Road Traffic Act 1991

69 Immobilisation of vehicles in parking places. E+W+S

(1) Where, in the case of a stationary vehicle in a designated parking place, a parking attendant has reason to believe that the vehicle has been permitted to remain at rest there in any of the circumstances specified in section 66(2) (a), (b) or (c) of this Act, he or another person acting under his direction may fix an immobilisation device to the vehicle.

(2) On any occasion when an immobilisation device is fixed to a vehicle in accordance with this section, the person fixing the device shall also fix to the vehicle a notice—

(a) indicating that such a device has been fixed to the vehicle and warning that no attempt should be made to drive it or otherwise put it in motion until it has been released from that device;

(b) specifying the steps to be taken in order to secure its release; and

(c) giving such other information as may be prescribed.

(3) A vehicle to which an immobilisation device has been fixed in accordance with this section may only be released from that device by or under the direction of a person authorised by the relevant authority to give such a direction.

(4) Subject to subsection (3) above, a vehicle to which an immobilisation device has been fixed in accordance with this section shall be released from that device on payment in any manner specified in the notice fixed to the vehicle under subsection (2) above of—

(a) the penalty charge payable in respect of the parking; and

(b) such charge in respect of the release as may be required by the relevant authority.

(5) A notice fixed to a vehicle in accordance with this section shall not be removed or interfered with except by or under the authority of—

(a) the owner, or person in charge, of the vehicle; or

(b) the relevant authority.

(6) A person contravening subsection (5) above shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 2 on the standard scale.

(7) Any person who, without being authorised to do so in accordance with this section, removes or attempts to remove an immobilisation device fixed to a vehicle in accordance with this section shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

(8) In this section “relevant authority” means the London authority for the place in which the vehicle in question was found.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 69 applied (with modifications): (20.5.1996) by S.I. 1996/1171, art. 4, Sch. 1 para. 2; (3.2.1997) by S.I. 1996/2650, art. 4, Sch. 2 para. 2

S. 69 applied (with modifications): (3.3.1997) by S.I. 1997/56, art. 5, Sch. 3 para. 2; (29.9.1997) by S.I. 1997/2078, art. 5, Sch. 3 para. 2; (27.10.1997) by S.I. 1997/2304, art. 5, Sch. 1 para. 2

S. 69 applied (with modifications) (5.10.1998) by S.I. 1998/1539, art. 4, Sch. 2 paras. 2-5 (as amended (1.4.2020) by The First-tier Tribunal for Scotland (Transfer of Functions of Parking Adjudicators) Regulations 2020 (S.S.I. 2020/95), reg. 1, sch. 2 para. 21(3) (with sch. 1))

S. 69 applied (with modifications) (19.1.1999) by S.I. 1998/3207, art. 4, Sch. 1 para. 2

S. 69 applied (with modifications): (5.4.1999) by S.I. 1999/131, art. 5, Sch. 2; (5.4.1999) by S.I. 1999/768, art. 5, Sch. 1; (10.5.1999) by S.I. 1999/1112, art. 5, Sch. 1; (S.) (4.10.1999) by S.S.I. 1999/59, art. 4, Sch. 2 (as amended (1.4.2020) by The First-tier Tribunal for Scotland (Transfer of Functions of Parking Adjudicators) Regulations 2020 (S.S.I. 2020/95), reg. 1, sch. 2 para. 20(3) (with sch. 1)); (3.1.2000) by S.I. 1999/3313, art. 5, Sch. 1; (4.1.2000) by S.I. 1999/3314, art. 5, Sch. 1; (10.1.2000) by S.I. 1999/3401, art. 5, Sch. 1; (10.1.2000) by S.I. 1999/3402, art. 5, Sch. 1; (10.1.2000) by S.I. 1999/3403, art. 5, Sch. 1; (10.1.2000) by S.I. 1999/3404, art. 5, Sch. 1; (10.1.2000) by S.I. 1999/3405, art. 5, Sch. 1

S. 69 applied (with modifications): (1.2.2000) by S.I. 2000/8, art. 5, Sch. 2; (1.4.2000) by S.I. 2000/699, art. 5, Sch. 1; (3.4.2000) by S.I. 2000/722, art. 5, Sch. 1; (10.4.2000) by S.I. 2000/791, art. 5, Sch. 1; (1.9.2000) by S.I. 2000/2120, art. 5, Sch. 1; (4.9.2000) by S.I. 2000/2169, art. 5, Sch.; (2.10.2000) by S.I. 2000/2430, art. 5, Sch. 1; (8.10.2000) by S.I. 2000/2534, art. 5, Sch. 1; (30.10.2000) by S.I. 2000/1719, art. 5, Sch. 1; (13.11.2000) by S.I. 2000/2871, art. 5, Sch. 3; (15.1.2001) by S.I. 2000/3317, art. 5, Sch. 1

S. 69 applied (with modifications): (23.1.2001) by S.I. 2001/1, art. 5, Sch. 1; (19.2.2001) by S.I. 2001/180, art. 5, Sch. 1; (1.4.2001) by S.I. 2001/787, art. 5, Sch. 1; (1.4.2001) by S.I. 2001/849, art. 5, Sch. 1; (2.4.2001) by S.I. 2001/894, art. 5, Sch. 1; (1.9.2001) by S.I. 2001/1427, art. 5, Sch. 1; (1.7.2001) by S.I. 2001/1789, art. 5, Sch. 1; (2.7.2001) by S.I. 2001/1855, art. 5, Sch. 1; (2.7.2001) by S.I. 2001/1856, art. 5, Sch. 1; (16.7.2001) by S.I. 2001/2272, art. 5, Sch. 1; (3.9.2001) by S.I. 2001/2818, art. 5, Sch. 1; (3.9.2001) by S.I. 2001/2819, art. 5, Sch. 1; (3.9.2001) by S.I. 2001/2883, art. 5, Sch. 1; (1.10.2001) by S.I. 2001/3058, art. 5, Sch. 1; (1.10.2001) by S.I. 2001/3059, art. 5, Sch. 1; (5.11.2001) by S.I. 2001/3397, art. 5, Sch. 1; (26.11.2001) by S.I. 2001/3565, art. 5, Sch. 1

S. 69 applied (with modifications): (4.2.2002) by S.I. 2002/37, art. 5, Sch. 1; (25.2.2002) by S.I. 2002/126, art. 5, Sch. 1; (4.3.2002) by S.I. 2002/276, art. 5, Sch. 1; (25.3.2002) by S.I. 2002/421, art. 5, Sch. 1; (2.4.2002) by S.I. 2002/422, art. 5, Sch. 1; (5.6.2002) by S.I. 2002/1351, art. 5, Sch. 1; (5.6.2002) by S.I. 2002/1352, art. 5, Sch. 1; (1.7.2002) by S.I. 2002/1353, art. 5, Sch. 1; (1.7.2002) by S.I. 2002/1484, art. 5, Sch. 1; (1.7.2002) by S.I. 2002/1485, art. 5, Sch. 1; (1.7.2002) by S.I. 2002/1486, art. 5, Sch. 1; (1.7.2002) by S.I. 2002/1504, art. 5, Sch. 1; (15.7.2002) by S.I. 2002/1621, art. 5, Sch. 1; (S.) (1.10.2002) by S.S.I. 2002/398, art. 4, Sch. 2 (as amended (1.4.2020) by The First-tier Tribunal for Scotland (Transfer of Functions of Parking Adjudicators) Regulations 2020 (S.S.I. 2020/95), reg. 1, sch. 2 para. 19(3) (with sch. 1)); (1.10.2002) by S.I. 2002/2012, art. 5, Sch. 1; (1.10.2002) by S.I. 2002/2183, art. 5, Sch. 1; (1.10.2002) by S.I. 2002/2184, art. 5, Sch. 1; (1.10.2002) by S.I. 2002/2185, art. 5, Sch. 1; (1.10.2002) by S.I. 2002/2186, art. 5, Sch. 1; (1.10.2002) by S.I. 2002/2187, art. 5, Sch. 1; (14.10.2002) by S.I. 2002/2188, art. 5, Sch. 1; (25.11.2002) by S.I. 2002/2705, art. 5, Sch. 1; (20.1.2003) by S.I. 2002/2520, art. 5, Sch. 1; (3.2.2003) by S.I. 2002/3265, art. 6, Sch. 1; (3.2.2003) by S.I. 2002/3266, art. 5, Sch. 1

C2 Ss. 69-74 applied (with modifications) (17.2.2003) by The Road Traffic (Permitted Parking Area and Special Parking Area) (District of Bath and North East Somerset) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/95), arts. 1, 5, Sch. 1 (with art. 3)

C3 Ss. 69-74 applied (with modifications) (3.3.2003) by The Road Traffic (Permitted Parking Area and Special Parking Area) (County of Dorset) (Borough of Christchurch) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/251), arts. 1, 5, Sch. 1

C4 Ss. 69-74 applied (with modifications) (S.) (3.3.2003) by The Road Traffic (Permitted Parking Area and Special Parking Area) (Aberdeen City Council) Designation Order 2003 (S.S.I. 2003/70), arts. 1, 4, sch. 2 (as amended (1.4.2020) by The First-tier Tribunal for Scotland (Transfer of Functions of Parking Adjudicators) Regulations 2020 (S.S.I. 2020/95), reg. 1, sch. 2 para. 18(3) (with sch. 1))

C5 Ss. 69-74 applied (with modifications) (1.4.2003) by The Road Traffic (Permitted Parking Area and Special Parking Area) (County of Essex) (District of Basildon) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/635), arts. 1, 5, Sch. 1 (with art. 3)

C6 Ss. 69-74 applied (with modifications) (1.4.2003) by The Road Traffic (Permitted Parking Area and Special Parking Area) (County of Essex) (District of Maldon) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/634), arts. 1, 5, Sch. 1 (with art. 3)

C7 Ss. 69-74 applied (with modifications) (21.4.2003) by The Road Traffic (Permitted Parking Area and Special Parking Area) (Borough of Slough) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/898), arts. 1, 5, Sch. 1

C8 Ss. 69-74 applied (with modifications) (2.6.2003) by The Road Traffic (Permitted Parking Area and Special Parking Area) (Borough of Redcar and Cleveland) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/1261), arts. 1, 5, Sch. 1

C9 Ss. 69-74 applied (with modifications) (30.6.2003) by The Road Traffic (Permitted Parking Area and Special Parking Area) (County of Buckinghamshire)(District of Aylesbury Vale) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/1262), arts. 1, 5, Sch. 1

C10 Ss. 69-74 applied (with modifications) (1.9.2003) by The Road Traffic (Permitted Parking Area and Special Parking Area)(Borough of Swindon) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/1924), arts. 1, 5, Sch. 1

C11 Ss. 69-74 applied (with modifications) (1.9.2003) by The Road Traffic (Permitted Parking Area and Special Parking Area) (Borough of Middlesbrough) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/1984), arts. 1, 5, Sch. 1

C12 Ss. 69-74 applied (with modifications) (22.9.2003) by The Road Traffic (Permitted Parking Area and Special Parking Area) (City of Peterborough) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/2153), arts. 1, 5, Sch. 1 (with art. 3)

C13 Ss. 69-74 applied (with modifications) (29.9.2003) by The Road Traffic (Permitted Parking Area and Special Parking Area) (County of Cumbria) (Borough of Copeland) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/2152), arts. 1, 5, Sch. 1 (with art. 3)

C14 Ss. 69-74 applied (with modifications) (6.10.2003) by The Road Traffic (Permitted Parking Area and Special Parking Area) (County of Hertfordshire) (Borough of Dacorum) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/2326), arts. 1, 5, Sch. 1 (with art. 3)

C15 Ss. 69-74 applied (with modifications) (13.10.2003) by The Road Traffic (Permitted Parking Area and Special Parking Area) (County of Cumbria) (Borough of Allerdale) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/2334), arts. 1, 5, Sch. 1 (with art. 3)

C16 Ss. 69-74 applied (with modifications) (20.10.2003) by The Road Traffic (Permitted Parking Area and Special Parking Area) (County of Hampshire) (Borough of Test Valley) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/2336), arts. 1, 5, Sch. 1 (with art. 3)

C17 Ss. 69-74 applied (with modifications) (1.11.2003) by The Road Traffic (Permitted Parking Area and Special Parking Area) (County of Essex) (District of Harlow) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/2440), arts. 1, 5, Sch. 1 (with art. 3)

C18 Ss. 69-74 applied (with modifications) (17.11.2003) by The Road Traffic (Permitted Parking Area and Special Parking Area) (Metropolitan Borough of Wirral) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/2711), arts. 1, 5, Sch. 1

C19 Ss. 69-74 applied (with modifications) (1.2.2004) by The Road Traffic (Permitted Parking Area and Special Parking Area)(County of Carmarthenshire) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/104), arts. 1, 4, Sch. 1

C20 Ss. 69-74 applied (with modifications) (2.2.2004) by The Road Traffic (Permitted Parking Area and Special Parking Area) (County of Bedfordshire) (Districts of Mid-Bedfordshire and South Bedfordshire) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/13), arts. 1, 5, Sch. 1 (with art. 3)

C21 Ss. 69-74 applied (with modifications) (1.4.2004) by The Road Traffic (Permitted Parking Area and Special Parking Area) (Dundee City Council) Designation Order 2004 (S.S.I. 2004/87), arts. 1, 4, sch. 2 (as amended (1.4.2020) by The First-tier Tribunal for Scotland (Transfer of Functions of Parking Adjudicators) Regulations 2020 (S.S.I. 2020/95), reg. 1, sch. 2 para. 17(3) (with sch. 1))

C22 Ss. 69-74 applied (with modifications) (26.4.2004) by The Road Traffic (Permitted Parking Area and Special Parking Area) (County of Surrey) (District of Mole Valley) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/914), arts. 1, 5, Sch. 1 (with art. 3)

C23 Ss. 69-74 applied (with modifications) (1.6.2004) by The Road Traffic (Permitted Parking Area and Special Parking Area) (Metropolitan Borough of Wigan) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/1305), arts. 1, 5, Sch. 1

C24 Ss. 69-74 applied (with modifications) (1.6.2004) by The Road Traffic (Permitted Parking Area and Special Parking Area) (County of Surrey) (Borough of Reigate and Banstead) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/1285), arts. 1, 5, Sch. 1 (with art. 3)

C25 Ss. 69-74 applied (with modifications) (1.6.2004) by The Road Traffic (Permitted Parking Area and Special Parking Area) (County of Surrey) (Borough of Guildford) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/1278), arts. 1, 5, Sch. 1 (with art. 3)

C26 Ss. 69-74 applied (with modifications) (1.7.2004) by The Road Traffic (Permitted Parking Area and Special Parking Area) (County of Denbighshire) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/1608), arts. 1, 5, Sch. 1 (with art. 3)

C27 Ss. 69-74 applied (with modifications) (4.7.2004 for specified purposes) by The Road Traffic (Permitted Parking Area and Special Parking Area) (Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/1402), arts. 1, 5, Sch. 1 paras. 2-5

C28 Ss. 69-74 applied (with modifications) (6.9.2004) by The Road Traffic (Permitted Parking Area and Special Parking Area) (County of Lancashire) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/2028), arts. 1, 5, Sch. 2 (with art. 3)

C29 Ss. 69-74 applied (with modifications) (20.9.2004) by The Road Traffic (Permitted Parking Area and Special Parking Area) (County of East Sussex) (District of Lewes) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/2111), arts. 1, 5, Sch. 1

Commencement Information

I1 S. 69 wholly in force at 10.4.1998; s. 69 not in force at Royal Assent see s. 84(1); s. 69 in force for specified areas: at 5.7.1993 by S.I. 1993/1461 art. 3; at 10.9.1993 by S.I. 1993/2229, art. 2(d); at 6.12.1993 by S.I. 1993/2803, art. 2(d); at 31.1.1994 by S.I. 1993/3238, art. 2(d) (as amended (18.1.1994) by S.I. 1994/81, art. 2); at 5.4.1994 by S.I. 1994/81, art. 3(d); at 4.7.1994 by S.I. 1994/1482, art. 2(d), Sch.; and at 10.4.1998 to the extent not already in force by S.I. 1998/967, arts. 1(2), 2(2)(c)