Parking tickets
Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) are issued to those we believe have parked in contravention of a parking restriction and as a result of doing so a fine of £70 or £50 is now payable. These fines are reduced by 50% if paid within 14 days of the date of the ticket to £35 or £25.
We are unable to discuss individual parking tickets over the phone or accept appeals submitted by email. If you want to challenge your ticket, use the See and challenge a ticket option below.
Don’t ignore your ticket!
- If you accept your parking ticket has been fairly issued, then you should pay it as soon as possible. If you pay within 14 days of receiving the ticket you will only pay 50% of the fine.
- If you think your ticket has been issued incorrectly or unfairly, submit a written challenge or representations and tell us why. Do not make or send a payment until you receive our reply to your correspondence. Once you have paid the ticket you have accepted liability and closed the case, so you can’t then challenge it.
- If you submit a challenge within 14 days of issue, and your challenge is unsuccessful you will usually be given another 14 days from our reply date to pay at the lower amount.
- If the PCN is not challenged or paid the Council will use DVLA keeper details to send a ‘Notice to Owner’ to the registered keeper of the vehicle.
- You can find out more about challenging a ticket here.
Your PCN number and car registration numbers are needed to use either of the following options. If your PCN has just been issued to you, our online services and payment line number may not recognise your details and advise an error has occurred. This is because your case details have yet to be downloaded from the officers handheld device. Please be patient and try again later or the day after the date issued.
Most informal challenges submitted online will receive an email from our noreply@devoncouncilparking mailbox with our decision typically within 21 days of us receiving it. Please check both your inbox and email junk folders if you are waiting on a decision from us.
Formal representations submitted online or by post decisions will receive our decision typically within 28 days of us receiving them. These are sent out by first class post, unless you instruct us in your representations to notify you of our decision by email.
If you prefer not to use online services you can:
- send a cheque or postal order made payable to Devon County Council, to Parking Services, County Hall, PO Box 811, Exeter EX1 9WA, along with the payment slip at the bottom of the parking ticket
- write to us with your reasons for challenging your PCN and send that to the address shown above.
If parking fines are left unpaid we can pursue the debt through the County Court.
If you have any unpaid tickets that you know you will have difficulty making payment for and have not contacted the Council or responded to letters and notices issued to you by the Council, please seek independent financial guidance via the national debt line services, or citizens advice as soon as you can. We are unable to offer payment plans for parking fines.
If you have been contacted by a bailiff about collecting payment for unpaid parking fines of which you had no previous knowledge, please visit the citizens advice website which advises what you can do to suspend enforcement action. The parking fines will not be cancelled but may be taken back to an earlier appeal or pay stage with the Council.
Zero tolerance – abusive or aggressive behaviour
Civil enforcement officers (CEOs) have a difficult but important job in ensuring the highway is clear and safe for all users. Whilst we appreciate no-body wants a ‘parking ticket’ it is important that our staff are treated with courtesy and respect.
At Devon County Council, we have an Unacceptable Behaviour policy. This means that inappropriate, aggressive or violent behaviour towards our staff will not be tolerated under any circumstances. Our CEOs now wear body cameras for their protection. These devices will be activated if the officer feels that a situation is escalating and that behaviours towards them is no longer acceptable.
Anyone demonstrating these behaviours towards CEOs may be sent a letter advising that this behaviour will not be tolerated. Any future violation of this policy may result in the police being informed.
We understand that you may not like the job CEOs do, however, we feel sure that you will understand that unacceptable behaviour is not the solution. If you have been issued with a fine there is an appeal process and if you have feedback on the conduct or behaviour of a CEO please let us know.
The corporate complaints process should not be used to dispute the issue of a parking ticket. Use the see and challenge a ticket to tell us about the reasons why your parking ticket should be cancelled.
Privacy notice
The personal data you provide on this form will be held by Devon County Council for the purpose(s) of administering your request. The data will be held securely and not kept for longer than necessary. Under the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) 2018 you have the right to ask that your details are removed. More information about how we process your data under GDPR is available in the Parking services privacy notice.