New penalty charge rates in London

From the 1st July, 2007 there has been a two-tiered approach to the cost of a Penalty Charge Notice.

Since this date, parking penalties issued in London have reflected the seriousness of the contravention. This change followed an extensive consultation exercise carried out by  London Councils  with interested parties, and has the required approval of the  Mayor of London  and the Secretary of State.

This approach has been designed to impose a higher penalty on those who commit a serious parking, bus lane or moving traffic contravention, compared to drivers who may have made a genuine mistake or committed a contravention that has less serious implications for other road users.

More serious contravention examples -  £120 (£60 if paid within 14 days from the date of issue)

• Parking in a suspended bay or parking in a disabled bay without a valid Blue Badge; 
• Stopping on a pedestrian crossing area that is marked with white zig-zag markings, or on a school keep clear marking; 
• Parking or loading/unloading where these activities are prohibited (yellow lines and loading restrictions); 
• All moving traffic contraventions including driving or parking in a bus lane, stopping in box junctions and driving the wrong way in a one-way street; or 
• Parking without displaying a valid permit or pay and display ticket in a shared permit/pay and display bay – NB. Drivers who receive a penalty for this reason, and who can verify that they were visiting a resident of this Borough at the time and made a genuine attempt to park legally, may be eligible for the lower rate penalty. Please click here for further information.               

Less Serious Contravention Examples -  £80 (£40 if paid within 14 days from the date of issue)

• Parking after the expiry of your pay and display ticket; 
• Parking for longer than the maximum permitted time in a parking bay;
• Parking without clearly displaying a pay and display ticket in a pay and display car park;
• Not parking correctly within the parking bay markings.               

Other London-wide changes include the following: - 

• The cost to release your car from the car pound is £200 (in addition to the penalty charge);
• The cost of storage of your vehicle in the car pound is £40 per day (or part day); and
• The cost of disposing of your vehicle is be £70.