Pavement Parking Fines to be Enforced in Scotland

Parking your vehicle on the kerb in Scotland now runs you the risk of receiving a £100 parking fine on the spot. This is to be enforced from 11th December 2023 onwards.

Motorists parking with their wheels on the pavement in Scotland face potential fines of £100 following the implementation of new rules under the Transport (Scotland) Act today.

The updated legislation designates pavement parking, double parking, and parking at lowered kerbs as punishable offences by local councils, with fines set at £100, reduced to £50 if settled within 14 days.

Certain exceptions might be granted by local authorities, such as for emergency vehicle access, but these regulations span across Scotland.

The Scottish government asserts that these rule changes will particularly benefit pedestrians using prams or facing mobility challenges or visual impairments.

It might also impact car ownership in urban areas if drivers discover their usual parking spots are no longer permissible, potentially leading them to relinquish those spots.

Scottish Minister for Transport Fiona Hyslop emphasised,

"We’re highlighting the danger that illegal pavement parking poses to pedestrians, especially those with mobility challenges, visual impairments, or parents with prams."

"Scotland leads as the first nation to outlaw pavement parking countrywide. This legislative change is a stride towards fostering communities that better support active travel, building upon existing efforts to reduce emissions and meet ambitious climate change targets."

Outside Scotland, parking on the kerb is presently prohibited solely in London, with the Highway Code advising against the practice elsewhere without explicit legislation.

Consequently, drivers may only face fines if police perceive their parking as obstructive, often resulting in limited attention to problematic parkers due to policing priorities, a situation residents often find unfair.

The UK Parliament launched an inquiry into pavement parking in 2020, spurred by sustained advocacy from environmental and disability advocacy groups.

Simon Williams, RAC head of policy, anticipates close scrutiny from MPs and officials to assess public response to the new Scottish measures, saying,

"We hope councils focus on educating drivers rather than immediately issuing fines. While England deliberates over similar measures following a 2020 consultation, our research with drivers opposes an outright ban. Instead, we advocate granting local authorities enforcement powers to manage unnecessary pavement obstruction."

Williams suggested this approach would be cost-effective for taxpayers, sparing English councils from the expenses of extensive road assessments, exemption determinations, and installation of new signs and markings.