Free Traffic Legal Advice

Hi all,

I'd appreciate some advice on this PCN from the City of London.

I'm an Uber driver and on 5 June I dropped passengers off in Playhouse Yard. The street is very narrow and stopping in the carriageway would have blocked access, so I pulled into the bay with my hazard lights on while the passengers got out.

After the drop-off I briefly left the vehicle.

When I came back to the car, a CEO was already there. I explained what had happened and that I had just completed a drop-off and gone to return forgotten property. I also asked him if he had seen my hazard lights and he said that he had. He nevertheless said a PCN would be issued.

No PCN was placed on the vehicle and I've now received a postal PCN.

I've attached the PCN, the Uber trip details and Street View images of the location.

The council website doesn't show any CEO photos, notes or observation records, which I find odd.

Do you think I have any grounds to challenge this, and should I first ask the council for the CEO notes and photographs?

Many thanks.







https://ibb.co/fd6NrDLz

I was actually surprised when the postal PCN arrived. There was no argument or confrontation. The CEO did not attempt to hand me a PCN or place one on the vehicle. We simply spoke briefly and then went our separate ways.

Thank you @stamfordman.

I certainly did not make any attempt to evade service of a PCN.

As I explained above, when I returned to the vehicle the CEO was already there taking photographs. I explained that I had just completed a drop-off and had only been away from the vehicle for around 30 seconds.

I also asked him if he had seen my hazard lights on, which he confirmed. He said I could have stopped on the yellow line instead. I replied, "Thanks, next time I will know", and that was the extent of the conversation.

There was no argument, no confrontation and no attempt whatsoever to hand me a PCN or place one on the vehicle. I then continued with my work and left.

To be honest, I was quite surprised when the postal PCN arrived.

As far as I can see, the PCN itself only states the date of the alleged contravention (05/06/2026).

I cannot see any field on the PCN stating the time of contravention.

The only time I can find is the timestamp shown on the photograph, For some reason I can't see any photographs at all on the City of London portal, either in Chrome or Safari. How are you able to see the seven photos and their timestamps? Is there a link or section of the portal that I'm missing?

Thank you. I found the evidence tab and can now see the photographs.

There are seven photos in total. One is timestamped 18:26 and the remaining six are timestamped 18:27.

What would you suggest as the next step?

+1.



But I would suggest amending 1 to read:

Procedural impropriety - the PCN is not compliant as it does not state the time of contravention, only the date. The time is a mandatory item under the legislation. If the authority's position is that the time of contravention could be inferred from the photo in the PCN, then this would clearly be untenable because the photo reads 18.26 whereas your website(see snapshot enclosed) states '..time of contravention 18.27'.

The PCN does not comply with the regulations and must be cancelled.

It's an attempt to pre-empt them taking the simple and lazy way out.