How to avoid getting a Penalty Charge Notice

Issuing you with a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) is the last thing we want to do, so here are some tips to help you avoid getting a fine: 

• restrictions and conditions are in force at all times unless stated on local signs
• check the lines on the road and, where applicable, the signs by the side of the road
• make sure you have parked within the bay markings. If there are road markings on the outside of a parking bay, a sign is not always required
• on-street parking bays no longer require white dotted lines around them, even when there is a restriction
• make sure your vehicle’s wheels are not resting on yellow lines, hatched markings, dropped kerbs or any other restriction
• don’t park where there is a dropped pedestrian kerb leading from one side of the road to the other, with or without tactile paving. They are enforced for the benefit of people who cannot cross the road without them
• don’t park where there is a dropped kerb leading to a property. They are enforced for the benefit of people who need to access property
• don’t park on pavements. Parking restrictions, such as yellow lines, include pavements. Even if your wheels are not on the carriageway, you will still be breaching the restrictions
• where there are no parking restrictions, parking on a pavement is allowed (except for high goods vehicles (HGVs)) as long as it does not cause an obstruction. If it does cause an obstruction, this would need to be dealt with by the police
• when using a car park or a pay and display area, read the signs and purchase the appropriate ticket. When using a free of charge ticketed car park, read the signs and get the appropriate ticket from the machine. Make sure you display the ticket where it can be easily seen in the front windscreen
• don’t stay any longer than permitted by the signs or the ticket you have purchased or, in the case of a ticketed free car park, obtained
• don’t double park or block entrances to properties
• don’t park on pedestrian crossings or on the white zig-zag markings near the crossings. This includes dropping off or collecting passengers
• don’t park on school keep clear markings or on the yellow zig-zag markings near to schools. This includes dropping off or collecting passengers
• where yellow lines allow waiting or unloading, your vehicle must not be parked in a way that causes danger or an obstruction
• if you are a blue badge user, check your handbook to ensure you fully understand the rules around using the blue badge
• our neighbourhood enforcement officers will not enter any premises to give advice before issuing a penalty charge notice. If you are with your vehicle, you will be given time to correct your parking unless you have already been advised or are parked on zig-zag markings
• once our neighbourhood enforcement officers has started to issue a penalty charge notice, they cannot cancel it or change any details. If you think you have wrongly received a penalty charge notice you should follow the instructions on the notice on how to challenge it.

Last updated: 12/08/2022 08:54