About Penalty Charge Notices

In Lambeth Penalty Charge Notices (PCN) are issued either on street by our Civil Enforcement Officers (CEOs), or by CCTV camera. CCTV PCNs can be issued for both parking and traffic contraventions, including for driving in a bus lane.

PCNs issued on the street by a Civil Enforcement Officer (CEO)

PCNs can be issued by CEOs for a number of reasons including parking in a residents bay without a valid permit, double parking or for overstaying in a pay and display bay. When parking your vehicle you should ensure you park within the regulations. On-street PCNs can either be placed on your vehicle or handed to the person who appears to be the driver.

When a PCN is issued by a CEO on the street you have 28 days in which to pay the charge. If you pay the PCN within 14 days a discount of 50% will apply to the charge. If you believe the PCN should be cancelled you must write to us. If you write to us within 14 days and your request is denied, you will be allowed a further 14 days to pay at the discount rate.

PCNs issued by CCTV

CCTV cameras help our Parking Services team to enforce both parking and traffic contraventions. This is one of the many measures that help to reduce congestion and pollution, as well as improving the reliability and punctuality of public transport.

CCTV enforcement uses fixed cameras and mobile units. You can take a look at the locations of the static cameras and their hours of operation. You can also see the location of the fixed cameras on the CCTV camera map.

Unless stated otherwise, these cameras monitor both bus lane and parking contraventions. The mobile units are clearly marked 'Lambeth CCTV' and are used to enforce both moving traffic and parking contraventions.

With the mobile units we can monitor areas where drivers are not adhering to the restrictions. This leads to an increase in awareness and as a result better traffic flow throughout the borough.

CCTV PCNs are issued by post. When a Parking PCN is captured by CCTV and posted to you, you have 28 days in which to pay the charge. If you pay the penalty charge within 21 days a discount of 50% will apply to the charge. If you believe the PCN should be cancelled you must write to us. If you write to us within 21 days and your request is denied you will be allowed a further 21 days to pay at the discount rate.

Bus Lane PCNs

We can issue PCNs by post to the owner/registered keeper of any vehicle seen either driving or stopping in a bus lane. Bus lane contraventions are enforced by CCTV. There will be signs and road markings indicating when the bus lane is in operation.

When a PCN is issued for a bus lane contravention you have 28 days in which to pay the charge. If you pay the PCN within 14 days a discount of 50% will apply to the charge. If you believe the PCN should be cancelled you must write to us. If you write to us within 14 days and your request is denied you will be allowed a further 14 days to pay at the discount rate.

Moving traffic PCNs

Along with several other London authorities, Lambeth enforces moving traffic contraventions on our roads. Moving traffic contraventions are issued for ignoring road signs that are part of the Highway Code, including entering box junctions when prohibited, entering a one way street, or not following road signs such as no right turn. Moving traffic contraventions are enforced by CCTV. More information regarding these signs can be found on the parking and Parking and Traffic Appeals Services website.

When you receive a moving traffic PCN captured by CCTV, you have 28 days in which to pay the charge. If you pay the penalty charge within 14 days a discount of 50% will apply to the charge. If you believe the PCN should be cancelled you must write to us. If you write to us within 14 days and your request is denied you will be allowed a further 14 days to pay at the discount rate.

Code of practice for operation of CCTV enforcement cameras in Lambeth

Lambeth Parking Services has a CCTV code of practice which sets out the objectives of the system and the rules by which it will be operated. In essence it applies to the use of the CCTV systems for the purposes of enforcing parking and traffic regulations only.

This code of practice is designed to operate within the framework of the relevant pieces of legislation and to complement the Statutory and Operational Guidance produced by the Department for Transport (DFT).

This code will be regularly reviewed by each of the London local authorities operating CCTV.

To find out more information, download the Lambeth CCTV enforcement code of practice.

Viewing CCTV footage and images

If you receive a PCN in Lambeth, you can view the footage and still photos. More details can be found at: Appealing against a Penalty Charge Notice.

Appealing a PCN

There is an informal and formal procedure for challenging a PCN. More details can be found at: Appealing against a Penalty Charge Notice.