Free Traffic Legal Advice

Hello,

First time posting and wish to ask for help with a PCN received at 13:09h on May 10th near Mill Hill Broadway NW7. I did not receive the PCN on the day as presumably the ticket blew away as it was only loosely left on the dash, and received a NtO yesterday, so the PCN is now £160, dated June 11th.

Car stopped for about 10 minutes on double yellow on Sunday around 1pm to collect sushi order from around corner on The Broadway.

PCN: AG93110103
Reg: OY53JCV
Contravention Date: 10/05/2026,13:08:57
Contravention: 01 - Parked in a restricted street during prescribed hours

I only use the car for school runs and unfamiliar with this area and I was not previously aware that double yellow lines were in effect on a Sunday, particularly since the car was stopped 2 meters from a “Controlled Zone” sign declaring restrictions in effect “Mon–Sat 8am–6:30pm”, which I interpreted to mean Sundays were unrestricted. Further, other cars were parked up the road (as pictured) so I mistakenly thought it was okay to park.

[Streetview location NW7]

[Hartley Avenue NW7 streetview.pdf]

[LB Barnet PCN NtO.pdf]

[LB Barnet PCN photo evidence.pdf]

I have learned my lesson for future, and understand the only grounds for appeal are i) loading / unloading of heavy goods; ii) picking up/dropping off passengers, however I wonder if LB Barnet would be open to an appeal based on forgiveness given the “Controlled Zone” signage is slightly confusing? The sushi order receipt corroborates the timing of a quick takeaway pick up from the high street.

Or are there other technical grounds I may challenge this PCN?

Many thanks in advance for your kind guidance.

Kind regards,

loading / unloading of heavy goods

IMO, not correct. The use of a vehicle must be necessary for the, as in this case, collection of the goods. Presumably the food was hot, but was it pre-ordered or was it simply a walk-in, order, pay, take-away scenario? Were you parked as close as you could in the circumstances?

A time of contravention of 13.09 and your note 'Invoice 13.18' suggests that you were stationary for more than 10 minutes.

In any reps, make it clear that the PCN was not on the car when you returned which, considering this was no more than X minutes after its issue, suggests that it was not affixed securely in the first instance. (to take in this point made by stamfordman).

Weight and size are not the determinative criteria, these relate to whether a vehicle was necessary. The food was pre-ordered and hot; a vehicle was necessary to ensure that it was still hot when placed on the table at home, is the best I can find.

Wait for others. 

OP, may I return to this pl:

'and received a NtO yesterday, so the PCN is now £160, [NTO] dated June 11th.'

Yesterday was Sun. 20th. Something's amiss here.

Are you the registered keeper?

All clear, so why did it take until 20 June ('yesterday') for you to receive a notice presumed served on Mon. 15th is my question and concern. This procedure is regulated by strict timetables and any delays in post could be problematic.

Are you the registered keeper?

Like you, I like to get my ducks lined up.

Your post dated 21 June stated 'yesterday I received the NTO'. Hence my concern.

Similarly, the NTO is deemed served on 15th unless you can prove it was 16th. This means that the 28-day period ends on 12 July, not 9th.