What is double parking and is it illegal?

DOUBLE parking is almost always against the rules, even if you have your hazard lights on and are only gone for a few minutes.

And while it can be frustrating when there are no spaces left, parking more than 50cm from the kerb could land you in trouble.

AlamyParking rules in the UK are often more restrictive and complex than abroad[/caption]

What is double parking?

Double parking means leaving your car next to a row of cars that have already been parked.

It’s “double” parking in the sense that there are two cars between the kerb and the traffic. 

It can be tempting to leave your car parked like this if the parking spaces are particularly busy or if you’re only stopping for a short while. 

But doing so can cause disruption to traffic, as well as obstructing people who have already parked legally. 

It is also against the rules to park more than 50cm from the kerb. 

Cars that are double parked will invariably be more than 50cm from the kerb, and it’s down to local authority guidance on whether this is grounds for a ticket. 

You can also get a ticket for parking across a dropped kerb.

Is double parking illegal?

Double parking falls under decriminalised parking enforcement and as such, it will normally be dealt with by the local authority. 

You will receive a civil penalty charge rather than a police fixed penalty notice, and you won’t get penalty points on your licence. 

Parking more than 50cm from the kerb is the contravention that most councils will use to give double-parked cars a ticket. 

The size of the fine will depend on your location, but will normally vary from £60 to £130.

This penalty will usually be halved if paid within 14 days.

However, if a car is parked dangerously, or in a way that obstructs emergency services, this can be illegal.

You could receive a fixed penalty notice, which is part of the legal system.

If you do not pay, you could be prosecuted, which might result in an even bigger fine.

What should you do if someone has double parked?

You can report parked vehicles to the relevant local authority if they have been left in a way that contravenes regulations. 

This will often be your local council.

Many have online forms for concerned neighbours to use. 

You can also phone the police non-emergency number, 101.

If you think the vehicle is parked so dangerously that it represents an immediate risk to life, you could phone 999.

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