Drivers owe thousands of pounds across a popular tourist destination for failing to pay fines relating to breaking pavement parking rules.
Pavement parking came into effect across the Highlands in February 2024, with drivers facing hefty penalties for failing to adhere to the restrictions.
According to a Freedom of Information request, as many as one in four pavement parking fines have gone unpaid in the region since the ban came into force.
Data found that by March 2025, penalty charge notices peaked at £65,800, with only £8,100 being paid in full by drivers, with the council able to recover £43,542.
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Drivers can be fined £100 if caught parking on the pavement
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However, £14,159 remains unpaid by motorists,representing almost £1,200 a month in unpaid parking fines since the authority began enforcing the legislation.
Research stated that 970 parking tickets were handed out to motorists between the start of February 2024 and the end of March 2025.
The pavement parking ban prevents drivers from parking at some dropped kerbs and double-parking, with motorists who break the rules fined £100.
A Highland Council spokesperson told the John O’Groat Journal: "Our parking team lead advises me that the document you are looking at is a working document where the 'net received to date' figure is based on the received amount for the parking charge notices issued that month."
Roughly 1,000 drivers were fined for pavement parking across the Highlands
GETTYThe spokesperson explained that the recovery rate for parking fines is "around 70 per cent of the issue value, which is a similar position to other authorities around Scotland". They added that the council "makes every effort" to recover funds for unpaid Parking Charge Notices.
The FOI detailed how in the first three months of the enforcement period, the local authority issued 353 fines, with many of these being in Inverness.
Councillor Ken Gowans said: "Pavement parking is unsafe, unfair and now illegal. 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, such as people using wheelchairs and buggies or prams without access to dropped kerbs can be forced onto the road, risking their safety."
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He warned that "even if you think you’ve left enough space or won’t be there for long, don’t fall foul of the new law and risk being fined".
Gowans shared: "Our parking enforcement team has provided details on the council website, and I urge all drivers to make themselves familiar with the new regulations. We hope everyone will consider others, and there will be limited need for enforcement."
Last year, more regions in Scotland began enforcing pavement parking bans, with Edinburgh being the first city outside of London to do so in January 2024.
Earlier this year, in January, Glasgow introduced its own pavement parking ban with rules aimed at protecting pedestrians, particularly those using wheelchairs and parents with pushchairs who would be forced to use the roads due to inconsiderate parking.
Drivers can be fined for using the pavement incorrectly and causing an obstructionGETTYSpeaking at the time, Scottish Transport Minister Fiona Hyslop said: "The message here is clear: pavement parking is unsafe, unfair and illegal, and you could be fined up to £100 for it.
"We're highlighting the danger that illegal pavement parking poses to pavement users, and in particular those with mobility issues or visual impairments, or parents pushing prams and buggies."
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