Parking and Traffic Fine Rates to Be Increased

Cross-London rise will see higher level penalties at £160

The new charges come into effect on 7 April

March 17, 2025

Ealing Council has announced that it will be making an across-the-board increase to parking and traffic penalty charges of £30 as of Monday 7 April.

The move, which is also taking place in the other 32 local authorities in London, was enabled by a decision of the Transport and Environment Committee of the Greater London Assembly. It is the first review of the level of fines borough have allowed to charge for 15 years. The last time the level in Ealing was raised was in 2011.

In the official notice of the change the council says, “Prices are increasing to make sure penalty charge notices (PCN) remain effective deterrents and properly incentivise drivers to drive and park safely.”

Parking offences are put into two categories with ‘higher’ level offences such as parking on yellow lines or causing an obstruction receiving higher fines whereas ‘lower’ level offences such as staying beyond a period of parking for which you have paid for incur a reduced charge.

The increase also includes Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) for moving traffic violations such as entering a bus lane, a road where access restrictions apply or incorrect use of a yellow junction box.

Like most London boroughs Ealing is a Band A borough which means that the charge for PCNs will increase from £130 to £160, while lower-level penalties will increase from £80 to £110. The same rates apply in Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham.

These fines are discounted by 50% if you pay within 14 days from when the PCN is issued.

The cost to get a clamp removed in all Band A boroughs will rise from £70 to £100, and the cost to release your vehicle from a car pound rises from £200 to £280 with a £55 daily storage fee..

The money raised by PCNs cannot go into general funds and must be reinvested in traffic and transport schemes. Much of the fine income goes towards paying for the Freedom Pass.