Contravention code 24: not parked within the bay markings
Updated 23 October 2026 · By the AppealGo team
Short answer
Contravention code 24 is issued when a vehicle is not parked correctly within the markings of a bay or space — straddling a line, overhanging the end, or across two bays. It is a lower-level contravention. The grounds that most often win are that the bay markings were worn, missing or ambiguous, that a neighbouring vehicle forced your position, or that the bay was too short for a normal vehicle. Make representations within 28 days with photographs of the markings, and appeal free to the tribunal if rejected.
| What code 24 means | Not parked correctly within the markings of a bay or space |
|---|---|
| Level | Lower-level contravention: £110 or £90 in London depending on the charging band, and £50 in most of the rest of England (£40 in a few areas). Halved if paid within the discount period. |
| Common cause | Worn, faded or missing bay markings, or a bay shorter than a standard vehicle |
| Challenge | Informal challenge within 14 days (windscreen PCN), or formal representations within 28 days |
| Independent appeal | London Tribunals (London) or the Traffic Penalty Tribunal (rest of England); free |
Code 24 covers a vehicle that is parked within a permitted parking area but not properly inside the markings of a single bay — straddling the line between two bays, overhanging the end of a bay, or sitting across the boundary. It is a lower-level contravention, so the penalty is at the lower level for the area.
These PCNs turn on the state of the markings. If the lines were worn, faded or missing, or the bay was simply too short for an ordinary car, it can be impossible to park 'within the markings', and adjudicators regularly cancel code 24 PCNs on that basis.
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Check my noticeGrounds that beat a code 24 PCN
- The markings were worn, faded or missing. If the lines defining the bay were not clear on the day, the driver cannot be expected to park precisely within them. Photograph the markings from above and at ground level.
- The bay was too short. A bay shorter than a standard vehicle makes a slight overhang unavoidable; that is the council's problem with the marking, not a contravention.
- A neighbouring vehicle forced your position. If the car next to you was itself over the line, you may have had no choice but to sit partly over the adjacent marking.
- No obstruction or danger was caused. Where the vehicle was substantially within a bay and caused no obstruction, the council has a discretion to cancel, especially for a minor overhang.
- The photographs do not show a contravention. The officer's images must actually show the vehicle outside the markings; a tight-cropped photo that hides the lines does not prove the case.
How to appeal a code 24 PCN
- Photograph the bay. Return and photograph the markings and your parking position, ideally showing how worn or short the bay is.
- Challenge in time. Informal challenge within 14 days of a windscreen PCN to keep the discount, or formal representations within 28 days of a Notice to Owner or posted camera PCN.
- Appeal to the tribunal if rejected. London Tribunals for London, the Traffic Penalty Tribunal for the rest of England; both free and decided on the evidence.
Common questions
The bay lines were almost invisible. Can I appeal?
Yes, and it is one of the strongest grounds for code 24. If the markings were so worn or faded that you could not reasonably tell where the bay began and ended, the council cannot fairly say you parked outside them. Photograph the markings and make that your main point.
I parked across two bays because of the car next to me. Is that a defence?
It can be. If the adjacent vehicle was itself over the line, leaving you no room to sit fully within a single bay, explain that and include a photograph. Adjudicators take account of the real conditions in the bay when you parked.
Sources
- Traffic Management Act 2004, Part 6 (civil enforcement)
- Civil Enforcement of Road Traffic Contraventions (Representations and Appeals) (England) Regulations 2022, SI 2022/576
- Civil Enforcement of Road Traffic Contraventions (Approved Devices, Charging Guidelines and General Provisions) (England) Regulations 2022, SI 2022/71
- GOV.UK: challenging a parking ticket
- London Tribunals (Environment and Traffic Adjudicators)
- Traffic Penalty Tribunal
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This guide is general information about UK motoring penalties, not legal advice. Deadlines, amounts and procedures are set by the issuer and the regulations in force, and the notice you were sent is always the authoritative source for your own dates. See our disclaimer.
