Drivers Face £1,000 Fines for Parking on Their Own Driveways in England

Drivers in England are facing hefty fines for parking on their own driveways under a new rule that has been slammed as “insane.”

According to GB News presenter Martin Daubney, Southampton City Council — run by the Labour Party — has warned residents they could be fined up to £1,000 for parking on their own property. Daubney criticised the decision as “council insanity,” saying: “Charging people a grand to park on their own driveway — this takes the biscuit.”

A Conservative councillor in Southampton also condemned the policy, calling it “a huge amount” and warning that the threat of legal action is causing “unnecessary stress and grief,” particularly for elderly, disabled, and vulnerable residents. The councillor added that, despite issuing threats, the council has never actually collected the £1,000 fine.

Daubney questioned the logic behind the rule, calling it “the definition of insanity,” and pointed out a conflict of interest since Balfour Beatty, the private company subcontracted by the council to manage roads, also installs the drop curbs affected by the policy.

Councillor Daniel Baillie described the situation as “complete madness,” noting that some residents have been parking on the same driveways for decades without issue.

In response, a Southampton City Council spokesperson defended the rule, citing Section 184 of the Highways Act 1980, which allows authorities to penalize anyone driving over a public footpath to access private property without proper authorization. The rule, they explained, exists because footways aren’t built to handle vehicle weight, and fines help cover the cost of repairs when damage occurs.

The council clarified that this is not a new policy, but an existing legal enforcement under UK highway regulations.