Contravention code 61 · On-street

PCN Code 61: A heavy commercial vehicle wholly or partly parked on a footway, verge or land between two carriageways

This is the official national contravention code printed on your notice. Here's what it means, and whether there's a common ground worth checking.

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Not a law firm. General information about the code itself, not legal advice about your case — upload your own notice for facts that actually apply to you.

What this code means

“A heavy commercial vehicle wholly or partly parked on a footway, verge or land between two carriageways”

Code 61 is an on-street contravention from London Councils' national PATROL contravention code list, the standard list used on council and TfL penalty notices across England and Wales, not just London.

Councils set two penalty bands, higher and lower, and this contravention is usually charged at the higher band — the exact amount still varies by authority, so check the figure printed on your own notice.

Is there a common way to challenge this?

It depends on the facts of your case

Code 61 doesn't point to one obvious ground the way some codes do — the right one (signage, a procedural error by the council, incorrect notice details, or simply that the contravention didn't happen) depends on what actually happened where you parked, not on the code by itself.

Check your notice and pick your ground

Other on-street codes

Code 62

Parked with one or more wheels on or over a footpath or any part of a road other than a carriageway

Code 63

Parked with engine running where prohibited

Code 64

Parked in contravention of a notice prohibiting leaving vehicles on a grass verge, garden, lawn or green maintained by a local authority

Code 65

Parked in contravention of a notice prohibiting leaving vehicles on land laid out as a public garden or used for the purpose of public recreation

Not sure which code applies to you? See the full list.

Official source for this code

London Councils' national PCN Contravention Code List (PATROL), the standard reference used on penalty notices across England and Wales.

Last reviewed: 30 August 2026

GOV.UK PATROL

OverturnFine is an independent document-preparation service. It is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice, and it is not affiliated with any council, TfL, or UK government body.

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