Parking enforcement and penalties

Parking enforcement and penalties

Three Rivers Parking Services can be contacted on 0208 207 7422 from 9am to 5.15pm Monday to Thursday or 9am to 5pm on Fridays (excluding bank holidays) or by email at TRDC.Parkingservices@Hertsmere.gov.uk

For any enquiries relating to permits please email TRDC.Permitenquiries@Hertsmere.gov.uk

Additional information

Information on parking permits

Information on parking suspensions and dispensations

Enforcement of dropped kerbs

The Council can issue Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) to drivers who park on the carriageway adjacent to a dropped kerb.

A dropped kerb is one which has been lowered to assist pedestrians crossing the carriageway or vehicles entering or leaving the carriageway.  This enforcement benefits members of the public who have their driveways blocked and ensures that minimum inconvenience is caused to pedestrians, wheelchair and Motability scooter users and those pushing prams and pushchairs on footways.

Residential Driveways

To report the obstruction of a residential driveway which has a dropped kerb, please call Three Rivers Parking Services on 0208 207 7422 quoting your name and address.

The office is open from 9am – 5.15pm Monday to Thursday, and 9am - 5pm on Fridays (excluding Bank Holidays).

A Civil Enforcement Officer (CEO) will then attend the location at their earliest opportunity. In line with legislative requirements, dropped kerb enforcement on residential or commercial driveways, can only be conducted with the express consent of the occupier whose access has been obstructed. The CEO will require the occupier to sign a consent form when they visit the property, before issuing a Penalty Charge Notice. If this permission is not given or if the occupier is not present, then no action will be taken.

Please note that if this permission is not given or if the occupier is not present for any reason, then no action will be taken. Equally, vehicles that are parked close to the dropped kerb but not physically preventing a vehicle from coming or going will not fall under the criteria of the contravention and a penalty will not be issued in such circumstances.

The Parking Service does not have the power to remove vehicles. If you believe a vehicle is causing an obstruction or you find that your driveway is blocked outside of the Parking Service hours then you should contact the Police Non-Emergency line on 101.

Please be advised there are various exceptions to this enforcement and principally they cover:-

• Vehicles parked wholly within a designated parking place or any other part of the carriageway where parking is specifically authorised
• Vehicles used by the fire, ambulance or police services
• Loading and unloading
• Vehicles used for waste collection, building works or road works

Pedestrian Crossing Points

Unlike residential or commercial driveways, the Parking Service can issue Penalty Charge Notices to any vehicle that is obstructing a pedestrian crossing point at any time.

Please note that CEOs are unable to enforce on private roads.

Parking penalties

Penalty charge notices, for both on street and off street car parks owned by the council, are enforced by Hertsmere Borough Council's civil enforcement team. This service is operated in accordance with the Traffic Management Act 2004.

Pay your parking penalty

If you wish to pay the penalty, you can use the automatic payment line to pay by debit or credit card by telephoning 0330 0880997 (24 hours a day/7days a week). Have your vehicle details, debit or credit card details and penalty charge number available.

If you have any other enquiries, you can contact the Parking Service by telephoning 0208 207 7422.  

For any further assistance you can also email us at TRDC.Parkingservices@Hertsmere.gov.uk

Parking penalty appeals

This information applies only to Penalty Charge Notices issued on behalf of Three Rivers District Council. It gives details of how and under what circumstances you can appeal against a parking ticket issued in the Three Rivers district.

Step 1 - Informal Challenge

If you disagree with your parking ticket you are advised to first write, within 28 days of it being issued, to Three Rivers Parking Services, Hertsmere Civic Centre, Elstree Way, Borehamwood, WD6 1WA quoting the Penalty Charge Notice number and giving your full postal address, or use our online service. You should say why you believe you are not liable to pay the penalty and you must give a valid reason.

Typical reasons that are not normally accepted are:

• that the parking restrictions were unfair
• that you had gone to get change for a pay and display machine
• that you had only parked for a few minutes
• that you were not causing an obstruction
• that there was nowhere else to park
• that you were delayed
• that you had a residents permit for another vehicle
• that you were not aware of the parking restrictions

We will respond to your letter, in writing, usually within 14 days of receipt, and inform you whether it has been accepted or not. We cannot deal with appeals over the telephone. Please note, the Council will respond via email where possible.

If your reason is accepted, you will not have to pay the charge.

If your reason is rejected and you have acted quickly following the issue of the ticket, you will usually be given a further 14 days to pay at the discounted rate of £25 or £35, depending on the severity of the contravention. If payment is not made within 14 days, or, if you wish to pursue the formal appeals process, you should be aware that you will lose the opportunity to pay at the discount rate.
Do not pay the penalty if you wish to proceed to stage 2.
NB. If you decide to pay the penalty at the discount rate of £25 or £35, you will not be able to challenge or appeal the penalty further.

Step 2 - Make Representations to the Council

If we do not accept your explanation and you do not pay the penalty charge, you (or the registered keeper of the vehicle, if different) will receive a Notice to Owner saying that there is a further 28 days to pay the full penalty charge (£50 or £70, depending on the severity of the contravention) or giving you the opportunity to make formal representations to the Council.  The notice is issued in accordance with the Traffic Management Act 2004.

You can then write in to the Council to make formal representations against the Penalty Charge Notice on the Notice to Owner, or submit a formal representation using our online service, on the following grounds:

1. The alleged contravention did not occur.
2. The vehicle was owned by someone else at the time of the contravention. You will have to provide proof of the date of sale or purchase.  If the vehicle has been sold, you will need to give the name and address of the buyer so that the Council can contact the new owner.  It is not acceptable to simply say the vehicle was sold to somebody else without proof.  Proof that you have cancelled or changed insurance may help  the Council to decide.
3. The vehicle was taken and parked without your consent.  This does not cover cases such as lending the car to a friend, who then parks illegally or a vehicle, which is parked illegally whilst in the hands of a vehicle repair or service business.  If your car was stolen, the Council will require details of the crime reference number and the name of the police station to which the crime was reported or a letter from an insurance company.
4. The vehicle was hired to someone else at the time under a formal hire agreement. The Council will need to see a copy of the agreement.
5. If the amount shown on the Penalty Charge Notice is incorrect (for instance £50 instead of £70).
6. There has been a procedural impropriety on the part of the enforcement authority, such as failing to follow the correct conditions of the Traffic Management Act.
7. The traffic regulation order was invalid, ie the Council had not followed the proper legal steps in making the order.  If your argument is that the signs or road markings were incorrect you should use ground 1 overleaf (the contravention did not occur).
8. The  penalty has been paid. You will need to supply the relevant proof.

The Council will then carefully consider your representation, including any mitigating circumstances and all relevant facts.  They will refer to computer records and notes made by the parking attendant.  If the Council finds in your favour, you will be informed and the penalty Charge Notice will be cancelled.

Do not ignore your Notice to Owner – this is your last chance to make representations and appeal.  If you receive a Charge Certificate you have lost your right to appeal and the charge will be increased to £75 or £105, depending on the severity of the contravention.

Step 3 - Appeal to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal

If the Council does not find in your favour you will receive a formal Notice of Rejection together with an appeal form.  At this stage you can appeal to the Adjudicator at the independent Traffic Penalty Tribunal.  The address will be given on the appeal form.

The decision of the Adjudicator is binding on the Council and on the motorist.

The Adjudicator is restricted by law to considering appeals on the grounds 1- 8 listed in Step 2.

The Penalty Charge Cancellation Policy can be downloaded below:

Three Rivers Cancellation Policy - Penalty Charge Notices (PDF)