Contravention Code 24 — Not Parked Correctly Within the Markings of a Bay or Space

Last updated: March 2026

You paid for parking, displayed your ticket, stayed within the time limit — and still got a PCN. Code 24 is issued when your vehicle is not parked fully within the marked lines of a bay. It feels harsh, but there are several effective defences available.

What Does Code 24 Mean?

Contravention code 24 is a lower-level contravention issued when a vehicle is not parked correctly within the markings of a designated parking bay. This typically means one or more wheels, or a significant portion of the vehicle body, extends beyond the white lines of the bay. The penalty is at the lower band — £50 outside London or £80 in London boroughs, halved for early payment within 14 days.

When Is This Code Issued?

A CEO will issue a code 24 PCN when they observe that a vehicle is not wholly contained within a single bay. This can mean the vehicle is parked at an angle, straddling two bays, overhanging the bay lines significantly, or parked with one or more wheels clearly outside the marked area. The CEO must photograph the vehicle in relation to the bay markings to provide evidence of the contravention.

Common Defences

Bay Too Small for the Vehicle

Standard parking bays are designed to accommodate average-sized cars. If you drive a larger vehicle — such as a long estate car, SUV, or van — and the bay was simply too small to contain it, you may have a defence. The question is whether a motorist acting reasonably could have parked within the bay. If the bay dimensions are significantly below recommended minimums (typically 4.8m by 2.4m for on-street bays), this supports your case.

Faded or Invisible Bay Markings

If the bay lines were so faded that you could not see where the bay began and ended, a reasonable motorist would not have been able to park correctly within them. This is a strong defence — photograph the markings (or lack thereof) as soon as possible. If the lines are barely visible, the council has failed in its duty to maintain them.

Forced Out of Position by Other Vehicles

If other vehicles were parked poorly when you arrived, forcing you to park at an angle or partially outside the bay, this can be raised as a mitigating circumstance. While this is not a strict legal defence, councils and tribunals do take into account whether the motorist had any realistic alternative. If you have dashcam footage or photographs showing the state of adjacent bays when you parked, this is valuable evidence.

Minor Overhang Only

Adjudicators apply a test of reasonableness. If the overhang was trivial — for example, a bumper extending a few centimetres beyond the line — and did not obstruct the adjacent bay or cause any practical issue, the tribunal may consider the PCN to be disproportionate. The CEO's photographs should show the extent of the overhang clearly.

Bay Markings Do Not Form a Complete Bay

For code 24 to apply, the bay must be properly marked as a bay with clear delineation. If the markings are incomplete, contradictory, or do not form a recognisable parking space, the contravention cannot stand. Check whether the bay complies with the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions.

What Are Your Chances of Success?

Code 24 appeals succeed at a reasonable rate, particularly where bay markings are faded or the bay is undersized. Adjudicators at the Traffic Penalty Tribunal tend to be pragmatic — if you paid for parking, were broadly within the bay, and caused no obstruction, many will view the PCN as harsh. The strongest cases combine poor markings with evidence that the motorist made a reasonable effort to park correctly.

Related Guides

• How to Appeal a Council Parking Ticket (PCN)
• Traffic Penalty Tribunal — How It Works
• Contravention Code 86 — Not Parked in a Designated Bay