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
CodeChargeLegal descriptionInformation
01£70Parked in a restricted street during prescribed hoursParked on yellow lines (single/double) or in a pedestrian zone
02£70Parked or loading/unloading in a restricted street where waiting and loading/unloading restrictions are in forceParked where there are yellow lines and yellow markings on the kerb
12£70Parked in a residents’ or shared use parking place without clearly displaying either a permit or voucher issued for that placeParked in a residents’ zone 
20£70Parked in a loading gap marked by a yellow lineA yellow line between two parking spaces
21£70Parked in a suspended bay/space or part of bay/spaceWhere/when a parking place has been suspended – signage will be in place
23£70Parked in a parking place or area not designated for that class of vehicleOnly certain vehicles may park in some places – as detailed on a sign adjacent to the parking place
25£70Parked in a loading place during restricted hours without loadingLoading places are for the purpose of loading and unloading only
26£70Vehicle 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£70Parked adjacent to a dropped footwayPartially or fully parked blocking a dropped kerb, whether for vehicles or pedestrians
40£70Parked in a designated disabled person’s parking place without clearly displaying a valid disabled person’s badgeBays specifically for disabled badge holders only
45£70Parked on a taxi rankBays used specifically for taxis.  Other vehicles may not park, even to pick up
46£70Stopped where prohibited (on a clearway)A clearway is a restriction without markings only signs
47£70Stopped on a restricted bus stop/standNon permitted buses/other vehicles are only allowed to drop off or pick up passengers, they must not wait
48£70Stopped in a restricted area outside a schoolA zig-zag yellow marking outside or adjacent to an entrance to a school
49£70Parked wholly or partly on a cycle track or laneAs set out in legal description 
55£70A commercial vehicle parked in a restricted street in contravention of the overnight waiting banAs set out in legal description 
61£70A heavy commercial vehicle wholly or partly parked on a footway, verge or land between two carriagewaysNo part of a large commercial vehicle must be on the footway, verge or land between two carriageways
62£70Parked 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£70Parked in a restricted area in a car parkNot parked within a marked bay
85£70Parked in a permit bay without clearly displaying a valid permitParked in a permit bay within a car park without displaying a permit valid for that location/vehicle
87£70Parked in a disabled person’s parking space without clearly displaying a valid disabled person’s badgeBays specifically for disabled badge holders only within a car park
91£70Parked in a car park or area not designated for that class of vehicleFor example, parking in an area designated for coaches/buses only
99£70Stopped on a pedestrian crossing and/or crossing area marked by zig-zagsPedestrian crossing marked with white zig-zag markings
Lower level penalty charge parking contraventions
CodeChargeLegal descriptionInformation
05£50Parked after the expiry of paid for timeVehicles should not be parked after the pay and display ticket/voucher has expired
06£50Parked without clearly displaying a valid pay and display ticket or voucherPay and display tickets/vouchers must be clearly displayed
07£50Parked with payment made to extend the stay beyond initial timeExtra time cannot be purchased to extend the pay and display ticket already purchased or vouchers already displayed
09£50Parked displaying multiple pay and display tickets where prohibitedMore than one pay and display ticket on display
19£50Parked in a residents’ or shared use parking place displaying an invalid permit or invalid voucherPermit out of date or not valid for that zone
22£50Re-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£50Not parked correctly within the markings of the bay or spaceAll the wheels must be within the parking space
30£50Parked for longer than permitted‘Limited waiting bays’ – length of stay is denoted by the signs
82£50Parked after the expiry of paid for timeIn a car park a vehicle must be moved before the pay and display ticket expires
83£50Parked in a car park without clearly displaying a valid pay and display ticketPay and display ticket must be clearly displayed
86£50Parked beyond the bay markingsAll wheels must be within the bay markings