London boroughs and TfL issue 8 million fines to drivers

There has been an 11.2% increase in the number of parking penalty charge notices (PCNs) issued to drivers by London Councils, according to new data.

The figures, for parking enforcement and appeals in London for 2023/24, show that the London boroughs, the London Lorry Control Scheme and Transport for London (TfL) issued 8,333,486 PCNs to motorists who had contravened parking, bus lane and moving traffic regulations. 

Driven by the increase in parking fines, there was a 9.7% year-on-year increase in the overall number of PCNs issued.

Bus lane PCNs saw an increase of 1.9% and moving traffic PCNs an increase of 8.5%.

Cllr Kieron Williams, London Councils executive member for climate, transport and environment, said: “Traffic and parking management in London is a vital service provided by London boroughs and TfL that keeps London’s streets moving and balances the needs of different communities.

“If drivers believe they have wrongly received a PCN, we encourage them to appeal to the local authority that issued the penalty. If they are not satisfied with the outcome, they can appeal to an independent adjudicator via the relevant independent appeals service at London Tribunals.”

London Councils say that the boroughs and TfL only issue PCNs when they believe they have evidence that a breach of parking or moving traffic rules has occurred. 

All PCN income, it added, goes towards paying for the provision of traffic and parking services, with any surplus funding ringfenced to invest in other important transport projects such as the Freedom Pass concessionary travel scheme for older and disabled Londoners.

The figures also show that the total number of PCN appeals received by London Tribunals in 2023/24 decreased by 2.03% from 2022/23 levels to 42,193. 

The total number of appeals allowed was 16,947 in 2023/24, an increase of 18.2% from last year.
London Councils is currently analysing responses from a full public consultation on parking and traffic enforcement penalty charges in London. 

The results of this consultation will be discussed in December by London Councils’ Transport and Environment Committee.