Receiving a parking ticket

You can get a parking ticket, known as a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN), if you:

  • park in a restricted space (for example, on a street with yellow lines)
  • have not purchased a valid parking session
  • do not have a valid parking permit clearly displayed in your vehicle.

Find out how to get a parking permit for your home, business or work.

You can also get a PCN for breaking some traffic rules, for example going against a ‘no U-turn’ sign or driving in a bus lane.

 

How you are given a PCN

How you are given PCN affects the discounted fine period and the type of challenge you can make.

On the street

This means a ticket attached to your vehicle or given to you by a Civil Enforcement Officer (officer, parking warden or traffic warden).

Sent by post

You will get a PCN by post when:

  • an officer could not fix a ticket to your vehicle or hand it to you
  • a parking or traffic offence was caught on CCTV

 

What you can do about a PCN

You can:

Do not ignore your ticket or letter. You need to pay the fine or challenge it within 28 days of the date it was issued. After this you may have to pay additional charges. 

Understanding your ticket

All Penalty Charge Notices show:

  • the PCN number - use this when you pay, challenge or talk to us about your ticket
  • details of the vehicle including registration, which you need to check is correct
  • details of the parking or traffic offence (contravention), including:

- a description of the offence

- the location

- the date and time

  • the full charge amount
  • a discounted charge amount available for 14 days or 21 days (which is on your PCN)
  • how you can pay

The PCN tells you how you can challenge it.