You can pay your Penalty Charge Notice in the following ways. If you pay your ticket within 14 days of receiving it we reduce the charge by 50% from £60 to £30.

• By debit or credit card

To pay by debit or credit card please telephone the payment line on 0845 1308900. This line is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days of the year.

• By Cheque

Please make the cheque payable to St Albans City and District Council. Please write your address and the PCN number on the reverse of the cheque. The PCN number is the number near the top of the ticket that starts ‘AB'

• In Person

You can visit the Parking Shop to pay by cash, cheque, credit or debit card. The Parking Shop is located in Drovers Way, St Albans, Herts, AL3 5EB (behind BHS in St. Peter's Street) and is open between 8am and 6pm Monday to Saturday.

You cannot challenge your Penalty Charge Notice (parking ticket) by telephone.

If you want to challenge a Penalty Charge Notice please print and complete the appeal form and send it to The Parking Shop, Drovers Way, St Albans, Herts AL3 5EB.

Typical reasons that are not normally accepted are:

• The parking restrictions are unfair
• You had gone to get change for a pay and display machine
• You had only parked for a few minutes
• There was nowhere else to park
• You were not causing an obstruction
• You were not aware of the parking restrictions

If your challenge is successful, we will cancel the Penalty Charge Notice. If it is rejected, we will allow you 14 days from the date of our reply to pay the reduced charge of £30.

If payment is not received after 28 days, we will send the registered keeper of the vehicle a notice-to-owner (NtO) letter. A notice to owner letter provides a final chance to pay the Penalty Charge Notice or to make a representation. If your representation is successful, we will cancel the Penalty Charge Notice.

National Parking Adjudication Service (NPAS)

If your representation is still rejected, we will send you a Notice of Rejection letter and an appeals form. You can then either pay the full charge or send the completed appeal form to the National Parking Adjudication Service (NPAS), an independent organisation where a lawyer will examine your case. NPAS will not charge you to appeal. The decision made by NPAS is final and binding on both sides.

If you would further information on the National Parking Adjudication Service (NPAS) please see the NPAS website at www.parking-appeals.gov.uk

Parking on a single yellow line

You should always check the parking signs on street for confirmation of regulations as the hours when single yellow lines operate vary.

Parking on a double yellow line

This is not permitted at any time of the day or night, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Double yellow lines show an area where it can be dangerous to park, or where leaving your vehicle can be a hazard to other road users.

Parking in the Pedestrian area in the centre of St Albans

The Market Place area of St Albans is a Pedestrian Zone. In this area you can only park in the marked bays. Parking elsewhere within the zone is prohibited at any time, despite the fact that there are no lines marked on the road.

Parking outside the bay

Parking bays are clearly marked and allow enough room for most cars or vans. If any part of your vehicle is parked outside the bay, you are liable to get a parking ticket. This is because bad parking can be a hazard to other road users and pedestrians, and it can also prevent other drivers from getting a parking space. Please park considerately.

Parking for motorcycles

There are a number of spaces in the centre of St Albans reserved for solo motorcyclists. Do not park a vehicle in a space intended for a motorcycle or you may receive a penalty charge notice.

Pay and Display and Voucher parking

There are a number of pay and display and voucher bays within the St Albans. Follow these simple guidelines to use them properly.

• Depending on where you park, parking is restricted to a maximum stay. Please check the details on the parking sign and also, where applicable, on the pay and display machine.
• Have plenty of change for the pay and display machine before you set out.
• Read the information on the front of the pay and display machine to ensure you are paying the correct amount. Please note that our pay and display machines do not give change and pro-rata amounts are not accepted.
• Leave plenty of time to get back to your vehicle. Parking attendants will not know whether you have been delayed and will issue a Penalty Charge Notice (parking ticket) if you overstay.
• If a pay and display machine is not working park elsewhere.
• Check before leaving your car that your pay and display ticket or voucher is clearly displayed.

Parking for blue badge holders

Parking restrictions are relaxed for blue badge holders, making parking easier for those who are less mobile.

Blue badge holders can park on yellow lines for up to three hours as long as there are no loading restrictions as long as the blue badge and clock are shown correctly.

Blue badge holders can park for free for a maximum of three hours, as long as the blue badge and clock are displayed correctly, in any car park operated by St Albans City and District Council.

If the badge and clock are not displayed correctly, you are likely to get a penalty charge notice

Residents Parking Scheme

A residents' parking scheme operates in St Albans. This means that only drivers with the correct permits can park in certain streets. Please check the operational hours of the zone, which will be shown on a sign in each parking space, before leaving your vehicle.

If you have any queries relating to parking within the City and District of St Albans, please contact The Parking Shop on 0845 601 7803

ALSO:

Civic Centre (rear of Alban Arena) 2

Civic Close (adjacent to Waterend Barn) 6

Updated March 2005