Parking fines

Fines are issued by the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames as 'Penalty Charge Notices' (PCNs) and so will be referred to as such.

• Changes to Penalty Charges
• What is a Penalty Charge Notice?
• How do I pay?
• How do I appeal against the Penalty Charge Notice?

Changes to Penalty Charges

From 1st July 2007 all London Boroughs adopted a system of 'differential parking penalties'. From this date the charge made for parking contraventions depends on the severity of the contravention with 'more serious' contraventions charged at a higher level than 'less serious' contraventions.

A list of the contraventions, including those currently enforced within the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, and the charges for those contraventions before and after 1st July 2007 can be found on the Parking penalty charge notice contravention codes page.

Contraventions 12, 15 and 19

From 1st July 2007 contravention code 15 'Parked in a residents' parking space without clearly displaying a valid residents' parking permit' ceased to be used in London and has instead be replaced with the less serious contravention 19 'Parked in a residents' or shared use parking place displaying an invalid permit, an invalid voucher or an invalid pay and display ticket' and the more serious contravention 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'.

The Mayor of London has stipulated that to prevent visitors to residents within London being unfairly penalised that penalty charge notices issued for a code 12 contravention will be accompanied with the following guidance.

Were you visiting a resident?

This penalty charge notice (PCN) has been issued because the vehicle was parked in this parking place without displaying any form of permit, voucher or ticket that allowed it to be parked here.

You should therefore read and follow the instructions on the PCN about paying or challenging the issue of the notice.

However if you were parked here in order to visit a resident and can provide evidence of that then the Council may accept payment at a lower charge rate.

If the amount shown on the PCN is £120 (or £60 if paid within the 14 day period) then you would only need to pay £80 (or £40 if paid within the 14 day period).

OR

If the amount shown on the PCN is £100 (or £50 if paid within the 14 day period) then you would only need to pay £60 (or £30 if paid within the 14 day period).

Proof that you were visiting a resident should be in the form of a visitors' parking permit or voucher which was valid on the date of contravention given on the PCN.

Please remember that if you want to challenge the issue of the PCN, you should not send payment at this time, but follow the instructions on the Notice.

More information

Full details of the new differential parking fines scheme can be found at the London Councils website.

What is a Penalty Charge Notice?

A Penalty Charge Notice is a legal document notifying you that your vehicle has been observed contravening a parking restriction or traffic restriction (Bus Lane).

Do not ignore it!

Ignoring a Penalty Charge Notice can have serious consequences, as detailed on the Unpaid PCNs page.

Below is an example of a Penalty Charge Notice issued by Parking Attendants showing the information it tells you. Similar information will be displayed on a Penalty Charge Notice issued based on evidence from CCTV cameras, although it will look different and you will receive it through the postal system.

1. Notice Number - This is a 10 digit reference number starting 'RT' and should be quoted on all correspondence and when telephoning.
2. Date of Issue - The date your vehicle was seen committing a contravention.
3. Time - The time at which the Penalty Charge Notice was issued against your vehicle.
4. Registration No. - The Registration number of your vehicle.
5. Make - The make of your vehicle.
6. Colour - The colour of your vehicle.
7. was seen in - The street or car park where your vehicle committed the contravention.
8. Parking Attendant (Number) - A four digit reference number starting 'R' which identified the Parking Attendant who issued the Penalty Charge Notice. Signature - The signature/initials of the Parking Attendant who issued the Penalty Charge Notice.
9. Contravention - The reference number and a brief description of the contravention believed to have been committed by your vehicle. See the Contravention Codes page for more information.
10. Penalty - This is the full penalty charge.
11. Reduced Penalty - This is the reduced penalty charge which you can pay if payment is received by the Council within 14 days starting on the date of issue.

Further information will also be noted by the Parking Attendant that is not on the Penalty Charge Notice in support of its issue.

How do I pay?

Paying your Penalty Charge is straightforward and can be done by telephone, post, or at The Parking Shop. See the Paying Your PCN page for more information.

How do I appeal against the Penalty Charge Notice?

If you believe that you have received a Penalty Charge Notice in error, then please refer to the Appealing Against Your PCN page for information on how to go about appealing against it.