Parking enforcement

We’re responsible for enforcing all on-street parking restrictions across Leicestershire. We work alongside district and borough councils who are responsible for off-street parking restrictions.

Penalty Charge Notices (PCN) can be issued by Civil Enforcement Officers (CEOs) when parking restrictions aren’t followed. The aim of Civil Parking Enforcement is to make sure parking restrictions are followed so that fewer vehicles are parked illegally. This will help to:

• reduce congestion
• make it easier for people to access parking spaces closer to shops and services
• improve journey times on public transport
• improve access for the emergency services
• allow residents parking schemes to run effectively  

The service provides:

• CEOs on patrol around the streets and off-street car parks in Leicestershire
• the repair, repainting and renewal of traffic signs and road markings around the county
• a centralised administration service for processing PCNs

You can report illegal parking for:

• Abandoned vehicles
• Bus stops*
• Disabled bays*
• Double parking
• Dropped kerbs
• Grass verges
• Junction parking
• Loading bays*
• Pavement parking
• School parking - outside schools*
• Taxi ranks*
• Yellow lines

*Take a look at our controlled parking spaces map to see what restrictions apply and where. For disabled bays only, check the map for statutory bays, as these are enforceable (those indicated with a disabled bay marking on the road and a blue badge holders only sign).

Abandoned vehicles

An abandoned vehicle is one which has not been moved or attended to for a long time. There may be visible damage to suggest a crash or signs the vehicle has been stolen, such as significant damage or unroadworthy with flat tyres or broken windows.

Abandoned vehicles can cause a nuisance by obstructing roads, traffic and pedestrians. The sight of a damaged or slowly rusting car can also be an eyesore in your community, so it’s understandable you might want it to be removed.

Abandoned vehicles are the responsibility of district or borough councils. To report an abandoned vehicle, please contact the relevant council.

Untaxed vehicles

These can also be reported online to DVLA at Report an untaxed vehicle (GOV.UK) or Parking issues and abandoned vehicles (Leicestershire Police).

Bus stop or bus stand clearway parking

Vehicles are not prohibited from parking or stopping at all bus stops. If a restriction applies at a stop this is will be indicated by:

• a solid yellow line at the back of the road near the kerb
• a dashed yellow box on the road with the words BUS STOP or BUS STAND
• an upright yellow sign next to the bus stop markings detailing the ‘no stopping except buses’ restriction and time of operation

Report illegal parking at a bus stop or clearway

Disabled bay

There are two types of disabled parking bays:

•  Advisory bay markings on the road outside a person’s home. The disabled parking bay provide a space where a blue badge holder can park their vehicle. There are certain conditions that have to be met before an advisory bay can be provided. This bay can be used by any vehicle that displays a blue badge and would not be for the exclusive use of the owners of the property adjacent to the bay.
• Statutory disabled parking bays, for example, in car parks and on-street in shopping areas. Anyone using these parking bays should park in accordance with the blue badge scheme 

Report illegal parking on a disabled bay

Double parking

This applies when a vehicle is parked on any part of the carriageway (road) and no part of the vehicle is within 50cm of the edge of the carriageway (kerb line) unless the vehicle is wholly within a marked parking bay.

Report double parking 

Dropped kerb

A dropped kerb is a small change to the highway (road) that enables you to access off road parking space for domestic vehicle access. If you want to drive a vehicle over the pavement into your driveway off a highway then you’ll need a dropped kerb. If you don’t have a dropped kerb, you must not drive over the pavement. If you do, you’re breaking the law and enforcement action could be taken to prevent this. A dropped kerb is used to give access to vehicles from a road across the pavement and onto a driveway or parking area.

These lower height kerbs can be used to create vehicle access points for private drives or to provide easier movement for pedestrians, wheelchair and buggy users who are crossing the road to and from the footway.

Report illegal parking on a dropped kerb

Grass verge

Parking on grass verges is a persistent problem and can have a big impact on people with sight and mobility difficulties and for children in pushchairs. Further problems include reducing verges to an unsightly state, obstructing the highway, and preventing pedestrians and wheelchair users from accessing roads and footways if there is no other pathway. Also, pavements are only designed and constructed to take the weight of pedestrians, mobility scooters and wheelchairs, so the weight of a car or goods vehicle can cause damage. Parking on verges can also cause a hazard to other motorists especially if the vehicle is parked on a bend, narrow road, or junction.

Report illegal parking on a grass verge 

Junction parking

You should not park within 10 metres (32 feet) of a junction (unless in an authorised parking place). This is to allow drivers emerging from, or turning into, the junction a clear view of the road they're joining. It also allows them to see hazards such as pedestrians or cyclists at the junction.

Report illegal parking at a junction

Loading bay

These bays are for goods vehicles only and are intended for large vehicles which may otherwise have difficulty in finding a place to load or unload. The bays are marked on the road with a white dotted line and the words LOADING ONLY next to the bay.

Report illegal parking on a loading bay

Pavement parking

If there are no parking restrictions, we're not able to deal with such matters. The parking of vehicles on the pavement or any parking that is considered to be dangerous or that causes an obstruction to the safe and effective use of the highway, is an offence under the Road Traffic Act 1988. Such instances should be reported to the police on their non-emergency number 101

The vehicle(s) must be causing a very real and unnecessary obstruction in order for any action to be taken.

Report illegal parking on a pavement (where restrictions apply) 

School parking - outside schools

Zig-zag markings outside of schools must be kept clear for safety reasons. We use a camera-equipped car to monitor and enforce parking restrictions outside schools.

Using automatic number plate recognition technology (ANPR), the car is used by officers to collect the necessary evidence to issue a £70 Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) to drivers who park on zig-zag lines (known as school keep clear markings).

The car is equipped with an intelligent enforcement system that uses GPS to recognise where restrictions begin and end as the vehicle is driven though a restriction zone.

We have a responsibility to tackle dangerous parking and we will continue to carry out enforcement work across the county to ensure this. These measures will help to:

• act as a visible deterrent to drivers
• improve road safety
• reduce accidents and ‘near misses’

If a car is found to be parked on school keep-clear zigzags, a PCN is sent to the address of the registered keeper/owner of the vehicle. This will be sent by post, within 14 days of the date of the alleged offence.

Report illegal parking outside a school

Taxi rank

Taxi Ranks are provided for Taxis only and to facilitate those who require taxis, these are usually indicated by a sign and road markings. No other vehicles should be parking, loading, or waiting in the marked area unless a sign specifies otherwise.

Report illegal parking on a taxi rank

Yellow lines

Double yellow lines indicate lengths of road where there is no waiting at any time. There is no longer any need for upright signs to be placed explaining this.

Single yellow lines mean no waiting or parking during the times shown on nearby signs or at the entrance to a controlled parking zone. There are no standard times or rules so you must always check the signs before waiting or parking.

You can usually stop to drop off or pick up passengers unless signs say otherwise or there are small yellow lines marked on the pavement at right angles to its edge. If these yellow markings are in pairs, it means no loading or unloading at any time - if they're single markings, check the signs for what you can and can't do.

Report illegal parking on yellow lines

Parking and Traffic Regulations Outside London (PATROL)

We are a member of The Joint Committee of England and Wales for the civil enforcement of Parking and Traffic Regulations Outside London (PATROL)

Further reading