PCN code 02: parked or loading where loading is banned
Code 02 is the stricter cousin of code 01. It applies where there is a loading ban as well as a waiting restriction, shown by short yellow marks on the kerb. The usual loading exemption does not apply, the Blue Badge concession does not apply, and many councils issue it without waiting.
What code 02 means
02: Parked or loading/unloading in a restricted street where waiting and loading/unloading restrictions are in force
Standard wording as published in council code lists: Knowsley Council and Wandsworth Council. Some councils use slightly different wording or add a letter suffix to the code.
Where loading is banned, the kerb (or the edge of the carriageway) carries short yellow marks, sometimes called "blips":
- Two marks mean no loading or unloading at any time.
- One mark means loading is banned at certain times, shown on a nearby plate.
These marks are prescribed in the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016, Schedule 7. The Highway Code (rule 247) says not to load or unload where there are yellow marks on the kerb and upright signs show restrictions are in place. Because the ban covers loading too, code 02 can be issued even while goods are being moved.
How much it costs
| Where | Penalty | If paid within the discount period |
|---|---|---|
| England outside London (council's band 1 or band 2) | £60 or £70 | £30 or £35 |
| London (band A or band B, from 7 April 2025) | £160 or £140 | £80 or £70 |
This is a higher level code. Outside London the bands are set by Schedule 3 to SI 2022/71; London levels are set for all boroughs together. If a charge certificate is issued, the penalty goes up by 50%. The amount printed on your PCN is the one that applies to you: if it does not match the published level for your area, that is itself a ground for representations.
Situations where code 02 is issued
- Making a delivery on a main road or near a junction where loading is banned at peak times.
- Stopping outside a shop to collect a heavy item, not noticing the kerb marks.
- Parking with a Blue Badge on a yellow line where there is also a loading ban.
- Arriving a few minutes before a peak-hour loading ban starts and still being there when it starts.
What is still allowed
The exemptions are in the council's traffic order, and they are narrower than for code 01. Many orders still allow stopping for passengers to board or alight, and stopping where the driver is prevented from moving by circumstances outside their control, such as a breakdown or being directed by a police officer. Loading is not an exemption here, and the Blue Badge three-hour concession does not, in general, apply where a loading ban is in force, unless the council has chosen to allow it.
Grounds and evidence that fit code 02
Because the rule itself is strict, code 02 representations often focus on whether the restriction was properly shown, and whether the right code was used. Useful statutory grounds: the contravention did not occur, the penalty exceeded the amount applicable or procedural impropriety. Evidence that matters:
- Photos of the kerb at the exact spot, showing whether the marks are present, faded or missing. Marks are usually repeated along the kerb, so show the stretch where the vehicle stood.
- Photos of the plate showing the loading ban times, if it is a single mark.
- The officer's photos. If they show only yellow lines and no kerb marks, the vehicle may have been in a waiting restriction (code 01) rather than a loading ban.
- The time on the PCN against the times on the plate.
- Evidence of passengers boarding or alighting, if that is what happened.
Common pitfalls
Do not rely on "I was loading". That is usually the reason the ticket was issued, not an answer to it. Also check the time on the PCN: single-mark bans often apply only at peak times, and the PCN time must fall inside the period shown on the plate. If the restriction was only a waiting restriction, the ticket should have been code 01, which is also higher level, so the penalty may not change, but a wrong description of the contravention is worth pointing out.
Deadlines for this PCN
This code is usually issued by a civil enforcement officer, with the PCN fixed to the vehicle or handed to the driver. The clock runs from the dates on your notices, and post is treated as served on the second working day after posting (SI 2022/71 reg 3).
| Stage | Time limit |
|---|---|
| Discounted payment | 14 days, beginning with the day the PCN was served |
| Informal challenge | Any time before a Notice to Owner; challenging inside the 14 days keeps the discount question open, and councils should consider re-offering it if they reject an early challenge |
| Notice to Owner | Can be sent once 28 days pass without payment, and normally within 6 months (reg 20) |
| Formal representations | 28 days, beginning with the day the Notice to Owner is served |
| Council's decision | 56 days from receiving your representations, or they are treated as accepted (SI 2022/576 reg 6) |
| Appeal to the tribunal | 28 days, beginning with the day the Notice of Rejection is served (reg 7) |
The dates printed on your own notices set your deadlines; where the count is in doubt, work to the earlier date. Our stage-by-stage guide to council PCNs explains each stage, and the one-page PCN deadlines checklist has space to write your own dates.
Questions people ask about code 02
- Can I load on yellow lines with kerb marks?
- Not while the loading ban applies. Two yellow marks on the kerb mean no loading at any time; one mark means no loading at the times on the nearby plate.
- Does a Blue Badge let me park where there is a loading ban?
- In general, no. The Department for Transport's guidance says the yellow-line concession does not generally apply where a loading ban is in force, although a council can choose to allow it. Check your council's rules.
- What if the kerb marks are worn away?
- Photograph the kerb where the vehicle was and along the stretch either side, with a date. If the loading ban was not clearly shown, that can support the ground that the contravention did not occur.
- Why did I get code 02 instead of code 01?
- Code 02 is used where both waiting and loading are restricted. If the officer's photos show no kerb marks, ask the council to explain why code 02 was used.
Related codes: Code 01: yellow lines · Code 25: loading bay · Code 47: bus stop · All contravention codes
Last checked 23 October 2026. Sources: Knowsley Council, Standard PCN codes: on-street; Wandsworth Council, PCN contravention codes (London levels); The Highway Code, rules 238 to 252 (waiting and parking); Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016, Schedule 7; DfT, The Blue Badge scheme: rights and responsibilities in England; SI 2022/71 Schedule 3 (penalty bands outside London); Wandsworth Council, London-wide penalty charge changes from 7 April 2025; SI 2022/71 (General Provisions Regulations 2022); SI 2022/576 reg 5 (grounds for representations); Traffic Penalty Tribunal; London Tribunals. General information about council enforcement in England, not legal advice about your ticket. Wales has its own regulations; Scotland and Northern Ireland have different systems.