Free Traffic Legal Advice

Hi all,

PCN MT02275729
Vehicle GJ22 GYY
London Borough of Merton (Raymond Road, SW19) - https://maps.app.goo.gl/jQ1tVZ8C7NTwB7YC9
Wednesday 3 December 2025

Had a bit of a strange situation, I was hoping for some input/guidance. Last Wednesday (3 Dec) I drove to the local library for a Christmas event with my 18-month-old. Parked in a nearby side-street at around 5.30pm, paid for an hour's parking on Ringgo. It was dark already by this point. We went to the event at the library then returned to the car at maybe 6.15-6.20pm and drove home.

Thought nothing more of it until yesterday (7 Dec) when I went back out in the car noticed a soggy white thing on the windscreen. Went out to investigate and it was the ruined remnants of a PCN. Strange that I wouldn't have noticed it on the drive home (but it's possible as it would've been pitch-black and I was occupied with my young daughter), but also strange that I wouldn't have noticed it on any of the subsequent days until yesterday.

Anyway as I say the slip is ruined (see picture) but I was able to make out the PCN number enough to look it up on the Merton website. Few questions:

1. Are they not required to put the PCN inside one of those yellow plastic packet things to keep it dry? Doesn't seem like that was the case here, from what I can gather he's just put the piece of paper on the windscreen. If it was in a bright yellow packet I'd probably have noticed it sooner, and of course it wouldn't have been ruined by the rain

2. I notice that none of the 4 photos uploaded by the CEO show the full numberplate of the car. Is this a grounds on which it may be cancelled?

3. The Merton Portal shows Contravention Date/Time as 03/12/2025 18:46:13 which is wrong, I had returned to the car and left by around 6.15-6.20pm. Could this be a grounds on which it could be cancelled? The timestamps on the CEO photos show 5.58pm which sounds more correct.

4. And then in terms of the actual alleged contravention itself, I must confess somewhat embarrassingly I wasn't even aware that it was an offence to park outside of the marked segregation lines. Normally I just pull up towards the car in front to minimise wasted space and maximise the chances of someone else being able to park in behind me, which is what I did in this case - pulled up close to the white car in front, which took me over the segregation line visible in the photos. Is this enough to merit a charge?

Yes that's what I thought, is there any requirement written down anywhere that they're meant to enclose it in protective plastic? I am 99% sure they can't have done in this case, as when I noticed it it was just a piece of wet paper stuck to the windscreen and there was no plastic to be seen.

Yes, car is owned by me and logbook address is correct.

I managed to unfold the PCN using a hairdryer and some tweezers, I feel like a curator in a museum handling delicate historical documents.

It appears to show "Observed at 17:58" yet "Date of contravention: 03/12/2025 18:12", and then on the council website a different timestamp altogether (18:46:13). Based on my phone's GPS history I think I got back to the car around 18:27 or 18:28.

Is it worth submitting a challenge now based on:
a) the PCN being effectively unreadable
b) the timestamps not matching up
c) numberplate not being visible in the photos?

Thanks, what about something like this?

Merton Parking Services
Merton Civic Centre
London Road
Morden
SM4 5DX

Re: Informal Challenge to PCN MT02275729 – Vehicle GJ22 GYY

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to challenge the above PCN issued on 03/12/2025 for contravention code 24 ("Not Parked Correctly Within The Markings Of The Bay Or Space") at Raymond Road, Wimbledon SW19. I request the PCN be cancelled on the following grounds.

1.   Procedural Impropriety: Inaccurate Contravention Time
The PCN contains conflicting timestamps, rendering it defective:
o   CEO photos: 17:58–17:59
o   Printed PCN: 18:12.
o   Merton Portal: Contravention at 18:46:13. I departed the bay at approximately 18:25–18:30 (after a library event with my 18-month-old child), so the vehicle was not present at 18:46. This error means the alleged contravention did not occur at the stated time, breaching the requirement for accurate details under the Traffic Management Act 2004, Schedule 1. The PCN should be cancelled due to this procedural flaw.

2.   Valid Payment Made – No Underlying Contravention
I paid for 1 hour via RingGo app upon arrival (~17:30), covering the stay (receipt attached). The bay was compliant with payment rules; the minor positioning (slight forward pull to allow rear space for others) caused no obstruction (see CEO photos—no impact on adjacent white vehicle). This is a de minimis issue, not warranting enforcement.

3.   Defective Service of PCN
The PCN was discovered on 07/12/2025 in a ruined, soggy state (photos attached), despite rain on 03/12 evening (Met Office forecast: heavy showers post-17:00). While not fully illegible, this delayed my challenge and questions proper service. I request discretion here, given the family circumstances (young child, dark conditions).

In light of these errors and my compliance, I ask that the PCN be withdrawn. I am happy to provide further details.

Yours sincerely,
[name]