The junction of Irvine Street and Mount Vernon Road in Edge Hill, Liverpool, has been identified as one of the UK's most fined roads, with 74,708 penalty charge notices (PCNs) issued in 2025/26, generating £908,633 for Liverpool City Council.
Second most fined road in the UK
Data collected by online marketplace NetVoucherCodes from 161 UK local authorities positioned the junction as the second most likely place for motorists to receive a PCN due to illegal driving. Only Corporation Street in Birmingham ranked higher, with 100,985 PCNs issued there in 2025/26. Tottenham Court Road in Camden Town took third place, with 59,329 PCNs generating £4,099,582 for Camden Council due to higher fines.
With over 42 million people now holding a full driving licence, an all-time high according to the Driving Instructors Association, the UK's roads have never been busier. Millions of PCNs are issued across the country every year, generating hundreds of millions of pounds for local councils.
Reasons for fines and council response
In Liverpool, drivers risk picking up a PCN at the junction by driving in the camera-enforced bus lane heading towards the city centre. A Liverpool City Council spokesperson said: "Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) have been issued on Irvine Street over the past year for a range of traffic and parking contraventions. These measures are in place to help keep roads safe, accessible, and moving efficiently for all users."
The spokesperson added: "There are double yellow lines along the road, where parking is prohibited except in a limited number of circumstances. The street also contains resident-only parking bays, which require a valid permit to be displayed. The bus lane is operational at all times, enabling bus services to avoid congestion and maintain reliable journey times. This is monitored using ANPR cameras and motorists who drive in the lane unlawfully will receive a PCN."
PCNs issued by Liverpool Council can be £70 or £50 depending on the offence, and must be paid within 28 days. If paid within 14 days, the fine is reduced by 50% to £35 or £25 respectively.
Challenging and paying PCNs
People can challenge their PCN on several grounds, including if the amount is greater than the fine due, the alleged contravention did not occur, police have already started criminal proceedings, the vehicle owner was not the owner/keeper at the time, the vehicle was a hire car with signed liability, the vehicle was under control of a vehicle trader, the hirer had not signed for PCN liability, or the vehicle was taken without the owner's consent.
Those who fail to challenge or pay may be issued with an order for recovery, a formal court demand sent when an unpaid PCN is registered as a debt. When receiving an order for recovery, you can no longer appeal the charge. You can pay the fine or make a witness statement to the Traffic Enforcement Centre if you did not receive the PCN or notice to owner, made representations but received no response, made an appeal to TPT but received no response, or paid the PCN.
In March this year, it was revealed that more than 85,000 fines had been issued in three years solely due to people illegally driving in bus lanes. Figures obtained through a Freedom of Information request by cinch, the UK's biggest online used car retailer, show Liverpool City Council issued 85,892 bus lane PCNs between January 2023 and December 2025, generating £2,702,374 in revenue. The data also revealed the biggest enforcement hotspot: Ranelagh Street Bus Gate recorded 71,012 PCNs between 2023 and 2025, approximately 82.7% of all PCNs issued during this period.
A Liverpool City Council spokesman said: "Bus lanes on key routes help get passengers around the city more quickly. It’s part of our drive to encourage people out of the car and on to public transport. All money raised is used to pay for enforcement or is reinvested in highways projects."
