Council PCN contravention codes explained

Every council PCN shows a contravention code. It tells you what the council says you did wrong. Click a code for what it means, what the council has to show and the common grounds for challenging it.

There are two penalty levels for parking, higher and lower, and a separate group for moving traffic and bus lane contraventions. The actual amount depends on the council: for example, in Wandsworth (London Band A) the higher level is £160 and the lower level £110. Check your own notice. Codes and levels for Wandsworth are on the council's website.

Code	Contravention	Penalty band	Where
01	Parked in a restricted street during prescribed hours	Higher level	On street
02	Parked or loading/unloading in a restricted street where waiting and loading/unloading restrictions are in force	Higher level	On street
05	Parked after the expiry of paid for time	Lower level	On street
06	Parked without clearly displaying a valid pay & display ticket or voucher	Lower level	On street
07	Parked with payment made to extend the stay beyond initial time	Lower level	On street
12	Parked in a residents' or shared use parking place without clearly displaying a valid permit, voucher or pay & display ticket	Higher level	On street
16	Parked in a permit space without displaying a valid permit	Higher level	On street
19	Parked in a residents' or shared use parking place or zone either displaying an invalid permit or voucher or paying an insufficient amount	Lower level	On street
20	Parked in a part of a parking place marked by a yellow line where waiting is prohibited	Higher level	On street
21	Parked wholly or partly in a suspended bay or space	Higher level	On street
22	Re-parked in the same parking place within one hour after leaving	Lower level	On street
23	Parked in a parking place or area not designated for that class of vehicle	Higher level	On street
24	Not parked correctly within the markings of the bay or space	Lower level	On street
25	Parked in a loading place or bay during restricted hours without loading	Higher level	On street
26	Parked in a special enforcement area more than 50 cm from the edge of the carriageway and not within a designated parking place	Higher level	On street
27	Parked in a special enforcement area adjacent to a footway, cycle track or verge lowered to meet the level of the carriageway	Higher level	On street
30	Parked for longer than permitted	Lower level	On street
40	Parked in a designated disabled person's parking place without displaying a valid disabled person's badge in the prescribed manner	Higher level	On street
45	Stopped in a taxi rank	Higher level	On street
47	Stopped on a restricted bus stop or stand	Higher level	On street
48	Stopped in a restricted area outside a school, a hospital or a fire, police or ambulance station when prohibited	Higher level	On street
55	A commercial vehicle parked in a restricted street in contravention of the Overnight Waiting Ban	Higher level	On street
61	A heavy commercial vehicle wholly or partly parked on a footway, verge or land between two carriageways	Higher level	On street
62	Parked with one or more wheels on or over a footpath or any part of a road other than a carriageway	Higher level	On street
99	Stopped on a pedestrian crossing or crossing area marked by zig-zags	Higher level	On street
81	Parked in a restricted area in a car park	Higher level	Car park
82	Parked after the expiry of paid for time	Lower level	Car park
83	Parked in a car park without clearly displaying a valid pay & display ticket or voucher or parking clock	Lower level	Car park
85	Parked without clearly displaying a valid permit where required	Higher level	Car park
91	Parked in a car park or area not designated for that class of vehicle	Higher level	Car park
31	Entering and stopping in a box junction when prohibited	Moving traffic / bus lane	Camera
32	Failing to drive in the direction shown by the arrow on a blue sign	Moving traffic / bus lane	Camera
34	Being in a bus lane	Moving traffic / bus lane	Camera
37	Failing to give way to oncoming vehicles	Moving traffic / bus lane	Camera
50	Performing a prohibited turn	Moving traffic / bus lane	Camera
51	Failing to comply with a no entry sign	Moving traffic / bus lane	Camera
52	Failing to comply with a sign indicating a prohibition on certain types of vehicle	Moving traffic / bus lane	Camera

Using the list

Find the code on your notice.
Read the page for that code, then compare with what happened.
Challenge in time: how to challenge a council PCN.