Free Traffic Legal Advice

Hi,

Last week I had an appointment on Hounslow High Street in the London Borough of Hounslow - an area I haven't frequented before and a borough I am not particularly familiar with. I was looking for the multi story car park and during this process accidentally turned into a confusing no-through side road that leads to the high street. After turning in, I drove towards the end of the side road but did not actually enter the restricted area (the area beyond the red stop sign), but instead did a quick U-turn so I could leave the side road and find the car park entry. To be clear, I entered the road and drove towards the end (before the stop sign) where I did the u-turn.

At this point (after u-turning), for a period of around 30 seconds my car stalled and wouldn't restart despite me trying a few times. Just as I got the engine revving again, I saw an enforcement officer approaching from a distance of like 30 metres (towards the front of the car) holding a camera pointed at the front of my car shouting something.

Before he reached my car, I had started moving the car in his direction (to leave the side road) and as I was driving past him (with my window down) he was shouting "why are you parking there for?". As I was driving past him, I informed him that I hadn't parked but just did a U turn. During our conversation, he tried to print a ticket (I assume to put on my windshield) but as there were no cars in front of me and I thought he was being unreasonable, I didn't wait around and just drove off. I heard him shouting that he'd send the PCN to my house.

Now I've received the PCN from the London Borough of Hounslow and it states the following grounds:

"02, Parked or loading / unloading in a restricted street where waiting and loading / unloading restrictions are in force"

It states that the enforcement officer observed the vehicle in question from 11:47 to 11:47. And there are two images attached showing my car.

My question is: do I have any grounds for an appeal? He observed me for less than a minute.

I haven't got a council ticket in years so I am keen to take advantage of the reduced rate but only if I have no real grounds for appeal.

Foor meaningful advice please to have a read of
https://www.ftla.uk/civil-penalty-charge-notices-(councils-tfl-and-so-on)/read-this-first-before-posting-your-case!-this-section-is-for-council-tfl-dartme/

and post up here all sides of the PCN, redacting only your name & address, and a GSV link to the location.

The Google Street View link (the start of Douglas road - where the alleged contravention happened):

https://maps.app.goo.gl/HdLwQo9RyeiGS9v39


The pages of the PCN itself:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/18nakPNhXCQbLl0j5lyz9nLC-VgRAIXmL?usp=sharing

(Sorry I know I redacted more than my name and address, just noticed your ask above, let me know if you require a reupload)

Quote

(Sorry I know I redacted more than my name and address, just noticed your ask above, let me know if you require a reupload)

Please - just blank your own name and address.

Please see the below:

https://ibb.co/cDvgZhB

I noticed that the letter says 10:46 to 10:46 but the image at the bottom shows 10:45 to 10:45.. not sure if noteworthy but just pointing out.

+1.

Knowingly drove in, turned round, waited for your passenger(in local hostelry/lives adjacent) then saw CEO, realised you'd have to leave and drove away.*

Given the objective facts and that you drove away - which would be a debit mark in the adjudicator's mind IMO- I'd not like to put any money on the outcome - take it as read that without any additional evidence the authority would reject your reps.

*- but given that boarding is an exemption if you had pre-arranged to collect someone from the location and perhaps got there early with no-one there then the correct drill would be to leave and return and keep doing this until they appeared. But this isn't your account.