Parking enforcement information

The Statutory Recovery process

Find out how penalty charges are recovered, including explanations of the various documents and stages at London Councils.

Civil parking and traffic and Moving Traffic enforcement through CCTV

  • Traffic Management Act regulations give the power to authorities throughout England to issue Penalty Charge Notices for contraventions detected using a camera and associated recording equipment
  • approved devices which are used solely to detect contraventions must be certified as an approved device by the Secretary of State

In Bexley, CCTV is used to enforce:

  • school restrictions (zig zags)
  • bus stop/bus stand clearways
  • and moving traffic contraventions, such as:
    • banned right, left and U turns
    • no vehicle entry
    • yellow no stopping box junctions
    • vehicle type access restrictions

Moving traffic contravention codes

Contravention codeDescriptionTraffic sign or road marking
Code 31
Entering and stopping in a box junction when prohibited
No person shall cause a vehicle to enter the box junction so that the vehicle has to stop due to the presence of stationary vehicles.
This does not apply to any person that causes a vehicle to enter the box junction for the purpose of turning right and stops it within the box junction for so long as it is prevented from completing the right turn by oncoming vehicles or other vehicles which are stationary whilst waiting to complete a right turn
box junction sign
Code 32
Failing to drive in the direction shown by the arrow on a blue sign
Vehicular traffic must proceed in the direction indicated by the arrow
direction arrow sign
Code 32
Failing to drive in the direction shown by the arrow on a blue sign
Vehicular traffic must turn ahead in the direction indicated by the arrow.
direction arrow ahead sign
Code 32
Failing to drive in the direction shown by the arrow on a blue sign
One way traffic
one way traffic sign
Code 33
Using a route restricted to certain vehicles
Route for use by buses and pedal cycles only
route for use by buses and pedal cycles only sign
Code 33
Using a route restricted to certain vehicles
Route for use by tramcars only
route for use by tramcars only sign
Code 37
Failing to give way to oncoming vehicles
Priority must be given to vehicle from the opposite direction
priority must be given to vehicle from the opposite direction sign
Code 37
Failing to give way to oncoming vehicles
Priority must be given to vehicle from the opposite direction
priority must be given to vehicle from the opposite direction sign
Code 38
Failing to comply with a sign indicating that vehicular traffic must pass to the specified side of the sign
Vehicular traffic passing the sign must keep to the left of the sign where the arrow is pointed downwards to the left, or to the right of the sign where the arrow is pointed downwards to the right
keep left sign
Code 50
Performing a prohibited turn
No right turn for vehicular traffic
no right turn for vehicular traffic sign
Code 50
Performing a prohibited turn
No left turn for vehicular traffic
no left turn for vehicular traffic sign
Code 50
Performing a prohibited turn
No U-turns vehicular traffic
no U-turns vehicular traffic sign
Code 51 – Failing to comply with a no entry signNo entry for vehicular traffic
no entry for vehicular traffic sign
Code 52
Failing to comply with a sign indicating a prohibition on certain types of vehicles
All vehicles prohibited except non-mechanically propelled vehicles being pushed by pedestrians
all vehicles prohibited sign
Code 52
Failing to comply with a sign indicating a prohibition on certain types of vehicles
Motor vehicles prohibited
motor vehicles prohibited sign
Code 52
Failing to comply with a sign indicating a prohibition on certain types of vehicles
Motor vehicles except solo motorcycles prohibited
motor vehicles except solo motorcycles prohibited sign
Code 52
Failing to comply with a sign indicating a prohibition on certain types of vehicles
Solo motorcycles prohibited
solo motorcycles prohibited sign
Code 52 – Failing to comply with a sign indicating a prohibition on certain types of vehiclesGoods vehicles exceeding the maximum gross weight indicated on the goods vehicle symbol prohibited
goods vehicles exceeding the maximum gross weight indicated on the goods vehicle symbol prohibited
Code 53
Failing to comply with a restriction on vehicles entering a pedestrian zone
Entry to pedestrian zone restricted
entry to pedestrian zone restricted sign
Code 54
Failing to comply with a sign indicating a restriction on vehicles entering and waiting in a pedestrian zone
Entry to and waiting in a pedestrian zone restricted
entry to and waiting in a pedestrian zone restricted sign
Code 54
Failing to comply with a sign indicating a restriction on vehicles entering and waiting in a pedestrian zone (alternative signs)
Entry to and waiting in a pedestrian zone restricted
entry to and waiting in a pedestrian zone restricted sign

Approved Device equipment certification

  • Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) can be served through the post on the basis of a record produced by an approved device
  • this is set down in The Civil Enforcement of Parking Contraventions (Approved Devices) (England) Order 2007, and in accordance with the powers contained in Part 6 of the Traffic Management Act 2004
  • the London Borough of Bexley confirms that the equipment used satisfies the regulations, and details can be found on the GOV.UK website

Parking exceptions for carrying out statutory duties

Due to the nature of the work carried out by Civil Enforcement Officers, they may have to park incorrectly in certain circumstances.

In accordance with "The Bexley (Waiting and Loading Restriction) (No. 1) Traffic Order 2012", vehicles used to carry out statutory duties on behalf of the Local Authority are exempt from waiting/loading and other restrictions.

Regardless of the above exception, it is not permitted for Civil Enforcement Officers (or any other exempted type of vehicle) to be parked in a manner which is dangerous or causes an obstruction to any other road users.

The exception only applies when the vehicle is being used to undertake statutory duties.

Should anyone consider that the exception, as shown above, is not being used correctly, they should report it immediately.

Parking-Strategy-and-Action-Plan-2014(PDF)*

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