Free Traffic Legal Advice

• I received a moving traffic PCN (code 52M) in London (ANPR camera) — full charge £160 (discounted rate £80 if paid early).
• The incident date was 22 June 2025.
• Date of notice: 9th July 2025
• I submitted an online formal appeal / representation to the council on 10 July 2025.
• According to the London Local Authorities & TfL Act 2003, the council must respond to representations within 56 days, or the representations are deemed accepted.
• Their reply (a rejection) arrived 16th October 2025, this is more than 56‑days after my appeal.
• They say I must still pay.

• Does the council’s late reply automatically void the PCN / mean they must cancel it?
      In other words, can I rely entirely on the 56‑day rule and say “too late, case closed”?
• Has anyone here had a similar case where a council replied after 56 days and a tribunal (or the council) accepted the defence?
• Are there counterarguments the council might use (e.g. claim the appeal was informal, or that “moving traffic” rules differ)?
• If the council resists, is the best route to escalate to the London Tribunals — or simply send a demand letter citing the missed deadline?
• Any tips on wording or precedent to quote in my next response?
• Or, at this point, should I simply pay?

Hello
Your case looks pretty much open and shut to me which is unusual, and going by the book they should have cancelled the PCN, however... the legislation obviously doesn't tell you what to do when the council don't do what they should do.

"If they have accepted the representations or failed to respond within 56 days, they will cancel the Notice to Owner (where the Penalty Charge Notice was served at the scene) or the Penalty Charge Notice (where this was served by post) and refund any sums paid."

I would say that yes you can reply on the 56 day rule - there IS a limit (I'd guess because memory fades) and the council have missed the limit.
I'm not aware of similar circumstances, but they WILL exist.
The council may well try to use counter-arguments, but they won't hold water.
I'm unsure what to do if the council resists - how are you going to contact them? Can you email?
Re wording, simply quote the 2003 legislation above, and always talk about the PCN as already have being cancelled on account of the legislation. At this stage it's probably not worth saying you're won't be paying or telling them you will go the whole distance - others may disagree on this. If you hear back from them again re-iterate that on account of their actions the PCN is cancelled and tell them you will not pay and that you realise they may take you to adjudication in which case you will bill them for the time you've spent on your case in the entirely foreseeable event that the adjudicators side with the defendant.

For what it's worth, I had several PCNs cancelled by LBHF as the CEO ticketed the wrong end of a closed section of pay and display. Ironically he could've ticketed everyone on the opposite end. Not so ironically people who were correctly parked likely paid. Also, the one time I've decided to let things run to court because I believed I was right, the council (Bromley) folded prior to the court date without me saying anything different to what I said in my original defence.

You've been lucky though - your defence wasn't good, but it shows a value in always challenging a PCN.

The 56 day time limit is for replying to representations made against parking PCNs at NTO/postal PCN stage.

For moving traffic, London Tribunals may consider 3 months as an unofficial limit but it's not regulation.

Quote from: user4269 on October 18, 2025, 12:20:20 am

Quote from: stamfordman on October 18, 2025, 12:11:14 am

The 56 day time limit is for replying to representations made against parking PCNs at NTO/postal PCN stage.

For moving traffic, London Tribunals may consider 3 months as an unofficial limit but it's not regulation.

OK. Thanks, stamfordman.
So, at this point, I need to just pay it?

No, not at all !

Yes you can pay and get the discount, but you have the absolute legal right to take them to adjudication at London Tribunals. Of course, this means you have to risk the full PCN penalty. At the moment you can pay half of it and get closure. If you go to London Tribunals and win, you pay nothing, no costs either. If you lose you have to pay the full PCN penalty.

It's not cost free for the council, who must prepare an evidence pack and also pay the adjudication fee of about £30