Sit-in driver claims clamping victory
A driver has claimed a victory for beleaguered motorists after holding a 30-hour vigil in his clamped car until a fine of almost £4,000 (€4,800) was withdrawn.
Haroon Zafaryab, 27, emerged from prayers at his local mosque in north London last Wednesday to find his Toyota Prius had been immobilised after he failed to spot a private property sign.
The exasperated father-of-one waited for the clampers’ tow truck to arrive and then jumped into his car to stop the enforcement team – who were demanding £365 (€443) - from moving it.
Mr Zafaryab, a nursery boss from Kingsbury with a one-year-old son, said: “I told the clamper the private property sign said the fine was £100 but he said I had to pay £365 as the car had been there for more than two hours. So I refused to move.”
Joined by friend Fazan Munir, 23, he sat in the car from 1.18pm that day until after 7pm the next day – leaving the clampers unable to tow it from the spot in Copland Mews, Wembley.
During the lengthy stand-off the company, City Watch Parking Enforcement, clamped the three other wheels of the vehicle and the fine was raised to an eye-watering £3,865 (€4,693).
About 40 parking tickets were plastered on the windows.
The friends, who were celebrating the Muslim festival of Ramadan, were brought kebabs, dates and milk to break their fast by supportive local residents.
Mr Munir, a mechanic, said: “We passed the time by reading the Koran and chatting. We slept for about two hours. The clampers said we were on a martyrdom operation.”
Mr Zafaryab offered to pay the £100 fine, but the clampers refused to budge until their boss finally relented and told them to accept the money and remove the clamps.
By this time a crowd of about 40 supporters had gathered on the pavement to cheer the pals on.
Mr Munir said: “When the clamps were removed everyone was cheering. The clampers couldn’t believe they had had to go through all that for just £100.
“We did this to stop people being robbed of their hard-earned cash. It was such a good feeling when they took the clamps off.”
Mr Zafaryab described it as a victory for motorists and for the whole community.
He said: “I was very pleased because we stopped this oppression. As a community, we won. I felt like part of a family.”
His mother, Samina Zafaryab, 64, told of her joy at her son’s victory.
She said: “I think he’s done a wonderful job. I’m so proud.”
City Watch declined to comment on the incident.
