As of the 6 April 2015 the law requires that a penalty charge notice (PCN) must not be issued to a vehicle which has stayed parked in a designated parking place on or off street (council run car parks) beyond the permitted parking period for a period of time not exceeding 10 minutes.

The exact wording in the Statutory Instrument is as follows:

“From 6 April 2015, the law requires that a penalty charge must not be issued to a vehicle which has stayed parked in a parking place on a road or in a local authority car park beyond the permitted parking period for a period of time not exceeding 10 minutes. The grace period applies to on-street and off-street parking places provided under traffic orders, whether the period of parking is paid for or free. Any penalty charge issued before expiry of the 10-minute grace period would be illegal, unless the vehicle itself is parked unlawfully (e.g. where the motorist has not paid any required parking fee or displayed a parking ticket where required).

What does this mean?

If a vehicle is parked in a restricted free or pay and display parking bay both on and off street and is still parked beyond the expiry of the paid for time or beyond the allotted free time, a grace period of 10 minutes must be applied. The observation period must not commence until 11 minutes after the expired time and a penalty charge notice must not be issued until the 11 minutes has passed.

Where does this apply:

Time restricted on-street and council run car parks, both free and pay-to-park parking bays

Where does the 10 minute grace period not apply:

Private car parks

where a road has a restriction (e.g. single yellow or red line) or prohibition (e.g. double yellow or red line) or clearway which is not a ‘designated’ parking place either during – or outside of – the period of the restriction or prohibition and where no payment has been made (where required).