Highland pavement parking fines spike despite falling last year
The pavement parking ban is yet to sink in for some drivers as the number of fines issued from January to July spiked despite falling in the last half of 2024.
Figures have been revealed for the amount of pavement parking fines that have been issued across the Highlands since drivers could be charged in February 2024.
Despite the dangers posed to pedestrians some drivers are continuing to ignore the ban.
In 2025, 493 fines were issued in seven months - which is almost 100 more than the last seven months of 2024 when 406 fines were issued across the Highlands.
Motorists were fined a total of £57,550 in 2024 with the council receiving £40,087, with £7450 cancelled or written off. This year so far, a total of £31,450 in fines was recorded with £21,000 received and £3400 cancelled or written off.
The majority of the fines were in Inverness - 362 were issued last year and already this year 223 motorists have been issued worth fines.
In Wick and Thurso there were 103 fines issued last year and 57 so far this year while in Dingwall there were 42 in 2024 and 29 issued so far. Finally in Nairn there were 15 fines in 2024 with seven issued in 2025 so far.
The number of parking charge notices (PCN) started to decline towards the end of 2024 with just 36 issued in December but the downward trend did not continue.
The figures were published in response to a question raised by Councillor Kate Willis (Fort William and Ardnamurchan, Greens).
In December 2023, the Scottish Government passed responsibility for enforcing pavement parking and other offences from Police Scotland to local authorities, which were given powers to uplift vehicles.
Scotland's Transport Minister Fiona Hyslop, who branded pavement parking unsafe and unfair, said at the time: “This change in legislation is a step towards developing communities that are better able to support active travel, building on the work that is already under way to reduce emissions and helping us meet our world-leading climate change targets.”
Highland Council started to enforce the charges in February 2024, but has since struggled to claim fines from drivers with hundred and sometimes over a thousand pounds worth of charges being written off or cancelled each month.
Chairman of the council’s economy and infrastructure committee, Councillor Ken Gowans, said: “Many people face daily difficulties with pavement parking. It is dangerous and frustrating, especially for those with impairments or limited mobility. It can force people to take unnecessary risks.
"For example, people using wheelchairs and buggies or prams without access to dropped kerbs can be forced onto the road, risking their safety.”