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Avoid Penalty Charge Notices
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 loading or unloading activity taking place, a maximum of 20 minutes will be allowed for this purpose and the officer will check the vehicle to ensure that the activity is continuous. 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 Services 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 zigzag markings directly outside a school. No vehicles should park on the zigzag 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.
There are, however, streets where parking is permitted with either 2 or 4 wheels on the pavement and they are shown by pictorial signs. When parking on the pavement in these streets please leave sufficient room on the footway for a wheelchair to pass.
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!
Obstruction of driveways
Never obstruct a resident's drive - the Council has the authority to issue Penalty Charge Notices in these circumstances. However the Council does not have the legal powers to remove vehicles that are causing obstruction. In these situations residents are advised to contact the Metropolitan Police. Details of their Safer Neighhourhoods Teams are available here.
Pay and display bays
When parking in 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 over the markings. Never park in a suspended 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 in 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 penalty charge notice 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 in the windscreen or as directed on the ticket so that the departure time is clearly visible. Failure to display a valid ticket is a contravention.
Broken down vehicles
If your vehicle has broken down, genuinely cannot be moved and is infringing a parking regulation, then you must contact the Parking Services 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.
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 or check the waiting restriction times displayed on the controlled parking zone signs in the roads leading into the controlled zone. Check with Parking Services if you are still unsure about the regulations.
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.