Drivers have been left furious after several caravans across a popular tourist region have been slapped with hefty fines despite motorhomes and campervans being able to clog up streets.
It comes after Morecambe Area Police issued the fines during a routine patrol, which found several caravans in breach of UK traffic rules.
The police explained that they were enforcing tickets for caravans on Morecambe Prom that failed to meet requirements in the Road Traffic Act.
In total, the police slapped eight tickets on caravans for obstruction, generated serious backlash from residents and drivers, with over 700 comments in response to the enforcement.
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MORECAMBE AREA POLICE
|The police said they removed several caravans from the area, which were obstructing a busy road
One resident shared on Facebook: "What a waste of time, who are you going to chase when they don't pay it as there is no registered to anybody? So, how and whom have you actually issued the ticket to? White caravan on promenade?"
Aiming to clarify why the penalties were issued, the police replied: "Hi everyone! We have seen a lot of discussion in the comments and wanted to clear up a few things.
"The caravans were issued fines for obstruction in accordance with Section 99 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. This is because they were unattached and unattended."
The police also claimed to have multiple reports of caravans causing obstructions, which can be particularly dangerous on stretches of the promenade which are 40mph.
MORECAMBE AREA POLICE
|The police issued several fines to caravans parked without being towed to vehicles
Morecambe Area Police added: "We are able to take action against these caravans through Section 99 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, which primarily deals with the removal of vehicles that are illegally, obstructively, or dangerously parked, or abandoned or broken down.
"This does not include people who have just pulled up for 15 minutes to grab a quick bite to eat on their way up to the Lakes." The force said it only applies the S99 rule to caravans which have been unattached and unattended for some time.
"S99 also empowers authorities to remove vehicles in these situations and make regulations for their removal and disposal, and we did this last week too," the police stated.
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Last week, the police explained that two caravans, which had been left unattended for quite some time, were removed due to safety concerns.
The caravans were reportedly in poor condition, were not secured and had no lights on, making them a hazard to other road users.
The force said it was "acting on what YOU tell us are safety concerns for Morecambe", adding that "towing caravans does not mean we are not also dealing with other issues in the area".
Residents have still been left furious over the move, with many asking why caravans have been targeted instead of motorhomes and campervans.
PA | Motorhomes and campervans have limited parking options across the UKSomeone shared: "May I ask why you do not apply the same to the motorhomes which have been parked in the same or similar places on the promenade for similar periods?"
Another person asked the police whether they would make any progress tackling bad parking, or whether they were "exhausted" from "arresting a caravan".
But notably, another resident claimed: "See so many people making complaints about caravans and motorhomes down the prom, why on earth don't the council use the land where Frontier Land used to be, that's just saying there growing weeds.
"Why not flatten in and make a camper ground with showers, disposal bins and water refills, charge a reasonable fee, and earn off that land and help with the complaints. At least that way they can enjoy Morecambe prom and it makes use of scrap land."