main content Avoid Penalty Charge Notices

Yellow line contraventions

Single and double yellow lines
Single yellow lines indicate that a waiting restriction is in force.  The times of restriction differ depending on the location.  It is important to read the restriction times on the small yellow plates in the immediate vicinity. However, in Controlled Parking Zones there are normally no individual small plates and the restriction times are shown on large signs at the entry to the zone. 

Double yellow lines indicate a prohibition of waiting at any time which literally means at any hour of the day or night, 365 days of the year, even if there are no post-mounted signs.  

Loading and unloading
Stopping on yellow lines is only permitted for setting down passengers (two minutes are allowed) or for vehicles engaged in the continuous loading and unloading of unwieldy and heavy goods. Once a Civil Enforcement Officer has observed a loading or unloading activity taking place, a maximum of 20 minutes will be allowed for this purpose. The vehicle will be checked by the Civil Enforcement Officer in this 20 minute period to make sure that loading is continually taking place. Loading and unloading does not include shopping or waiting to pick up passengers. Where there are stripes on the kerb it means that there is a loading ban during the times shown on adjacent white time plates and you should not stop here for any reason at the time shown. If you have to park on a yellow line to load or unload a large amount of goods which would take longer then 20 minutes then you should contact the Council's Parking Shop and apply for a parking dispensation. You must get the dispensation before you need to park. 

School 'keep clear' markings
These are shown as yellow zig-zag markings directly outside a school. No vehicles should park on the zig-zag or even stop to set down passengers whilst the restrictions are in force. Check the times of the restrictions on the nearby yellow time plates.

Footway parking
Never park with one or more wheels on the pavement or a grass verge. This has been banned throughout Greater London for many years as it creates a hazard to the blind and partially sighted, the disabled and children in pushchairs, and damages the pavement and verges.

Crossovers (where the pavement dips to road level at drive entrances) are just as much part of the footway as the pavement itself - even if leading to your own house! There are, however, streets where parking is permitted and they are shown by pictorial signs:

• permitting parking with 2 wheels on the pavement
• permitting parking with 4 wheels on the pavement

When parking on the pavement in these streets please leave sufficient room on the footway for a wheelchair to pass.

Parking meters

Pay and display
When using a parking meter or a pay and display bay (whether on the road or in a car park) make sure that the vehicle is totally within the bay or, at the very least, all wheels are within it and not on the markings. Before you pay at a parking meter, make sure that you are parked in the "correct" bay. Never park on a suspended meter bay. They are suspended for good reasons, (e.g road works, gas leaks or other emergencies) and ignoring a suspension is a sure way of receiving a penalty charge notice.

Always have the correct change with you before you park on a meter or a pay and display bay. If a car is left unattended because the driver has gone for change and there is no evidence of parking time being purchased then a parking ticket will always be issued.

When purchasing a pay and display ticket from a machine always ensure that the money has registered correctly and that the time purchased has been given.

Display your ticket correctly so that the departure time is clearly visible. Failure to display a valid ticket is a contravention. The same rules apply to parking meters, in that it is the drivers responsibility to make sure that the time registered is correct for the amount of money inserted.

Out of order meters

If a parking meter is not working then it is advisable to park in a different bay if one is available. If you have to park on a meter which is broken then always leave a note on the dashboard or windscreen giving as much information as possible to the Civil Enforcement Officer. Always time and date the note. A penalty charge notice may be issued on such occasions and the meter will be checked. If the meter is found to be faulty then the penalty charge notice will be withdrawn. If a pay and display machine is not working then always pay at another machine, if one is available. If not, then leave a note giving as much information as possible.

Broken down vehicles
If your vehicle has broken down, genuinely cannot be moved and is infringing a parking regulation, then you must contact the Council's Parking Shop immediately, giving details of the breakdown and location. Normally we give you 24 hours to remove the vehicle. Failure to move the vehicle within this time will mean you get a penalty charge notice. Always leave a note on the windscreen, saying why you cannot move the vehicle, and add the time and date.

Disabled drivers

The blue badge scheme is designed to make parking easier for people with disabilities.

Blue badge holders must be present on the journey and the following dispensations will apply:

• Parking on a yellow line (single or double) for up to three hours (except where a loading ban is in force). The time clock must be set and displayed on such occasions.
• Parking at on-street paying bays and Council operated car parks free of charge.
• Valid disabled badges must be displayed on the dashboard or windscreen of the vehicle and the expiry date of the badge must be visible.

Blue badge holders must NOT park under the following circumstances:

• Where the vehicle will cause an obstruction to traffic or pedestrians.
• Where there is a loading ban, during the times the ban is in force.  A loading ban is shown by one or more yellow kerb markings with a plate saying when the ban applies.  If you can't see a plate assume the ban applies 'at any time'.
• On school entrance zig-zags during prohibited hours and on white zig-zag safety markings.
• On the pavement (even with one wheel) unless there are signs indicating that it is permitted.

On suspended meter bays, bus stops and places reserved for specific users.

Sunday and Bank Holiday parking
Waiting restrictions are often in force 365 days of the year including Sundays and Bank Holidays. Never assume that parking in restricted areas is permitted on such days. If in doubt always look at the yellow time plates and check with the Council's Parking Shop if you are unsure about the regulations.

If you get a penalty charge notice
Do not ignore penalty charge notices. Always pay promptly and within 14 days to qualify for a 50% discount. You can pay your parking fine online. If you contest the ticket you should ensure that your appeal is received by the Council within 14 days of the issue of the penalty charge notice. The Council will respond to your appeal in writing and, if received within 14 days, the discount period will be extended for a further 14 days from the date of our response.  If your appeal is unsuccessful at this stage, the registered keeper of the vehicle will have the opportunity to make a formal appeal to the Council when they receive the Notice to Owner or Enforcement Notice (in the case of bus lane contraventions).   If the Council rejects the formal appeal  then a further application can be made to an independent adjudicator at the Parking and Traffic Appeals Service.

Car removal and wheel clamping

We do not usually remove illegally parked cars unless we believe that the driver of the vehicle has a number of penalty charge notices that have not been paid. We do not 'wheel clamp' illegally parked vehicles.