Contravention Code 25 — Parked in a Loading Place or Bay During Restricted Hours Without Loading

Last updated: March 2026

Loading bays are reserved for vehicles actively loading or unloading goods. If you have been ticketed under code 25, the council believes you were using a loading bay without actually loading. But the definition of “loading” is broader than many people think — and enforcement officers must follow specific observation rules.

What Does Code 25 Mean?

Contravention code 25 is a higher-level contravention issued when a vehicle is found parked in a designated loading bay or loading place during restricted hours without evidence of active loading or unloading. Loading bays are marked with white dashed lines and signed with “Loading Only” plates specifying the operating hours and any maximum stay. The penalty is at the higher band — £70 outside London or £130 in London boroughs, reduced by 50% for early payment.

Who Can Use Loading Bays?

Loading bays can be used by any vehicle that is actively loading or unloading goods, not just commercial vehicles. If you are carrying heavy shopping bags to your car, collecting a large item from a shop, or delivering goods, you may legitimately use a loading bay. Some loading bays also have a maximum stay (typically 20 or 40 minutes), which applies even if you are genuinely loading.

Common Defences

You Were Actively Loading or Unloading

If you were genuinely loading or unloading goods when the PCN was issued, this is a complete defence. Loading includes collecting or delivering items that are too heavy or bulky to carry a significant distance. Keep delivery notes, shopping receipts, or any evidence showing what you were loading and when. The loading must be continuous — you cannot park in a loading bay, go shopping for an hour, and then claim you were “loading” when you bring your bags back.

Insufficient Observation Period

CEOs are expected to observe a vehicle in a loading bay for a reasonable period before concluding that no loading is taking place. Department for Transport guidance recommends an observation period during which the CEO watches for loading activity. If the CEO issued the PCN immediately without any observation, or if you were mid-way through loading and the CEO did not wait, this weakens the council's case significantly.

Outside Restricted Hours

Loading bays only operate during the hours shown on the signage. Outside those hours, the bay reverts to normal parking rules (which may mean unrestricted parking or a different restriction). If you were parked outside the loading bay's operating hours, the PCN should not have been issued under code 25.

Signage Deficiencies

The loading bay must be properly marked and signed in accordance with the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions (TSRGD). If the signs are missing, obscured, or non-compliant, the restriction may be unenforceable. Check particularly for the “Loading Only” sign, operating hours, and maximum stay information.

Time Limit Not Exceeded

If the loading bay has a maximum stay of, say, 20 minutes and you were within that limit while loading, the PCN should not have been issued. The CEO's evidence must show that you exceeded the maximum stay or were not loading.

What Are Your Chances of Success?

Code 25 appeals can succeed, especially where you have evidence of genuine loading activity or the CEO did not observe an adequate period before issuing the PCN. Delivery notes, receipts, and photographs of goods being moved are compelling evidence. At the Traffic Penalty Tribunal, adjudicators understand that loading is not instantaneous and will expect the council to demonstrate that the CEO carried out a proper observation before concluding that no loading was taking place.

Related Guides

• How to Appeal a Council Parking Ticket (PCN)
• Traffic Penalty Tribunal — How It Works
• Contravention Code 02 — Loading in a Restricted Street