Parking Fines

'Parking Fines' is the commonly used name for Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs).

Rochford District Council is no longer responsible for enforcing on-street parking regulations (yellow lines, commuter parking etc). Any queries or enforcement issues that relate to parking on roads, pavement or grass verges, should be directed to the South Essex Parking Partnership on 01245 606710 or email parking@chelmsford.gov.uk

How to avoid receiving a Penalty Charge Notice

Check the times when parking is allowed
Park fully within the markings of the bay
Do not park without making payment at the nearest available pay and display machine. If the one closest to your car is showing out of order, then please use another machine in the car park
Do not leave your vehicle to go and get change for the pay and display machine
Check that your pay and display ticket shows the expiry time before leaving your vehicle
Do not leave more than one ticket on display always remove expired ones
Check that your ticket, permit or badge is properly displayed before you leave your vehicle
Do not come back to your vehicle and insert additional coins into the pay and display machine if this is not permitted (Short Stay Car Parks)
Before parking on a single yellow line, check the time plate allows you to do this
Do not park on double yellow lines anytime day or night
Do not park on a taxi rank
Do not park in a disabled persons bay without a blue badge
Do not park in a loading bay without loading or unloading
Do not load or unload during restricted times

What do I do if I receive a PCN?

You should pay it by one of the following methods:

Credit/Debit Cards: Accepted by telephone on 0207 138 1976 or online - click on the link at the bottom of this page.

By Post: Cheques and Postal Orders should be made payable to Rochford District Council – enclose the Penalty Charge Notice with payment. If a receipt is required a stamped addressed envelope should be enclosed. Please send to:

Rochford District Council
Council Offices
South Street
Rochford
Essex
SS4 1BW

In Person: Payment can be made by cash or cheque using the 'handitills' situated at The Council Offices, South Street, Rochford and at the Civic Suite, 2 Hockley Road, Rayleigh between 8.30am and 5.00pm.

If you receive a PCN please do not argue with the Civil Enforcement Officer (CEO) as the PCN has been issued based on the facts as seen by the CEO at the time of issue. You may request that your comments are recorded by the CEO in their handheld computer but the CEO has no authority or power to cancel or 'tear up' the PCN.

Important

Please do not ignore your PCN
Do not ignore any letters from us
If you write to us always state the number of the PCN and your full postal address on all correspondence
You can challenge your PCN

Appeals Process

You can challenge a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) if you think it should not have been issued or there are special reasons why it should be cancelled. There is no charge for submitting a parking appeal. There are three stages to the appeal process:

1. Informal Challenge

2. Formal Representation

3. Traffic Penalty Tribunal

Informal challenge

If you have received a Penalty Charge Notice that you think should not have been issued, you must write to us within 14 days. You can make an online informal challenge to the PCN or write to the address on the reverse of the PCN to explain the reasons for your appeal. Please do not telephone, as oral challenges are not acceptable under the legislation.

If payment has not been received within 28 days following the issue of a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN), Rochford District Council may serve a 'Notice to Owner' (NTO) on the person who appears to be the owner of the vehicle at the time when the parking contravention occurred.

It is presumed that the owner was the person in whose name the vehicle was at that time held by the DVLA. as registered keeper and in nearly all cases this is the person or organisation who will be served in the first instance with a NTO.

The Notice to Owner (NTO) details the statutory representation grounds allowed under the Traffic Management Act 2004. Rochford District Council will also consider representations on the basis of mitigation or extenuating circumstances.

If Rochford District Council rejects a representation, it will serve upon the NTO recipient a formal 'Notice of Rejection'. This Notice will give the reason for rejection and will have included a form that may be used to make an appeal to the independent parking adjudicator (The Traffic Penalty Tribunal). Any such appeal must be made within 28 days of service by the Council of a 'Notice of Rejection'.

The Traffic Penalty Tribunal is a tribunal that provides the motorist with an opportunity to appeal to an independent body against a Penalty Charge Notice. An adjudicator will consider the appeal and make a decision that is binding on both parties.

There is no cost in making an appeal and the appellant may opt for his appeal to be considered at a personal hearing where an attendance may be made OR for a decision to be made following consideration of evidence supplied by both parties by post.