PCN Contravention Codes - Offence Codes

Bleow is a list of PCN Contravention Codes with the relavent Code Number, Description and Differential Level.

On-Street Contraventions

Code
Description
Differential Level
01
Parked in a restricted street during prescribed hours
Higher
02
Parked or loading/unloading in a restricted street where waiting and loading/unloading restrictions are in force
Higher
04
Parked in a meter bay when penalty time is indicated
Lower
05
Parked after the expiry of paid for time
Lower
06
Parked without clearly displaying a valid pay & display ticket or voucher
Lower
07
Parked with payment made to extend the stay beyond initial time
Lower
08
Parked at an out-of-order meter during controlled hours
Lower
09
Parked displaying multiple pay & display tickets where prohibited
Lower
10
Parked without clearly displaying two**** valid pay and display tickets when required
Lower
11
Parked without payment of the parking charge
Lower
12
Parked in a residents' or shared use parking place without clearly displaying either a permit or voucher or pay and display ticket issued for that place
Higher
13
RESERVED FOR TfL USE (LOW EMISSION ZONE)
N/A
14
Parked in an electric vehicles' charging place during restricted hours without charging
Higher
16
Parked in a permit space without displaying a valid permit
Higher
17
RESERVED FOR TfL USE (CONGESTION CHARGING)
N/A
18
Using a vehicle in a parking place in connection with the sale or offering or exposing for sale of goods when prohibited
Higher
19
Parked in a residents' or shared use parking place or zone displaying an invalid permit, an invalid voucher or an invalid pay & display ticket
Lower
20
Parked in a loading gap marked by a yellow line
Higher
21
Parked in a suspended bay or space or part of bay or space
Higher
22
Re-parked in the same parking place or zone within one hour* of leaving
Lower
23
Parked in a parking place or area not designated for that class of vehicle
Higher
24
Not parked correctly within the markings of the bay or space
Lower
25
Parked in a loading place during restricted hours without loading
Higher
26
Vehicle parked more than 50 cm from the edge of the carriageway and not within a designated parking place
Higher
27
Parked adjacent to a dropped footway
Higher
30
Parked for longer than permitted
Lower
31
London only - Entering and stopping in a box junction when prohibited
N/A
32
London only - Failing to drive in the direction shown by the arrow on a blue sign
N/A
33
London only - Using a route restricted to certain vehicles
N/A
34
Being in a bus lane
N/A
35
Parked in a disc parking place without clearly displaying a valid disc
Lower
36
Parked in a disc parking place for longer than permitted
Lower
37
London only - Failing to comply with a give way to oncoming vehicles sign
N/A
40
Parked in a designated disabled person's parking place without clearly displaying a valid disabled person's badge
Higher
41
Parked in a parking place designated for diplomatic vehicles
Higher
42
Parked in a parking place designated for police vehicles
Higher
45
Parked on a taxi rank
Higher
46
Stopped where prohibited (on a red route or clearway)
Higher
47
Stopped on a restricted bus stop or stand
Higher
48
Stopped in a restricted area outside a school
Higher
49
Parked wholly or partly on a cycle track
Higher
50
London only - Failing to comply with a sign indicating a prohibited turn
N/A
51
London only - Failing to comply with a no entry sign
N/A
52
London only - Failing to comply with a sign indicating a prohibition on certain types of vehicle
N/A
53
London only - Failing to comply with a sign indicating a restriction on vehicles entering a pedestrian zone
N/A
54
London only - Failing to comply with a sign indicating a restriction on vehicles entering and waiting in a pedestrian zone
N/A
55
A commercial vehicle parked in a restricted street in contravention of an overnight waiting ban
Higher
56
Parked in contravention of a commercial vehicle waiting restriction
Higher
57
Parked in contravention of a coach ban
Higher
58
London only - Using a vehicle on a restricted street during prescribed hours without a valid permit
N/A
59
London only - Using a vehicle on a restricted street during prescribed hours in breach of permit conditions
N/A
61
A heavy commercial vehicle wholly or partly parked on a footway, verge or land between two carriageways
Higher
62
Parked with one or more wheels on any part of an urban road other than a carriageway (footway parking)
Higher
63
Parked with engine running where prohibited
Lower
67
RESERVED FOR VEHICLE EMISSIONS
N/A
68
RESERVED FOR VEHICLE EMISSIONS
N/A
99
Stopped on a pedestrian crossing and or crossing area marked by zigzags
Higher

* Or other specified time
** Or voucher
*** Sometimes applies during term time only
**** Or other number

Off-Street Contraventions (Car parks)

Code
Description
Differential Level
70
Parked in a loading area during restricted hours without reasonable excuse
Higher
73
Parked without payment of the parking charge
Lower
74
Using a vehicle in a parking place in connection with the sale or offering or exposing for sale of goods when prohibited
Higher
77
RESERVED FOR DVLA USE
N/A
80
Parked for longer than the maximum period permitted
Lower
81
Parked in a restricted area in a car park
Higher
82
Parked after the expiry of paid for time
Lower
83
Parked in a car park without clearly displaying a valid pay & display ticket or voucher or parking clock
Lower
84
Parked with additional payment made to extend the stay beyond time first purchased
Lower
85
Parked in a permit bay without clearly displaying a valid permit
Higher
86
Parked beyond the bay markings
Lower
87
Parked in a disabled person's parking space without clearly displaying a valid disabled person's badge
Higher
89
Vehicle parked exceeds maximum weight and/or height and/or length permitted in the area
Higher
90
Re-parked within one hour* of leaving a bay or space in a car park
Lower
91
Parked in a car park or area not designated for that class of vehicle
Higher
92
Parked causing an obstruction
Higher
93
Parked in car park when closed
Lower
94
Parked in a pay & display car park without clearly displaying two**** valid pay and display tickets when required
Lower
95
Parked in a parking place for a purpose other than the designated purpose for the parking place
Lower
96
Parked with engine running where prohibited
Lower

* Or other specified time
** Or voucher
*** Sometimes applies during term time only
**** Or other number

Suffixes

Suffixes are added to a contravention code in order to provide a more detailed description of why the PCN has been issued.

General suffixes

a) temporary traffic order
b) business bay
c) coach parking bay
d) doctor’s bay
e) double parked/obstruction
f) free parking bay
g) motor cycle bay
h) hospital bay
i) wrong type of voucher
j) camera enforcement
k) ambulance bay
l) loading place
m) parking meter
n) red route
o) blue badge holder
p) pay & display
q) market traders’ bay
r) residents’ bay
s) shared use bay
t) voucher/P&D ticket used in permit bay
u) mobile phone parking
v) voucher
w) wrong parking zone
x) incorrect VRM
y) obscured/illegible permit
z) out of date permit
0) local buses / trams only

Footway parking only

1) One wheel on footway
2) Partly on footway
4) All wheels on footway
c) on vehicle crossover
g) on grass verge

Moving traffic contraventions only

32 d) proceeding in the wrong direction
p) passing to the wrong side of the sign
t) turning in the wrong direction
w) one way traffic

33 b) buses only
c) buses and cycles only
e) buses, cycles and taxis only
f) buses and taxis only
g) local buses only
h) local buses and cycles only
i) local buses, cycles and taxis only
k) local buses and taxis only
q) tramcars and local buses only
r) tramcars only
s) tramcars and buses only

50 r) no right turn
l) no left turn
u) no U turn

52 v) all vehicles except non-mechanically propelled ones being pushed
m) motor vehicles
x) motor vehicles except solo m/cycles
s) solo motorcycles
g) goods vehicles exceeding max gross weight indicated

Parking Next to a Drop Kerb

What is a drop kerb?

A drop kerb is a roadside kerb / pavement that is angled downwards towards the road to allow vehicles to easily drive up and down the kerb. 

Parking in front of drop kerbs is not allowed. It causes obstructions to driveway access, road crossing access and both pedestrian and driver visibility. Blocking driveway and crossing access is inconvenient and selfish but obstructing visibility can be very dangerous to pedestrians and road users.

Parking in front of drop kerbs has been against the rules in London since Section 14 of the London Local Authorities and Transport for London Act 2003 came into force.

"Part 6 of the Traffic Management Act 2004 repeals section 14 and gives all local authorities in England with civil parking enforcement powers the ability to take action when a vehicle is parked alongside a dropped kerb in a Special Enforcement Area (that is, an area where parking is, in all other instances, permitted)."

For more detailed information visit The Department for Transport "Parking on pavements and alongside dropped kerbs"

Parking on Kerbs / Pavements

Rule 218 of the Highway Code says: "Do not park partially or wholly on the pavement unless signs permit it".

  • If there are any restrictions, e.g. yellow line, then you cannot park on the pavement.
  • Where there are no other parking restrictions then a sign should say that you are not allowed to park on the pavement/grass verge. 
  • Within London it is banned everywhere unless there is a sign permitting parking on the pavement or grass verge.

Vehicles parked on pavements can create a hazard: 

  1. To pedestrians by causing an obstruction that may result in them having to step off the pavement into the carriageway, thus putting themselves in danger.
  2. By restricting the width of the pavement and making it difficult for someone with a pushchair or wheelchair to pass safely - again this person may have to enter the carriageway to avoid the obstruction.
  3. Due to the damage caused by driving on and off the pavement - broken flags, potholes, etc.

Illegally parked vehicles cost the City Council thousands of pounds a year in damaged paving and damaged grass verges. It can also create serious problems for blind, disabled and older people.

For more detailed information visit The Department for Transport "Parking on pavements and alongside dropped kerbs"

Re-Parking in the bay or set of bays

As Civil Enforcement Officers / Parking Attendants walk around their beat, they enter details about cars parked at parking meters into their handheld computers. This includes the meter number, the registration number of the car, the amount of time a car has remaining on the meter (with consequent expiry time) and the position of the front and rear valves of the pavement-facing car tyres (given as clock points - e.g. 9 means 9 o'clock).

Offence code: 22
Explanation: Re-parked in the same parking place within one hour of leaving. You must not return to the same parking place within a specified period of leaving it - details will be shown on the sign or meter.

"Parking place" is loosely defined as a set of bays

Meter Feeding

As Civil Enforcement Officers / Parking Attendants walk around their beat, they enter details about cars parked at parking meters into their handheld computers. This includes the meter number, the registration number of the car, the amount of time a car has remaining on the meter (with consequent expiry time) and the position of the front and rear valves of the pavement-facing car tyres (given as clock points - e.g. 9 means 9 o'clock).

Offence code: 07
Explanation: Parked with payment made to extend the stay beyond the initial time ('meter feeding'). You may not pay extra money into a meter/pay and display machine to extend the time you have already purchased - even if this does not take you past the maximum time allowed at that parking place.

Differential Parking Bands - Higher and Lower Band Penalty Charge Notices

Higher and lower level contraventions (Differential parking) to be introduced as part of new parking regulations brought in by Part 6 of the Traffic Management (TMA) Act 2004 titled "Civil enforcement of traffic contraventions"

Click here to see the list with contravention codes.

Below is a list of parking contraventions split into the two higher and lower levels.

Higher level 

  1. Parked in a restricted street during prescribed hours
  2. Parked or loading/unloading in a restricted street where waiting and loading/unloading restrictions are in force
  3. Parked in a residents' or shared use parking place without clearly displaying either a permit or voucher or pay and display ticket issued for that place
  4. Parked in an electric vehicles charging place during restricted hours without charging
  5. Parked in a permit space without displaying a valid permit
  6. Using a vehicle in a parking place in connection with the sale or offering or exposing for sale of goods when prohibited
  7. Parked in a loading gap marked by a yellow line
  8. Parked in a residents parking space without clearly displaying a valid residents parking permit
  9. Parked in a suspended bay/space or part of bay/space
  10. Parked in a parking place or area not designated for that class of vehicle
  11. Parked in a loading place during restricted hours without loading
  12. Vehicle parked more than 50 cm from the edge of the carriageway and not within a designated parking place
  13. Parked adjacent to a dropped footway
  14. Parked in a designated disabled persons parking place without clearly displaying a valid disabled persons badge
  15. Parked in a parking place designated for diplomatic vehicles
  16. Parked in a parking place designated for police vehicles
  17. Parked on a taxi rank
  18. Stopped on a pedestrian crossing and/or crossing area marked by zigzags
  19. Parked in a loading area during restricted hours without reasonable excuse
  20. Using a vehicle in a parking place in connection with the sale or offering or exposing for sale of goods when prohibited
  21. Parked in a restricted area in a car park
  22. Parked in a permit bay without clearly displaying a valid permit
  23. Parked in a disabled persons parking space without clearly displaying a valid disabled persons badge
  24. Vehicle parked exceeds maximum weight and/or height and/or length permitted in the area
  25. Parked in a car park or area not designated for that class of vehicle
  26. Parked causing an obstruction

Lower level contraventions

  1. Parked without clearly displaying a valid pay & display ticket
  2. Parked after the expiry of paid for time
  3. Parked in a meter bay when penalty time is indicated
  4. Parked with payment made to extend the stay beyond initial time
  5. Parked at an out-of-order meter during controlled hours
  6. Parked displaying multiple pay & display tickets where prohibited
  7. Parked with engine running where prohibited
  8. Parked without clearly displaying two valid pay and display tickets when required
  9. Parked without payment of the parking charge
  10. Parked in a residents' or shared use parking place displaying an invalid permit, an invalid voucher or an invalid pay & display ticket
  11. Re-parked in the same parking place within one hour of leaving
  12. Not parked correctly within the markings of the bay or space
  13. Parked for longer than permitted
  14. Parked in a disc parking place without clearly displaying a valid disc
  15. Parked in a disc parking place for longer than permitted
  16. Parked without payment of the parking charge
  17. Parked for longer than the maximum period permitted
  18. Parked in a car park without clearly displaying a valid pay & display ticket
  19. Parked with additional payment made to extend the stay beyond time first purchased
  20. Parked beyond the bay markings
  21. Re-parked within one hour of leaving a bay or space in a car park
  22. Parked in car park when closed
  23. Parked in a pay & display car park without clearly displaying two valid pay and display tickets when required
  24. Parked in a parking place for a purpose other than the designated purpose for the parking place