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Private Car Park: Can I Be Fined for Parking Over a White Line?

By: Tracy Whitelaw - Updated: 13 Oct 2023 | comments*Discuss
 
Private Car Park: Can I Be Fined For Parking Over A White Line?

Q.

I was parked over a white line in a private car park and have received a photograph of my car and a fine for £45 in the post, is this legal?

(P.B, 14 July 2009)

A.

Recently there appears to have been a spate of incidents where motorists have been complaining about being fined for parking mere inches over a white line in a car park. The legal issues surrounding such fines can differ dependent on whether the car park is privately owned, public, or of course whether the car is an obstruction. It also varies dependent on which company you've received the fine from.

Understanding the Laws of Penalty Charge Notices

Around 3.4 million PCNs are issued in the UK each year, yet most drivers aren't fully aware of the law when it comes to which parking fines they must pay. There are a number of different reasons you can be issued a parking fine, but ultimately there are also a variety of ways of contesting the parking fine.

Knowing how to appeal your parking fine could lead to you not having to pay at all, with around 60% of appeals being upheld generally. If you're looking to appeal your ticket and hopefully have it rescinded, consider the grounds you've been given the ticket on and whether there is concrete evidence that you've broken the law.

  • Parking Outside a Marked Bay – If you've received a ticket for this offence, you must ensure that you check the parking space met the minimum width which is currently 1.62m wide. This is measured from the outer edges of the white lines. If you think that you can appeal based on the fact the space isn't marked correctly, or is too small, do so.
  • Private Company Tickets – If you've received a ticket from a private company, this is different to a ticket from a local authority. When you get a ticket from a private company, such as NCP or your local supermarket, there are ways to avoid paying the fine, although they are legally entitled to charge you. Only the driver can be subject to a fine from a private company, so you may be able to claim that you are unaware of who parked your vehicle the day the fine was issued. Also, they may threaten you with legal letters stating that they will take you to court. On most occasions this doesn't happen, but if they can prove that you breached your contract with them (by parking outside a bay for example), they may pursue this.
  • Ticket Not Placed on Car – Previous to April 2008, PCNs had to be fixed to a vehicle for the fine to stand. Now, this is no longer required and receiving a penalty notice through the post is acceptable legally. If photographic evidence is also sent, it does decrease your chances of appeal, however that doesn't mean that you can't appeal. If the photograph doesn't adequately show the entire area and the contravention, then you may be able to state that there is insufficient proof

Is My fine Legal or Should I Appeal?

Ultimately it is up to you whether you want to simply pay the fine or appeal it. If you've parked outside a marked parking bay in a private car park, they are entitled to serve you with a fine notice and request payment. Usually you can get discounts for paying early, but be aware that the longer you refuse to pay, the higher the cost may be.

If the private car park insists that they have proof of your offence, they can take you to court and will require you to pay their court fees. Most don't go this route however as it's lengthy and expensive and some may consider a reduced fee. If you're still not sure whether to pay the fine, speak to a motor lawyer who can have a look at the exact offence, the photographic evidence and then advise you on the best course of action.

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I parked over the white line since the space to my left was on a corner and was a huge space , photographs they sent me clearly showed that I was not preventing either spaces left and right from being used since they showed cars parked there on either side next to mine. I argued that since my parking was not preventing the adjoining spaces being used ( which is the reason for the rule and i completely understand that) since i was not impeding and other vehicle i was causing no problem. They completely disregarded this and just said i was parked over the line end of. Absolutely disgusting that they act as their own gatekeeper and do not apply common sense to the situation.
Mikeh63 - 13-Oct-23 @ 1:04 PM
my friend parked at my local cinema, and she was over the white lines. Her fault, but it was very very quiet as it was during the day. maybe 300 spaces , and just 5/6 cars. She has a fine is that ok or not. £60.00
nikki - 7-Dec-19 @ 7:08 PM
I got a ticket as they say I wasn't parked within white lines but there is only one white line in that parking bay. J have appealed to POPLA as signage clearly shows parking within 2 white lines. Do you think Istand a good chance of winning my appeal?
Nat - 8-Oct-19 @ 2:36 PM
The place where I have parked my car suppose to be for 2 cars but there is no space for two cars to park and open the doors on both sides. If I would park on the right side, there was a bar so I wouldn't be able to open the door and get out from the car. If I would reversed the car and parked backwards I wouldn’t be able to take my 11 months old baby in and out from the car due to that bar. If I would park on the left side it would be the same situation just there is no bar but a bush which is so big that doesn’t allow opening the car doors. I received a £60 fine. Would I win with POPLA?
Sasha - 31-Jul-19 @ 10:38 PM
@505chris - 'the rules is the rules' - you can try to justify what you did, but if you parked so as not to allow another car space to park then you can expect to be fined, regardless.
JaNI - 17-Aug-18 @ 1:40 PM
I got fined for being over the white lines and I admit I was but I have a two door car and most spaces don't allow for that making it hard to get in or out. Besides that there was hundreds of unused places. Was it that bad really. Oh and I parked at the very end of the car park out of the way.
505chris - 17-Aug-18 @ 12:42 PM
@Tillypegs - I hope the other person was fined too. I suppose the car parks have to keep some sense of order and I suppose when they are issuing a ticket they don't know which person parked over the line first. But I can completely understand your annoyance. I was ticketed because I parked nexed to a very large 4x4 and had to park slightly over the line to be able to get out of my car!
Ruth - 29-Mar-18 @ 12:22 PM
I was parked over a white line due to another person parking wrong and fined it’s a disgrace shopping centres getting away with this
Tillypegs - 28-Mar-18 @ 6:48 PM
Ronnie - Your Question:
I was at speke new mersey shopping park on Sunday 14 January 13 14 I was just over white lane as car on right was on white line car on left was over white line on my right I'm disabled never had eny thing like this befor it was a private company I have paid the £60 fine but I'm so up set they put up a picture of the parking in my view I had no option the way two cars were parked can you advise Ms v Mitchell

Our Response:
Straddling the white lines can be a parking offence if there is a specific mention on the sign in the car park. This can be appealled on receipt of the ticket, which allows the company a second opportunity to assess the situation on a case-by-case basis. I can only suggest you write to them stating your position. You may not get the money reimbursed now the fine has been paid, but it's worth a try.
BlagADeal - 23-Jan-18 @ 10:35 AM
I was at speke new mersey shopping park on Sunday 14 January13 14 I was just over white lane as car on right was on white line car on left was over white line on my right I'm disablednever had eny thing like this befor it was a privatecompany I have paid the £60 fine but I'm so up set they put up a pictureof the parking in my view I had no option the way two cars were parked can you advise Ms v Mitchell
Ronnie - 22-Jan-18 @ 12:19 PM
What's going on when they a private parking firm put tickets on your car for Parking outside a marked bay over a white line, but it was not impeding any one els in a private car park and you the person live there.
Nice - 4-Jun-16 @ 2:28 PM
The trouble is that I read all this advice about not paying fines and then I have now had to pay triple the amount of the original fine as I have received what appears to be a court summons. I think the motorist is v disadvantaged not knowing the law and how it stands on how much a private parking company should charge. Why is the motorist not given this information or made aware of his rights as to how much he can be charged? The only reason I decided not to go to court was for that reason. I didn't know the law on how much the fine can be and whilst I thought it was ridiculously expensive, I am a teaching assistant and can ill afford to lose. I'm just amazed that the government doesn't give the motorist more information on this, as I think its a criminal act on behalf of parking companies to be allowed to charge ridiculous amounts of money for fines. yet they have all the power having legal experts.. unlike the motorist.
sarahb - 5-May-14 @ 6:43 PM
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