not quite the point - any public place is owned by someone.

 

Yeah... the gubment

[TurnipJF]

1 hour ago, super gripper said:

To use your RC car in a public place you must have the owners permission. That goes for any public place !

 

Public place = owned by the public, ie us all. (Managed by our elected leaders and representatives - the government - typically via a local council.) As long as it is not against any local bylaws or park policies, you can drive there, walk there, have a picnic there, etc. without permission. (Sensible precautions and public liability insurance are however recommended - join the BRCA!)

Private property = owned by an individual, group or company/organisation. Driving your car there, walking there, having a picnic there, etc. without the owner's permission could lead to being charged with trespassing.

[Juggular]

Even if you run your own nitro car on your own lawn, neighbors could call the police for noise nuisance.  (Because air is not your property, and air transmits noise to neighbors)

Good ol' Suzy, to our North, would most definitely would do that to anybody noisy.  Except, she likes us.  So she'd bear the noise for a while. 

Best be on the good side of your neighbors, so they would tolerate your nitro cars (on your own property!).  

 

[MadInventor]

I wonder if they've also banned anyone on a mobility scooter or electric wheelchair..................... It amounts to the same thing, an electrically propelled and controlled vehicle, the only difference is the operator is sat on it. Wonder if my son would get away with driving the War Rig if he was sat on it?

[Juggular]

Well, your War Rig is on the scary side.  I'm sure you are allowed to terrorize people with the end-of-days machine.  

[Backlash]

Well, it makes you wonder if the same would apply to a group having a game of soccer or cricket in the park?? The risk of a bystander being hit by the ball is still there? (Or don't you do that sort of thing in the UK?)

[Jason1145]

7 minutes ago, Backlash said:

Well, it makes you wonder if the same would apply to a group having a game of soccer or cricket in the park?? The risk of a bystander being hit by the ball is still there? (Or don't you do that sort of thing in the UK?)

Yes we often hit people with balls in the park lol... often trying to avoid War Rigs and any dangerous looking dogs ( only 4 banned breeds in the UK but you can still own them on certain conditions)  

[TurnipJF]

Any activity performed in a public place should be done in a manner that does not endanger, inconvenience or otherwise negatively impact other members of the public. This goes for model cars, football, cricket, practicing the bagpipes, swinging your walking stick or umbrella, or even painting a landscape. (According to family folklore, my granddad once got a warning from a park ranger for setting his easel up in a manner that caused an obstruction. )

 

The need to behave in a manner that does not bother or threaten to harm others is just part of being a good citizen - it is not an issue unique to the RC car fraternity.

[super gripper]

Or just join a club and race your car in a insured place -  BRCA

 

[Baddon]

when out with the trucks we use at walking speed when near others ( narrow path with no other way past) and then use to their full when away from others.

They are battery though and most people are just smiling at them seeing a dad and sons playing together. we get some nice comments as well.

 

The only off road track in nearing 100 miles is for 1:8 only and for members ONLY on official meets.

[TurnipJF]

BRCA membership and the public liability insurance that comes with it is associated with the member, not the place, hence the need to be a BRCA member even when you race at a club. (It is also worth noting that the insurance covers you even if you are not racing at a club, as long as you are driving legally and responsibly.)

[Badcrumble]

26 minutes ago, Backlash said:

Well, it makes you wonder if the same would apply to a group having a game of soccer or cricket in the park?? The risk of a bystander being hit by the ball is still there? (Or don't you do that sort of thing in the UK?)

It is quite common to see small open spaces with ‘no ball games’ signs. Larger parks may be not so much and plenty round here have football / cricket pitches marked out.

Would depend on the local bylaw and, sometimes, the wishes of whoever set it up as a park.

[super gripper]

this is such a fun thread, so many people are really not understanding the implications of a sue for anything culture that we live in.

Even with BRCA Insurance (UK only of course) you still need the permission of the land owner to use your RC car.

Playing football, bag pipes etc does not even come under the same thing

Most public parks that are Council owned specifically ban RC anything !

Just phone your local council - do not be blind to the fact you can get a police caution for using your RC car in the street if someone complains 

 

[TurnipJF]

@super gripper

You can get a caution for playing the bagpipes in your living room if someone complains! It is about being mindful of others, not about RC specifically. 

 

As for parks banning RC, some do,  but they are in the minority,  around here at any rate.  My sympathies if this is not the case in your area.

 

Also worth noting that a police caution and a compensation claim are different matters entirely. Criminal and civil issues have very different legal mechanisms behind them. 

[Kingfisher]

33 minutes ago, TurnipJF said:

Any activity performed in a public place should be done in a manner that does not endanger, inconvenience or otherwise negatively impact other members of the public.

This ^. I don't even run my car if there are kids nearby, especially when on a speed run. 

 

The guy in the article above should have read park rules. Most parks that I have been too have the rules posted as you enter the park. There's a park nearby that I have been going to, and they have a sign up as you enter that says "No remote control boats or airplanes". It doesn't say anything about cars, so I have been running mine there. On my last speed run, the park maintenance guys stopped to watch me tear across the empty parking lot over and over. They gave me a thumbs up and carried on with their business afterwards.

[Badcrumble]

Hmm, think I’ll stick to bashing my Willy in the back garden. Ooer.

[Juggular]

Nice bumper and tires, Badcrumble! 

 

[super gripper]

It is so much fun this,

play on words all you like people

note that even if you think you are being safe, it doesn't matter - only what the other person might say

and if there are two people say the same thing, your screwed.

and if they take a picture your doubly screwed 

hope you have public liability insurance ..........

 

[Juggernut]

Quote

"mechanically propelled vehicles"

I'd bet my lunch an RC car does not fit the definition of "vehicle" from whatever ordinance this guy is quoting.  Just because it looks like a miniature version of a car doesn't make it a "vehicle".