Repeat Parking Offenders Face Vehicle Removal Under New Southampton Plan

Southampton City Council is preparing to step up action against motorists who repeatedly break parking rules, following a successful trial of a tougher enforcement scheme earlier this month. The full programme will launch in January 2026.

On Wednesday 3 December, the council’s Parking team carried out a trial operation in which five vehicles with multiple outstanding penalty charge notices (PCNs) were removed. According to the council, a small number of drivers have been consistently ignoring PCNs, creating both safety risks and reduced parking availability.

During the trial, officers targeted illegally parked vehicles with significant unpaid fines, removing them from pay-and-display bays and other restricted areas. The council said this both freed up legitimate parking spaces for compliant drivers and eliminated hazards caused by obstructive or unsafe parking.

Under the new scheme, the Parking team will be able to tow vehicles parked in contravention of the rules on highways or footways. Once a PCN has been issued, the vehicle can be removed and held until the owner pays a tow-away fee, the PCN, and a contribution toward their outstanding debt.

Councillor Christie Lambert, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Transport, said the move was necessary to deal with the small number of motorists who repeatedly ignore the law.

“The reality is that the small minority of drivers who consistently ignore the rules have created a real problem for everyone else. It is unfair to the residents who regularly follow the law to see persistent offenders causing delays or compromising safety without consequence.”

She added that traditional enforcement measures were no longer proving effective for some offenders.

“It has become increasingly clear that standard notices are not enough of a deterrent for some, so we are tightening our approach to ensure these rules are actually respected. Our priority is to keep Southampton’s traffic moving and our streets safe, and we need to be firm with those who repeatedly undermine those goals.”

The council is urging anyone with outstanding PCN debt to contact them on 023 8083 3008 to arrange a payment plan and avoid having their vehicle towed.