Contravention Code 26 — Parked More Than 50 Centimetres from the Edge of the Carriageway (Double Parking)

Last updated: March 2026

Double parking — leaving your vehicle in the middle of the road rather than against the kerb — is one of the most disruptive parking contraventions. If you have received a code 26 PCN, the charge is at the higher level, but there are specific exemptions and defences worth exploring.

What Does Code 26 Mean?

Contravention code 26 is a higher-level contravention introduced under the Traffic Management Act 2004. It applies when a vehicle is parked with any part of it more than 50 centimetres from the edge of the carriageway (the kerb). In practical terms, this means parking in the middle of the road, alongside another parked vehicle, or away from the kerb edge. The penalty is £70 outside London or £130 in London, with a 50% early-payment discount.

Importantly, code 26 does not require any signs or road markings — it is a blanket prohibition that applies across all roads in areas where civil parking enforcement is in operation.

When Is This Code Issued?

A CEO will issue a code 26 PCN when they observe a vehicle parked more than 50cm from the nearest kerb edge, unless one of the statutory exemptions applies. The CEO will measure or estimate the distance and take photographs showing the vehicle's position relative to the kerb. This code is most commonly issued on narrow residential streets where double parking blocks through-traffic.

Exemptions

The legislation provides specific exemptions from the double-parking prohibition:

• Loading or unloading: A vehicle may stop more than 50cm from the kerb for the purpose of loading or unloading goods, provided the loading is continuous and reasonably necessary. This is the most important exemption.
• Picking up or setting down passengers: Briefly stopping to let passengers in or out is not “parking” and should not attract a PCN.
• Royal Mail vehicles: Postal delivery vehicles are exempt while making deliveries.
• Emergency and utility vehicles: Vehicles being used for emergency purposes, road works, or utility maintenance are exempt.

Common Defences

Active Loading or Unloading

If you were genuinely loading or unloading and can provide evidence (delivery notes, receipts, witness statements), this is a complete defence. The loading must have been continuous — parking and then walking away is not loading. The CEO should have observed the vehicle for a period before concluding no loading was occurring.

Vehicle Was Within 50cm of the Kerb

Challenge the measurement. The CEO must demonstrate that your vehicle was parked more than 50cm from the kerb edge. If the CEO's photographs are unclear, taken from an angle, or do not conclusively show the distance, the evidence may be insufficient. A measuring photograph showing a tape measure or a clearly visible gap beyond 50cm is usually needed.

Vehicle Breakdown

If your vehicle broke down in that position and you could not move it, this is a mitigating circumstance. Provide breakdown recovery receipts, mechanic invoices, or other evidence of the mechanical failure. Councils generally cancel PCNs issued to genuinely broken-down vehicles.

Forced into Position by Road Conditions

If road works, temporary obstructions, or other vehicles left you no choice but to park away from the kerb, this can be raised as a defence. Photograph any obstructions and explain why you could not park closer to the kerb.

What Are Your Chances of Success?

Code 26 appeals are challenging because the contravention does not require signage — it is enforced by distance alone. However, the loading exemption provides a genuine route to success if you have evidence of active loading. Measurement disputes can also succeed if the CEO's evidence is weak. At the Traffic Penalty Tribunal, adjudicators expect clear photographic evidence from the council showing the 50cm distance was exceeded.

Related Guides

• How to Appeal a Council Parking Ticket (PCN)
• Traffic Penalty Tribunal — How It Works
• Contravention Code 27 — Dropped Kerb Obstruction