Parents Are Getting Parking Fines for School Drop-Offs — How to Avoid a £130 Ticket

School drop-offs shouldn't cost you £130 — but for many parents across England, they increasingly do. With rising congestion, air pollution, and road safety concerns during peak hours, councils from Cardiff to Surrey, Hackney, and Manchester have introduced School Streets: timed vehicle restrictions outside school gates designed to protect children. While the aims are well-intentioned, many drivers — often unaware of these new rules — are getting hit with parking tickets they didn’t see coming.

But here's the good news: many of these fines can be successfully appealed.

🚦 What Are School Streets — And How Do They Work?

School Streets are vehicle restriction zones operating during school start/end times — usually via a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO). They’re enforced by:

• ANPR cameras

• Council enforcement officers

Only certain vehicles are exempt:

• Residents

• Blue Badge holders

• Emergency vehicles

• SEND pupil drop-offs (with proof)

Violating School Street restrictions leads to PCNs. Even being in the zone for under a minute can trigger a fine if your vehicle isn’t exempt.

These schemes are now active across England in areas like:

• Camden

• Surrey

• Margate

• Bristol

• Nottingham

• Manchester

• Leeds

• Islington

• Southwark

💡 Tip: School Streets usually have clear signs at entry points. If those were missing, you may have grounds to appeal.

🧠 What’s the Point of School Streets?

School Streets are not designed to punish — they exist to protect. During term-time mornings and afternoons, these schemes temporarily restrict traffic to create a safer environment for children walking, scooting, or cycling to school.

🎯 Why They Exist:

• To reduce accidents outside schools

• To improve air quality at peak drop-off times

• To tackle traffic congestion in residential areas

• To encourage healthier school runs

Data from Hackney and Westminster shows increases in walking/cycling and decreases in emissions where School Streets have been introduced.

But here’s the issue: many drivers aren’t informed or prepared. That’s why so many get caught out.

🛑 Common Mistakes That Lead to School Parking Fines

• Assuming short stops are allowed on zig-zags

• Ignoring new School Street signage

• Parking in CPZ zones without checking the times

• Forgetting to display a Blue Badge or permit

• Relying on hearsay or doing what other drivers are doing

• Not realising new restrictions are camera-enforced

⚖️ Legitimate Grounds to Appeal a School Drop-Off Fine

You may be able to cancel your PCN if:

1. 🔍 Inadequate or Misleading Signage

If the School Street or restriction signs were:

• Blocked or obscured

• Non-standard or unclear

• Not visible before entering the area

You have a strong case.

2. 📅 New or Experimental Schemes Without Proper Notice

Some School Streets are introduced using Experimental TROs (ETROs). If your council:

• Didn’t notify local residents or schools

• Installed signs late or with errors

You could argue the restriction wasn’t enforceable.

3. 🎥 Camera Enforcement Was Not Compliant

If enforcement relied on:

• Unauthorised or incorrectly placed ANPR cameras

• Failure to issue a 6-month warning notice during new enforcement periods

...the PCN may be invalid.

4. ♿ Blue Badge or SEND Exemption Not Considered

If you have a Blue Badge or were transporting a child with special needs and:

• Didn’t know about exemption rules

• Applied but weren’t registered in time

• Had no opportunity to register due to poor communication

You can appeal under the Equality Act 2010.

5. 🏠 Access Rights or Lease Agreements

If you were accessing property you have a legal right to (e.g. shared driveways or leasehold parking), School Streets may not override those rights.

⏱️ What If I Was Just There for 2 Minutes?

This is one of the most common situations — and one of the most controversial.

• 🚫 Zig-zags: No stopping, even for a few seconds.

• ⚠️ School Streets: Most do not allow entry at all during set times, even briefly.

• ✅ Permitted areas: If legally parked, councils must allow a 10-minute grace period after expiry.

• 🚗 Didn’t leave the car? Some councils interpret this as "not parking" — but it's a grey area.

✍️ How to Appeal a School Parking Fine

You can (and should) appeal if:

• The signage wasn’t clear or visible

• You were attending an emergency or had a valid exemption (e.g. SEND pupil)

• You didn’t actually park (just stopped briefly)

• The fine was issued in error (wrong vehicle, location, or duplicate)

What to include:

• 📸 Photos of signage (or lack of)

• 🧾 Payment proof or exemption documents

• 🧍‍♂️ Witness statements

• 📑 Medical/emergency evidence

🖥️ How to Appeal a Council Fine:

1. Visit the appeal website listed on your PCN

2. Enter your PCN number and vehicle registration

3. Upload your evidence and explanation

4. Keep a copy for your records

If rejected, you can escalate it to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal.

Got a School Parking Fine? Resolvo Will Fight Back for You

You don’t need to stress over what to write in your appeal, Resolvo will do the hard work for you.

• Tell Resolvo what happened: Just describe your situation in plain English — no legal jargon.

• Upload your ticket (optional): You can snap a photo of your PCN, and Resolvo will pull out the key details automatically.

• Get a winning appeal letter: Resolvo uses artificial intelligence. (AI) and is trained on the latest parking legislation to create structured and personalised appeal — tailored to your situation.

Use Resolvo for your appeal

FAQ: School Drop-Off Fines in the UK

1. Can I stop on zig-zags to drop off my child? No — not even briefly.

2. What if I didn’t see the School Street sign? Lack of clear signage is a valid ground for appeal. Take a photo if possible.

3. Are School Street PCNs enforceable? Yes. They're backed by TROs and enforced like other council traffic violations.

4. What if I stayed in the car? Depends on local policy. If you didn’t park or exit, some councils may consider it mitigating.

5. What if I have a Blue Badge? You may be exempt — but you’ll need to apply in advance or submit proof during appeal.

6. What if my child has special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)? You may qualify for an exemption. If denied unfairly, appeal with medical or school documents.

7. What if I got fined on private school property? You may be dealing with a private parking operator — you can still appeal via Resolvo.

Final Word: Know Your Rights and Fight Back

Dropping off your child at school shouldn’t feel like a trap. School Streets and other schemes aim to make things safer — but mistakes happen, and not all fines are fair.

If you've received a fine and feel it was unjustified, challenge it confidently.

Let Resolvo help you write your appeal in minutes — for free.