Is it illegal to park my car on the pavement and can I be fined? – The Sun | The Sun
PARKING rules can be the bane of any driver's day.
With spaces becoming prime real estate up and down the country, it is handy to know where you stand on the legalities of parking.
Is it illegal to park on the pavement?
Contrary to popular belief, outside of London, there is no law against parking on the pavement.
Rule 244 of the Highway Code says: "You must not park partially or wholly on the pavement in London, and should not do so elsewhere unless signs permit it.
"Parking on the pavement can obstruct and seriously inconvenience pedestrians, people in wheelchairs or with visual impairments and people with prams or pushchairs."
Outside of the capital, you are permitted to partially park your motor on the pavement, but it must not be causing an obstruction.
As a general rule of thumb, the main consideration is that if you do park on the pavement, that you allow enough space for people to still pass your car.
Highway Code rule 242 states: “You MUST NOT leave your vehicle or trailer in a dangerous position or where it causes any unnecessary obstruction of the road.”
While councils up and down the country are trying to get areas to follow the lead of London on parking, it is not a realistic proposition as the number of road users within the capital is far higher for the space available.
Many areas are pushing for far stricter rules on pavement parking, here is a breakdown of how things currently stand in different areas of the country.
England has looked into how to crack down on pavement parking but has made no firm decisions on the actions it will take to address this.
Scotland is the first country in the UK to ban pavement parking, in 2019 they passed the Transport (Scotland) Bill, with its nationwide ban expected to come into full effect in 2023.
In Wales, the Welsh Government has given the green light for local councils to crack down on pavement parking with them now having the powers to fine drivers for doing so.
Northern Ireland currently has no blanket ban on parking on pavements but tickets can be issued if you contravene the Highway Code, parking on yellow lines or where signs prohibit parking.
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What is the fine for parking on the pavement?
Get caught parking on the pavement in London and you will face a hefty £70 fine.
You may be able to get a discount of 50 per cent on the parking charge if you pay within 14 days.
If a Penalty Charge Notice was issued by the local council, unless you have grounds to appeal, you should pay up. You'll normally get a half-price discount if you pay within 14 days.
A Penalty Charge Notice means you've broken the law, but if you do have a compelling or very persuasive reason for appealing, the council can use its discretion to decide whether to cancel the notice.
Outside of London, police can penalise you if they feel your parking is dangerous or in any way causing an obstruction of the road.
This can lead to a fine and in some cases points on your license, generally speaking the fine would be in the similar region to the £70 you could expect in the capital.
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Are the rules different in London?
Parking on pavements has been banned in London since the 1974 Greater London Council (General Powers) Act.
The act forbids motorists to park on urban roads in the capital with their car’s wheels resting on footways, grass verges or land between carriageways.
There are exceptions to this rule in some areas.
These are clearly marked with special blue parking signs, showing a car with one wheel on the kerb.
Other times, parking bays are drawn out with white lines extending onto footways to show that parking there is permitted.
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In areas where it is not allowed, the law provides protection for certain circumstances, such as drivers who are unloading goods, putting out a fire or saving someone’s life.
Those who break the rules will be subject to a fine.
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