Parking fines have long been a source of frustration—and sometimes confusion—for motorists across the United Kingdom. But in recent months, two high-profile cases in Worthing and Liverpool have thrown a spotlight on the challenges drivers face when unclear signage and shifting regulations collide, leaving many to wonder: who is truly at fault when the rules aren’t obvious?
On September 12, 2025, Olivia Keen, a 34-year-old mother of two living with chronic fatigue syndrome (also known as ME), parked her car in Western Place, Worthing. The bay where she left her vehicle was marked with the word “disabled” on the road, suggesting it was reserved for blue badge holders like herself. Yet, days later, a £35 penalty charge notice landed on her doorstep, warning that the fine would double to £70 if not paid within two weeks. She was stunned. “The burden of proof can’t be on the person parking, who is just going to see the word ‘disabled’ on the road,” Keen told BBC Sussex.
Her confusion was compounded by the council’s shifting explanations. At first, Worthing Borough Council insisted the bay was no longer a disabled space, claiming the “disabled” marking had been blacked out. Then, they argued it was a dual permit bay, requiring both a resident permit and a blue badge. But, as Keen pointed out, “there was no signage. I don’t know how anyone can deduce that it wasn’t a disabled bay [if you were parking there].”
Undeterred, Keen appealed the fine. The council rejected her argument, but she pressed on, taking her case to the government’s parking adjudicator. In a ruling reported on October 29, 2025, the adjudicator sided with Keen, stating her “misunderstanding about the signage and the restriction in force was understandable” due to the road markings. The adjudicator went further, noting that “the carriageway markings are sufficiently clear for Miss Keen to have believed she had parked in a disabled bay.” Without a sign indicating a restriction for disabled badge holders, it was reasonable to think that a sign was simply missing, rather than that the bay was merely advisory and not legally enforceable.
In England, there’s a crucial distinction: advisory disabled bays—often just road markings—are a courtesy, not a right. Anyone can park in them, and they aren’t legally enforceable unless accompanied by a sign reading “disabled badge holders only.” According to BBC Sussex, Keen is now calling for clearer signage on all advisory disabled bays: “I want them to address this bay so this doesn’t happen again.”
Responsibility for the confusion appears to be split. West Sussex County Council (WSCC) oversees signage and bay markings, while Worthing Borough Council handles enforcement. A WSCC spokesperson told the BBC that their parking strategy team would need to “examine the circumstances of this particular case as well as assess the site in question before we are able to comment any further or decide whether any future action is required.”
Worthing Borough Council, for its part, ultimately accepted the adjudicator’s decision. “The motorist in this case parked in a resident-only controlled parking zone without a valid permit. Signage next to the bays is clear that this is a resident parking-only area,” a spokesperson explained to BBC Sussex. “On this occasion a Traffic Penalty Tribunal Adjudicator has ruled that the motorist made a genuine error in parking in a restricted bay so has directed us to cancel her penalty charge notice, which we have done.”
Meanwhile, over 200 miles away in Liverpool, another parking dispute was playing out—this time with a distinctly modern twist. Zoë Bread, a masked social media campaigner known for her viral TikTok videos, found herself at the center of controversy after receiving a penalty charge notice at 21:28 on August 12, 2025, on Bixteth Street. The city had recently changed its parking rules: as of July, paid parking hours extended from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., ending the long-standing practice of free parking after 6 p.m. This new policy, according to BBC North West, was pushed through despite nearly 90% of local consultation respondents opposing the change.
Bread’s appeal centered on what she described as a “lack of clear, visible signage” and the confusion created by “long-standing prior practice.” Her TikTok videos captured not just her own bewilderment, but also that of parking wardens, some of whom appeared unclear about when the new rules had taken effect. “It’s just kind of funny, because it puts them in a spot where they sort of have to cancel everyone’s [fines]—that’s how I see it,” Bread told the BBC. “They just need to cancel all the tickets and put a sign up that says: ‘New hours in force’ on every road.”
Her campaign didn’t stop there. A freedom of information request revealed that thousands of similar fines had been issued in Liverpool city centre since the rule change. Bread’s activism echoed her earlier battle with Manchester City Council, where she successfully challenged “confusing” pay-and-display signage, resulting in her fine—and others—being quashed after the council admitted the signage “could be clearer.”
In Liverpool, Bread’s appeal was initially successful. Her fine was rescinded on a discretionary basis, and she saw this as an admission of fault. “The council’s acceptance of my appeal felt like they’ve just co-signed everything I’ve been saying,” she told BBC North West.
But the story didn’t end there. On October 29, 2025, Liverpool City Council issued a statement clarifying that the cancellation of Bread’s fine “was issued incorrectly” and “does not set a precedent” for other motorists. “Having reviewed the case in question, we have found that the PCN was cancelled on a discretionary basis. In this case, the decision did not follow the expected process and was issued incorrectly,” a spokesperson explained. Staff were instructed not to make similar discretionary cancellations going forward. The council emphasized, “It is the responsibility of all motorists to ensure that they are following local parking regulations when they park their vehicle. Liverpool City Council provides clear information on payment machines for on-street parking. The information is also available on the council’s website.”
For many drivers, these stories highlight a persistent problem: when signage is unclear, or rules change with little notice, the odds seem stacked against the average motorist. Both Keen and Bread argue that clearer, more prominent signage could prevent confusion—and fines—before they happen. As local authorities across the UK grapple with balancing enforcement, public understanding, and revenue, these recent cases may serve as a wake-up call: clarity on the curbside is more than just good manners—it’s essential for fairness.
For now, the streets of Worthing and Liverpool remain battlegrounds for signage, enforcement, and the everyday drivers caught in the middle.
