Wow. Imagine this happening in the US.
Police breaking into your house to collect unpaid parking fines.
UK Government to Break Into Homes Over Parking Tickets
The UK parliament is considering legislation to allow forcible entry into homes to recover parking ticket debt.
The UK parliament is considering legislation that would authorize bailiffs to break into the homes of motorists accused of not paying parking tickets. Under legislation currently making its way through the House of Commons, bailiffs would seize items out of the home in order to pay off the amount owed in tickets, plus hefty fees. Any homeowner that attempting to stop the bailiff would face up to a year in prison.
"The bill as it stands will overturn two fundamental principles of our common law on bailiffs' power to enter private property: that bailiffs may only enter peaceably and with the permission of the debtor," said Conservative Member of Parliament Henry Bellingham. "Those rights are fundamental. That force may not be used to effect entry has been established in law since at least the 14th century."
In 2005, the Labour government announced its intention to create a National Enforcement Service to break into homes to recover unpaid fines. Various amendments have been offered to the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Bill to soften the effect of the proposal. One amendment would forbid bailiffs from seizing household pets as well as, "any dog on which a blind person relies."
So next time you're contemplating calling the US government a fascist dictatorship.....
UK Government to Break Into Homes Over Parking Tickets
The UK parliament is considering legislation to allow forcible entry into homes to recover parking ticket debt.
The UK parliament is considering legislation that would authorize bailiffs to break into the homes of motorists accused of not paying parking tickets. Under legislation currently making its way through the House of Commons, bailiffs would seize items out of the home in order to pay off the amount owed in tickets, plus hefty fees. Any homeowner that attempting to stop the bailiff would face up to a year in prison.
"The bill as it stands will overturn two fundamental principles of our common law on bailiffs' power to enter private property: that bailiffs may only enter peaceably and with the permission of the debtor," said Conservative Member of Parliament Henry Bellingham. "Those rights are fundamental. That force may not be used to effect entry has been established in law since at least the 14th century."
In 2005, the Labour government announced its intention to create a National Enforcement Service to break into homes to recover unpaid fines. Various amendments have been offered to the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Bill to soften the effect of the proposal. One amendment would forbid bailiffs from seizing household pets as well as, "any dog on which a blind person relies."
So next time you're contemplating calling the US government a fascist dictatorship.....