Free Traffic Legal Advice

Hi all!


So, I'm not a local, am autistic using sat nav - took me into a restricted motor vehicle area on a housing estate in Redbridge during prohibited hours. For context, as I know relying on sat nav doesn't stop PCN being issued!

Initial route was Cavendish Road -blocked with a single point restriction. Large road, did a 3 point turn safely and tried to navigate around. There are two signs each side of the road now. https://maps.app.goo.gl/SWeAtDDp8bfNWwGN8

Ended up in Fairview Lawn with another single point restriction and that's where the contravention happened.


It's on a downhill, with no clear warning at an entry T junction of the restriction to allow alternative route, and the small advance no through road warning sign is angled, obscured slightly by a bush and there was that decent late afternoon glare going on.  There were also more vehicles parked on the street as well which also meant the main clear spot is whats seen on the camera.

Not familiar with single point restrictions like this, and wasn't confident I was understanding the timings and instructions properly so did choose to slowly go forward  as was 'stuck' with where I should go instead. With hindsight not the best choice I do understand 

Have dash cam footage, including audio showing that I am audibly confused   as I slowly navigate through the FairLawn Drive signage with the rear view also showing the prohibited entry and I believed I was 'stuck' in a prohibited zone and had already made a breach so tried to navigate out. Also shows the route in with no warnings and the attempt to reroute at the first restriction sign at Cavendish. There's enough to show it was a genuine mistake for a decent mitigation request and I was driving safely etc. 

None of the signs on the estate clearly indicate there are the two restricted areas, only showing one no through on the small warning signs, so you would reasonably end up getting funneled to this restriction if you had entered the estate. Like here where I turned right before hitting the FairLawn T junction at the other end. 

And entry from another road down from where I did (Vernon Road) has a lovely clear sign with the road names and the reason for the prohibited area, which does clearly help prevent drivers from coming onto the estate at all, and would have made it easier for the sat nav to find a compliant reroute.

- From this site (thankyou!) I gather I can ask for mitigation on various factors, as I'm at the initial PCN stage. But none of these so far would stand up to appeal I think if i've understood correctly?

The signs themselves appear compliant, lit, big, at the correct height. And any argument about my confusion/the difficulty managing the navigation change, or no clear advance warning compared to other routes into that restriction etc wouldn't be considered by an adjudicator if I've got it correct?

BUTTTTTTT I love this page and the google sheet! I might have spotted a procedural issue with Redbridge PCN's

my PCN says....

PCN IMAGE

Date of contravention: 27/2/26
Date of notice: 4/3/26
Date of service (as posted?) 6/3/26??


In the big section  DO NOT IGNORE THIS NOTICE

The penalty charge of £160 is now payable and must be paid before the end of the period of 28 days beginning with the date of this notice. If it is paid before the end of the period of 14 days beginning with the date of this notice, the amount is reduced by 50% to £80............If you fail to pay the Penalty Charge or make representations before the end of a period of 28 days beginning with the date of service of this notice an increased charge of £240 may be payable.


Then on the back - MAKING REPRESENTATIONS.

...you may make representations before the end of the period of 28 days beginning with the day on which this notice was served.

Can I make a case here that the PCN is non compliant and not enforceable due to the conflicting dates on the date of notice vs date of service?

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I'll write in with the mitigation and request the discounted rate, particularly as I think i'll be over deadline so will add this under a reasonable adjustment/Equality Act 2010 request.

But I am very curious about the date compliance, also in case it could help anyone else.

I've not looked into PCN's before (luckily!) but I'm a bit of a nerd about compliance in Equality Act and Education Law, so this has actually been quite fun going through the google sheet appeals to understand the application of things.

So either way I wanted to thank those of you who have put this together and work on it all. It's heaven! I just wish I could something similar for Equality Act stuff too!

Thanks in advance!

Ah ok 

I thought that these were applicable. Why would it be the case for these and not this PCN?







Is it because some are different types of PCN etc? Or are these older and there has been a change in legislation since? That would be good to know!

And could you help then with understanding when the deadline to pay is? is it 28 days from the date of the notice or 28 days from the date of service. I am confused!    Thank you!!

Thank you!  so I would have needed to check the London Local Authorities and Transport for London Act 2003?
The Civil Enforcement of Parking Contraventions (England) General Regulations 2007 doesnt apply here? Which is why a discrepency in the payment dates wouldn't nullify this PCN?

I'm guessing I have to contact them to find out if the 28 day deadline is the date of notice or the date or service then? This is the bit thats confusing me because it says the date of payment and representations is based on the date service? but earlier says date of payment is based on date of notice?

If you fail to pay the Penalty Charge or make representations before the end of a period of 28 days beginning with the date of service of this notice an increased charge of £240 may be payable.

Thank you for the help with these questions

Thank you , the  PCN link is here again, but I had added few links in there for the google maps too! Thank you again!