'Drive Away' Penalty Charge Notice (PCN)
What is a 'Drive Away' PCN?
A 'drive away' PCN is a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) that is issued by post rather than:
- being placed on the vehicle
- handed to the driver
It is often referred to as a Regulation 10 PCN. This applies in situations where a Civil Enforcement Officer (CEO) has started issuing a PCN, but the vehicle is driven away before the notice can be placed on the vehicle.
As the ticket could not be placed on the vehicle, we will send the PCN by post to the registered keeper of the vehicle. This makes sure that penalties are not avoided by simply driving away.
How do 'Drive Away' PCNs work?
- a CEO must still observe a vehicle parked illegally
- the CEO must enforce as normal and start the process of issuing a PCN, which includes collecting photographic evidence
- if the vehicle drives away before the PCN can be put on the vehicle, the CEO will record this to be issued as a 'Drive Away' PCN
- we will seek vehicle keeper details from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and then send the PCN by post
Who is responsible for the PCN?
Even if someone else was driving at the time of the offence, the registered owner/keeper of the vehicle (as listed with the DVLA) is legally responsible for:
- paying the PCN, or
- challenging the PCN
For more information on paying or appealing, visit our Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) page.
Why are we issuing PCNs in this way?
Our priority is to improve compliance with parking regulations, which helps to:
- enhance road safety (especially around schools)
- reduce congestion
- improve public transport journey times
Through fair and consistent enforcement, we aim to:
- create a better environment for all road users
- protect our pedestrians