Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan has approved a £30 increase in parking fines across London to deter “anti-social and obstructive parking.” The capital’s 33 boroughs requested the hike, citing a surge in pavement parking complaints and rising enforcement costs. Under the new structure, higher-level fines in Band A areas (inner London and town centers) will rise from £130 to £160, while Band B fines will increase from £110 to £140. Lower-level penalties, such as those for overstaying in bays, will climb from £80 to £110 in Band A and from £60 to £90 in Band B. Bus lane and moving traffic offences will also see penalties increase to £160, aligning with Transport for London fines. A 50% discount for early payment within 14 days remains.

The decision follows a London Councils consultation, where 50% of respondents expressed concerns about dangerous parking, particularly on pavements. However, nearly half of the 1,600 respondents opposed the increase, citing financial strain. London Councils argued that the rising cost of enforcement justifies the hike, noting that penalty charge notices (PCNs) have grown from 4 million in 2010 to 8.3 million in 2023/24. While critics claim the fines are a revenue-generating tool, London Councils emphasized that net earnings are reinvested in public transport, including the £350 million Freedom Pass scheme for older and disabled residents.

If approved by Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander, this will mark the first government-sanctioned increase in London parking fines since 2010. Some boroughs, including Brent and Hounslow, have moved to Band A status to impose higher fines due to persistent noncompliance. A report to the mayor highlighted that councils continue to face rising complaints about illegal parking. Despite calls from some Liberal Democrat and Conservative councillors to raise the highest fines to £180, a consensus among boroughs settled on the £160 maximum. The increased fines will also raise the cost of wheel clamp removals from £70 to £100 and vehicle impound fees from £200 to £280.