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Trial for increased parking fines and penalty charge notices (PCN)

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We are trialling higher parking fines and penalty charge notices (PCN).

The trial aims to test if higher fines will reduce illegal, dangerous or inconsiderate parking along the seafront during the summer.  

How to provide us with feedback about the trial

You can provide feedback about the trial by completing our online form.

You will need to provide us with your:

  • email address
  • postcode (you do not need to live in Bournemouth, Christchurch or Poole) 

When and where the trial will take place

The trial will run from 00:01am (one minute past midnight) on 1 August 2025 to 11:59pm on 31 August 2025.

The trial will only affect roads from Sandbanks to Southbourne along the seafront.

You can view our interactive map to see which roads are affected.

Why we are doing this trial

This trial is about making Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole safer and easier to access for everyone (including all motorists).

We do not want to put people at risk by irresponsible and illegal parking. Some parking has blocked access for emergency service vehicles and put lives at risk.

Income from on-street PCNs is used to support work on the highway such as to reduce and prevent congestion.

Current and trial fines and charges

The current fines for a penalty charge notice (PCN) are: 

  • £50 for lower tariff offences (reduced to £25 if paid within 14 days)
  • £70 for higher tariff parking offences (reduced to £35 if paid within 14 days) 

During the trial, these fines will increase to: 

  • £110 for lower tariff offences (reduced to £55 if paid within 14 days) 
  • £160 for higher tariff offences (reduced to £80 if paid within 14 days) 

If you do not pay a PCN within 28 days

If you do not pay a PCN within 28 days, you’ll get a ‘charge certificate’ and you’ll have 14 days to pay the original fine plus 50% more, for example:

  • £75 for lower tariff offences
  • £165 for higher tariff parking offences

During the trial, these fines will increase to: 

  • £165 for lower tariff offences
  • £240 for higher tariff parking offences

If you do not pay your fine within 42 days

14 days after the 'charge certificate' has been issued and if the PCN has not been paid in full, a debt registration fee is applied, this will be:

  • £85 for lower tariff offences
  • £175 for higher tariff offences

During the trial, these fines will increase to: 

  • £175 for lower tariff offences
  • £250 for higher tariff parking offences

If your car gets impounded

The current fines for towaways are:  

  • £105 for release from car pound 
  • £12 for storage fee (per day) 
  • £50 for disposal fee 

During the trial, these fines will increase to:

  • £100 for release from wheel clamp
  • £280 for release from car pound 
  • £55 for storage fee (per day) 
  • £100 for disposal fee

Higher and lower tariff offences

Higher tariff offences are when someone parks where they are not allowed to, for example on double yellow lines.

Lower tariff offences are when someone parks at a legal place but stays too long or parks outside of the marked bays.

You can view contravention codes for higher and lower tariff offences.  

What happens next

Following the trial, the Department for Transport will review:

  • results, such as the number of fines issued
  • feedback we've received

They will then decide on the next steps. 

Parking in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

We have over 150 separate place to park, including car parks and on-street parking.

Even at our busiest this year there have been parking spaces available at our car parks. As a condition of this trial, the Department for Transport is satisfied there are enough spaces to legally park.

You can find a car park or on-street parking online, as well as:

  • charges
  • restrictions
  • opening times

You can also:

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