An enforcement officer issues a PCN by fixing it to the vehicle or handing it to the driver. It details the alleged parking contravention in words, and also as a two digit code.

Explanations of contravention codes

Higher level penalty charge parking contraventions
Code Charge Legal description Information
01 £70 Parked in a restricted street during prescribed hours Parked on yellow lines (single/double) or in a pedestrian zone
02 £70 Parked or loading/unloading in a restricted street where waiting and loading/unloading restrictions are in force Parked where there are yellow lines and yellow markings on the kerb
12 £70 Parked in a residents’ or shared use parking place without clearly displaying either a permit or voucher issued for that place Parked in a residents’ zone 
20 £70 Parked in a loading gap marked by a yellow line A yellow line between two parking spaces
21 £70 Parked in a suspended bay/space or part of bay/space Where/when a parking place has been suspended – signage will be in place
23 £70 Parked in a parking place or area not designated for that class of vehicle Only certain vehicles may park in some places – as detailed on a sign adjacent to the parking place
25 £70 Parked in a loading place during restricted hours without loading Loading places are for the purpose of loading and unloading only
26 £70 Vehicle parked more than 50cm from the edge of the carriageway and not within a designated parking place ‘Double parking’ applies even if there are no other vehicles, can also apply if a vehicle is parked at an angle/end on and one set of wheels is more than 50cm from the edge of the carriageway
27 £70 Parked adjacent to a dropped footway Partially or fully parked blocking a dropped kerb, whether for vehicles or pedestrians
40 £70 Parked in a designated disabled person’s parking place without clearly displaying a valid disabled person’s badge Bays specifically for disabled badge holders only
45 £70 Parked on a taxi rank Bays used specifically for taxis.  Other vehicles may not park, even to pick up
46 £70 Stopped where prohibited (on a clearway) A clearway is a restriction without markings only signs
47 £70 Stopped on a restricted bus stop/stand Non permitted buses/other vehicles are only allowed to drop off or pick up passengers, they must not wait
48 £70 Stopped in a restricted area outside a school A zig-zag yellow marking outside or adjacent to an entrance to a school
49 £70 Parked wholly or partly on a cycle track or lane  
55 £70 A commercial vehicle parked in a restricted street in contravention of the overnight waiting ban  
61 £70 A heavy commercial vehicle wholly or partly parked on a footway, verge or land between two carriageways No part of a large commercial vehicle must be on the footway, verge or land between two carriageways
62 £70 Parked with one or more wheels on any part of an urban road other than a carriageway (footway parking) No part of a vehicle should be on the footway (unless signs/markings state otherwise)
81 £70 Parked in a restricted area in a car park Not parked within a marked bay
85 £70 Parked in a permit bay without clearly displaying a valid permit Parked in a permit bay within a car park without displaying a permit valid for that location/vehicle
87 £70 Parked in a disabled person’s parking space without clearly displaying a valid disabled person’s badge Bays specifically for disabled badge holders only within a car park
91 £70 Parked in a car park or area not designated for that class of vehicle For example, parking in an area designated for coaches/buses only
99 £70 Stopped on a pedestrian crossing and/or crossing area marked by zig-zags Pedestrian crossing marked with white zig-zag markings
Lower level penalty charge parking contraventions
Code Charge Legal description Information
05 £50 Parked after the expiry of paid for time Vehicles should not be parked after the pay and display ticket/voucher has expired
06 £50 Parked without clearly displaying a valid pay and display ticket or voucher Pay and display tickets/vouchers must be clearly displayed
07 £50 Parked with payment made to extend the stay beyond initial time Extra time cannot be purchased to extend the pay and display ticket already purchased or vouchers already displayed
09 £50 Parked displaying multiple pay and display tickets where prohibited More than one pay and display ticket on display
19 £50 Parked in a residents’ or shared use parking place displaying an invalid permit or invalid voucher Permit out of date or not valid for that zone
22 £50 Re-parked in the same parking place within 2 hours of leaving (or other specified time) No return of the same parking place within a specified period (see signage in place)
24 £50 Not parked correctly within the markings of the bay or space All the wheels must be within the parking space
30 £50 Parked for longer than permitted ‘Limited waiting bays’ – length of stay is denoted by the signs
82 £50 Parked after the expiry of paid for time In a car park a vehicle must be moved before the pay and display ticket expires
83 £50 Parked in a car park without clearly displaying a valid pay and display ticket Pay and display ticket must be clearly displayed
86 £50 Parked beyond the bay markings All wheels must be within the bay markings
Parking enforcement and fines