Receiving a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) or Parking Charge Notice is an unpleasant experience, that can sometime leave motorists wondering about the implications they may have on their records. Understandably, people are concerned about whether a parking ticket will have long-term consequences on their criminal record. In this article, we will answer the question does a parking ticket go on your criminal record.
Contents
Understanding Parking Tickets
PCNs are issued by local authorities, the police and Transport for London, and Parking Charge Notices are issued by Private Parking Companies (PPCs). These are usually for violations of the parking rules. These violations may include parking in restricted areas, exceeding time limits, or not displaying a valid parking permit and/or ticket. Parking tickets are considered civil offences rather than criminal offences, which differentiates them from more serious legal transgressions.
Civil Offences vs. Criminal Offences
Parking violations are generally categorised as civil offences. Civil offences are non-criminal offences that do not result in a criminal record. Instead, they typically lead to financial penalties. When you receive a parking ticket, you are usually required to pay a fine within a specified timeframe. Failure to pay the fine within the given period may result in an increased penalty or additional actions taken against you, such as debt collection or court proceedings.
The Role Of Criminal Records
A criminal record is a documented history of a person’s criminal convictions, cautions, warnings, and reprimands. It contains details of more serious criminal offences, such as theft, assault, or drug-related crimes. It is important to note that parking violations, being civil offences, are not typically recorded on criminal records. This means that receiving a parking ticket should not have any direct impact on your criminal record or future criminal background checks.
Exceptions And Serious Offences
While parking tickets do not generally appear on criminal records, it is worth mentioning that some parking-related offences can potentially be treated as criminal offences. This is rare and typically involves cases of extreme or repeated violations that go beyond simple parking infractions. Examples include intentionally obstructing emergency services or wilful damage to property in relation to parking. In such exceptional cases, the offence may be treated as a criminal matter and recorded accordingly.
The Importance Of Paying Parking Fines
Although parking tickets may not go on your criminal record, it is crucial to address them promptly. Ignoring or failing to pay parking fines can lead to further consequences. Local authorities and PPCs can follow various procedural steps to enforce payment, including debt collection agencies, court proceedings, and even immobilisation or removal of your vehicle in extreme cases. It is in your best interest to pay the fine within the given timeframe or follow the appropriate appeals process if you believe you have been unfairly ticketed.
Check out our articles on appealing a parking ticket on private land and good excuses for parking ticket appeals to see if you have grounds for an appeal.
TLDR: Does A Parking Ticket Go On Your Criminal Record?
- Penalty Charge NoticeS (PCNs) are issued by Transport for London, local authorities and the Police. Parking Charge Notices are issued by Private Parking Companies (PPCs);
- Parking tickets are considered civil offences rather than criminal offences;
- Civil offences are non-criminal offences that do not result in a criminal record;
- In rare, sever parking cases that result in offences such as intentional obstruction of an emergency vehicle or damage to property, in relation to parking, it could be treated as a criminal matter;
- It is always ideal to address parking tickets as soon as possible, whether you are going to pay them or appeal them.
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