Complaint
A viewer complained that an item about pavement parking failed to mention legislation already exists which prohibits people driving on pavements. The ECU considered whether the items met the requirements for due accuracy set out in the 大象传媒 Editorial Guidelines.
Outcome
On the day of broadcast Edinburgh had become the first place in Scotland to enforce a ban on pavement parking. The ECU noted that while the legislation (The Highways Act 1835) cited by the complainant states that 鈥溾 it is an offence wilfully to ride or drive on the footway, even though the driving may last only for a few seconds鈥 the Highway Code says: You MUST NOT park partially or wholly on the pavement in London, and should not do so elsewhere unless signs permit it. 鈥
Outside of London the word 鈥渟hould鈥 聽has been taken as advisory, meaning in the last few years, the Scottish Government felt it necessary to introduce new legislation to allow councils to ban pavement parking.
For this reason the ECU did not feel a reference to previous legislation was necessary for the item to be duly accurate..
Not Upheld