Quote:

---

One British man became so annoyed at having his car clamped, that he removed the clamp with an angle grinder. He is now a self-styled superhero called Angle-Grinder Man, offering to remove clamps for free with his angle grinder.

In Scotland, wheel-clamping on private land is illegal. It was banned by the case of Black v Carmichael 1992 SCCR 709, when wheel-clamping was found to constitute extortion and theft.

In England and Wales, wheel-clampers operating on private land must be individually licensed by the Security Industry Authority. Operating in such circumstances without a valid license, or in breach of its conditions (which include displaying ID at all times), is a criminal offence under the Private Security Industry Act, 2001.

In many jurisdictions, it is legal to remove a clamp oneself, provided that one does not damage it and returns it to the police station.

Despite it being illegal for private operators to immobilize vehicles with these types of devices in Washington State, the practice continues.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheel_clamp

---