Contravention Code 19 — Parked in a Taxi Rank or Stand

Last updated: March 2026

Taxi ranks are reserved for licensed hackney carriages. If you have received a PCN under code 19 for parking in one, the penalties are significant — but defences do exist, particularly around signage and the nature of your stop.

What Does Code 19 Mean?

Contravention code 19 is a higher-level contravention issued when a non-taxi vehicle is parked in a designated taxi rank or stand during its operating hours. Being higher-level, the penalty is set at the higher band — typically £70 outside London or £130 in London boroughs, reduced by 50% if paid within 14 days. Taxi ranks are marked with road markings and signage indicating the rank and its hours of operation.

When Is This Code Issued?

A Civil Enforcement Officer will issue a code 19 PCN when they observe a vehicle that is not a licensed hackney carriage parked within the marked area of a taxi rank during the rank's operational hours. Many taxi ranks operate 24 hours, but some only apply during specific periods — particularly those near stations, hospitals, or entertainment venues. The CEO must photograph the vehicle within the rank markings and record timestamps.

Common Defences

Outside Operational Hours

Not all taxi ranks operate around the clock. Some are restricted to specific hours, such as evening and nighttime periods near pubs and clubs. If you parked outside the operational hours shown on the signage, the rank was not in force and the PCN should be cancelled. Check the time plates carefully and photograph them.

Inadequate Signage or Markings

Taxi ranks must be properly signed with a compliant sign showing the taxi rank symbol and operating hours, and the road must be marked accordingly. If the signage is missing, obscured by vegetation, or does not comply with the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions (TSRGD), you have a valid ground of appeal. Faded or invisible road markings also weaken the council's case.

Stopping to Pick Up or Set Down Passengers

There is a difference between parking and stopping. If you briefly stopped in a taxi rank to pick up or set down passengers and were present with the vehicle throughout, you may argue that you were not “parked” within the meaning of the contravention. However, this defence is stronger if the stop was genuinely brief (a minute or two) and you can provide evidence such as a witness statement.

Loading or Unloading

Unless there are specific loading restrictions in place, a brief stop to load or unload goods may be permissible even in a taxi rank. This defence is most effective if the loading was continuous, reasonably necessary, and lasted only as long as needed. Delivery notes and receipts support this defence.

Emergency or Vehicle Breakdown

If you stopped in the taxi rank due to a mechanical breakdown or a medical emergency, this constitutes a mitigating circumstance. While not a strict legal defence at tribunal level, councils frequently cancel PCNs when presented with credible evidence of an emergency — such as a breakdown recovery receipt or medical documentation.

What Are Your Chances of Success?

Code 19 appeals can succeed, but they are generally harder to win than lower-level contraventions because taxi ranks tend to be well-signed in busy areas. Your best chances lie in signage defences (particularly for less prominent ranks) and demonstrating that your stop was genuinely brief. If you were parked outside operational hours, the appeal should be straightforward. At the Traffic Penalty Tribunal, adjudicators will require the council to prove the rank was properly designated and signed.

Related Guides

• How to Appeal a Council Parking Ticket (PCN)
• Traffic Penalty Tribunal — How It Works
• Contravention Code 01 — Parked in a Restricted Street