Traffic Management Act 2004 permits Highways Authorities to apply to the Secretary of State to become a Special Enforcement Area (SEA). Once the SEA application is approved, the power to enforce parking, loading and waiting restrictions, passes from the police to the Highway Authority. Parking offences are no longer classified as a criminal offence. The Highway Authority (Hampshire County Council) has authorised Havant Borough Council to undertake the enforcement on its behalf.
As a result of constraints on police budgets, Hampshire Constabulary stated that its primary concern is crime and criminal investigations, and that lesser attention is given to parking enforcement. All income from Police-issued parking fines passes to central government, rather than back to the Police. Under DPE, the County Council retains the income from fines and is used to fund the enforcement programme, with any surplus being used to help fund local transport initiatives.
Havant Borough Council (as Hampshire County Council's Agent) undertakes parking enforcement and employs staff directly to do this.
There are several Council run "Pay and Display" Car Parks throughout the Borough which continue to operate as previously. On-street parking continues to be available in existing locations - no new restrictions were introduced specifically for the advent of DPE. However, single and double yellow lines, and permitted spaces throughout the Borough, are now being patrolled more effectively than before, so where abuse of restrictions occurs the increased enforcement regime will see this stopped. Privately run car parks, including those belonging to large supermarkets, are also available in many areas and are exempt from the DPE arrangements.
We can send out maps detailing where all the Borough Car Parks are, and the hourly charges. Alternatively, you can visit the Civic Offices for advice. Information is also available on this web site.
The Traffic Management Act requires us to have differential penalties. This means that the more serious contraventions carry a higher penalty than the less serious ones. For further details of the contraventions and the relevant charges please follow this link>>
Payment should be made to Havant Borough Council within 28 days of the date in which the PCN was issued. If payment is made with in 14 days of the PCN being issued a 50% discount will apply. Payment can be made by the following means:
By Telephone - Payments can be made using a Debit or Credit Card by calling our Payments Line on 0845 130 4466. Please have card details, PCN and Vehicle Registration Number available when you call. This Payments Line is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year (not all Debit/ Credit Cards are accepted).
By Internet - use our online service at to pay at a time which suits you >>
By Post - Payment made by post should be sent to the following address:
Havant Borough Council Parking Office Public Service Plaza Civic Centre Road Havant Hampshire PO9 2AX
You need to enclose the PCN along with a cheque or postal order made payable to Havant Borough Council, with the Notice number and your address on the reverse of the cheque. A receipt will only be issued if a stamped self-addressed envelope is supplied.
In Person - visit our helpful Customer Services staff at the Civic Offices in Havant who will take your payment in cash or by cheque.
We accept Visa, Switch, Solo, Master Card and Delta.
Our Telephone Payments Line (0845 130 4466) is available 24 hours a day, every day, and of course so is our internet payment service >>. No other payment facilities are available at weekends.
No. It would not be in your best interests to do so, as you would then not be eligible for the 50% discount for payment within 14 days.
Yes, giving your card details over the telephone or internet is perfectly safe; we use a secure system, which does not retain any information subsequent to the closure of the transaction.
Non-payment of parking tickets will be treated as a civil debt and recovered through a bailiff. You have the right of making a Representation to an independent adjudicator if you wish to challenge the PCN.
Payment must be made within 56 days of the date on which the PCN was issued. If, however, payment is made within 14 days then a 50% discount will be applicable.
If you wish to challenge the PCN you need to do so in writing, sending any information to the following address:
You can also use the online Informal Challenge Form available on this site >>.
There are two stages in challenging the issue of a PCN - an informal Challenge during the first 28 days after issue, and a formal Representation thereafter.
Any correspondence received within the initial 28 day period (as an informal Challenge) will be condsidered by an officer separate from the issuing of PCN's will consider the representation, in line with our policy. If received in the first 14 days (during which the discounted rate applies) we will extend the discount period whilst we consider the Challenge. If the Challenge is accepted, the PCN will be cancelled and a letter sent to the motorist. If more evidence or details are needed, a letter requesting the information within 14 days will be sent to the motorist (if no information is received within 14 days, the challenge will be rejected).
If the Challenge is rejected, we will send a letter clearly explaining the reason, and enclosing an Notice to Owner (NtO). A formal Representation may then be made using the Form attached to the NtO, but only on the limited, standard grounds of representation explained in the NtO. If the NtO is not completed, the motorist loses any further right to dispute the PCN.
If we reject a Representation, the person then has the right to make an Appeal to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal, which provides an independent, fair and nationally consistent appeal service, normally heard at an independent local venue.
On average it will take 1-2 months to prepare the evidence but the case is actually heard as one of a number at a single sitting of approximately 1-2 hours.
If any appeal is made against the PCN within 28 days of the PCN being issued then it is put on hold until the informal representation is reviewed. Once a Charge Certificate has been issued (on or shortly after 56 days from date of PCN issue if no payment has been received or no valid Challenge or Representation has been made), payment due will be increased by a further 50%.
It goes towards offsetting the costs of running the operation. Any surpluses generated must be used to fund local transport related projects.
If you have any issues regarding your PCN you need to appeal against this is writing. Send any information to the following address:
For the past few years, limited resources have meant that the Police can only give a low priority to enforcing yellow lines. Because the Borough Council receives numerous complaints about illegal or inconsiderate parking, we consider it a far higher priority and can take action using the increased resources available through the ParkSafe scheme.
We can only enforce the existing yellow lines as they appear on the ground. Obstruction of the highway will still come under the Police.
Not unless the waiting restriction allows you to load or unload.
The driver committing the infringement should make payment. However, should the PCN remain unpaid, then the Council will pursue payment from the registered keeper of the vehicle.