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01: Parked in a restricted street during prescribed hours.
02: Parked or loading/unloading in a restricted street where waiting and loading/unloading restrictions are in force, parked where there is a yellow line AND yellow markings on the kerb.
04: Parked in a meter bay when penalty time is indicated. You must move your car before the time purchased has expired.
05: Parked after the expiry of paid for time at a pay and display bay. You must move your car before the pay and display ticket has expired.
06: Parked without clearly displaying a valid pay and display ticket. The pay and display ticket must be clearly displayed on the windscreen.
07: Parked with payment made to extend the stay beyond the initial time (Meter Feeding).
08: Parked at an out of order meter during controlled hours. If a meter shows out of order you are not permitted to park there.
09: Parked displaying multiple pay and display tickets where prohibited.
15: Parked in a resident parking space without clearly displaying a valid resident parking permit.
16: Parked in a permit space without displaying a valid permit.
20: Parked in a loading gap marked by a yellow line between two spaces.
21: Parked in a suspended bay/ space or part of a bay/space.
22: Re-parked in the same parking space within 1 hour of leaving.
23: Parked in a parking space or area not designated for that class of vehicle.
24: Not parked correctly within the markings of a bay or space.
25: Parked in a loading bay during restricted hours without loading.
26: Vehicle parked more than 50cm from the kerb, and not then within a designated parking space.
27: Parked across a dropped footway.
30: Parked for longer than permitted.
31: Entering and stopping in a box junction when prohibited
32 (d,t,w): Failing to drive in the direction shown by the arrow on a blue sign
33 (b,c,e,f,g,h,i,k,s,q): Using a route restricted to certain vehicles
34 (see 33): Vehicle seen contravening a bus lane.
37: Failing to comply with a give way to oncoming vehicles sign
40: Parked in a designated disabled persons parking space without clearly displaying a valid disability badge.
45: Parked in a taxi rank.
47: Parked on a restricted bus stop / stand.
48: Stopped in a restricted area outside of a school.
50 (l,r,u): Failing to comply with a sign indicating a prohibited turn
51: Failing to comply with a no entry sign
52 (g,m,s,v,x): Failing to comply with a sign indicating a prohibition on certain types of vehicles
53: Failing to comply with a sign indicating a restriction on vehicles entering a pedestrian zone
55: A commercial vehicle parked in a restricted street, in contravention of the over night waiting van.
62: Parked with one or more wheels on any part of an urban road other than the carriageway (footpath parking).
82: Parked after expiry of time paid for in a pay and display car park.
83: Parked in a pay and display car park, without clearly displaying a valid pay and display ticket.
99: Stopped on a pedestrian crossing and/or area marked by zigzags.
no code currently allocated: Failing to stop at a stop line
 

Penalty Charge Notice

 

Either handed to the driver or placed on the windscreen of a vehicle. The owner is usually, but not always, liable for the penalty, whoever was driving. Exceptions include if the car was taken without your consent, if it was hired out under an agreement or if you have sold the vehicle.

Your next steps

Either: Pay the penalty charge

  • Payment details are on the Penalty Charge Notice. You should pay the penalty charge within 28 days beginning with the date when the PCN was issued. 

  • If the authority RECEIVES payment within the first 14 days you only have to pay half the penalty.

  • If you do not pay within 14 days, your right to pay at the reduced rate ends.

If the authority does not receive payment of the reduced penalty within 14 days or the full penalty within 28 days the next stage in the formal process is for the enforcement authority to send a notice to owner.

 or:

Make an informal challenge (representation ) against a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN)

Some people write to the enforcing authority challenging the Penalty Charge Notice before the Notice to Owner is issued. Local authorities should consider an informal challenge (or representation) and will notify you whether they accept or reject it.

An informal challenge is basically a letter or email from you telling the enforcing authority why you think that they should cancel the PCN. You can give any reason even compassionate reasons as to why you think the local authority should cancel the PCN.

Local authorities will consider what you say and if they accept your reasons they will cancel the penalty charge notice. If they do not accept your reasons they will usually re-offer the 50% discount for a further 14 days if your informal challenge is received within the 14 days discount period.

So you really have nothing to loose by writing In within 14 days. You may wish to check that the particular local authority will reissue the discount but most will.

When making an informal challenge, you should:

  • explain your reasons fully and carefully;

  • send clear copies of any relevant documents, keeping the originals;

  • make sure the local authority RECEIVES your representations within 14 days if you want them to preserve the discount whilst considering your representations. (see note above)

 

Click here for a sample penalty charge notice. 

Click here for advice on how to have a penalty charge notice cancelled.