Drivers are being warned of the areas around the UK where they are most at risk of being hit with a parking fine.
New research has found that UK councils issued 46,662 parking fines on average last year, with four London boroughs being named in the top five.
The data revealed the London Borough of Newham Council issued a staggering 257,788 fines, despite having a population of just 358,645.
The Council issued almost 40,000 more fines than any local authority around the UK and was one of two councils to issue more than 200,000 penalty charge notices (PCNs).
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UK councils issued 46,662 parking fines on average last year
PAIf a motorist is hit with a PCN, they could pay as little as £80 (or £40 if paid within 14 days), or as much as £130 (reduced to £65 if paid early) for "higher" offences.
This could include parking in a restricted street during prescribed hours, while "lower" offences could be issued if they return to the car after the expiration of their ticket.
The most common conviction in Newham was parking in a resident’s space without having or clearly displaying a valid permit (78,419), which was also the top conviction in Islington (73,204).
The only non-London council to appear in the list where the most fines are given out is Brighton and Hove City Council, issuing 160,162 fines to its 277,965 residents.
Top five councils that issued the most PCNs in 2023
London Borough of Newham - 257,788
London Borough of Lewisham - 216,673
London Borough of Islington - 190,918
Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea - 184,684
Brighton and Hove City - 160,162
Parking fines are more likely to be handed out in urban areas, where the majority of people will not have available parking outside their homes or apartments.
Data from Uswitch found that only 29 per cent of households in urban areas have access to off-road parking, compared to 39 per cent in the suburbs and 55 per cent in rural areas.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, the non-metropolitan district of Hart District Council in Hampshire issued fines to just three per cent of its population with 3,070 tickets.
Two Hampshire councils appear on the top five list of areas where the fewest number of fines are handed out, as well as two Welsh councils (Flintshire County Council and Torfaen County Borough Council).
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Drivers can be hit with a £130 fine for 'higher' offences
GETTYTop five councils that issued the fewest PCNs in 2023
Hart District Council (Hampshire) - 3,070
Torfaen County Borough Council (Wales) - 3,844
Eastleigh Borough Council(Hampshire) - 4,026
St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council (Merseyside) - 5,004
Flintshire County Council (Wales) - 5,431
