Free Traffic Legal Advice

Hey folks,

I received a PCN from Barking & Dagenham Council last week, apparently for a 54J violation (54J Failing to comply with a restriction on vehicles entering and waiting in a pedestrian zone (Camera Enforcement))

I've attached the PCN letter below. It was issued 29/08/2025 apparently, so I have 4 days till the 14-day discount period ends. As for the nature of my vehicle entry, I haven't pulled the CCTV images from the council's website just yet, but only because I have dashcam footage of the incident myself. I've attached this below, and the PCN also has screenshots of the CCTV.

I would really appreciate any suggestions you have on how to appeal this.

Not that its relevant in such scenarios, since it doesn't usually lead to overturns, but I can let you know why I found myself in this position in the first place. I knew I had to take a left from the road I was on, and I mixed it up with the road before my actual left turn.
Still, the position of the signs made it such that I only realised I was in a pedestrian zone after having entered. To see what I'm referring to, you can watch the dashcam footage and Google Streetview screenshot below.

The sign close to me is not readable until up close (due to the direction it faces), and even then is in a blindspot (blocked by the left A-pillar). The sign far from me is blocked by a large van unloading (dashcam can see it just a little since the cam sits to my left).

Anyways, after taking the turn, it was pretty obvious that it was not my intended road, so I 3-point turned out of there (all recorded on dashcam). I had a feeling they would most likely send a PCN and lo and behold.

PCN: Page 1,2
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1O2yNzTt-IYO7RqGFLmrgEwadT0en8txI/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1W9-1a3f2kAwDG0xaqqzHJ85ExgYddbad/view?usp=sharing

Google Streetview
https://maps.app.goo.gl/wM7kjVRYPDkfTnra8

Dashcam Footage

https://drive.google.com/file/d/11_xeaWY_5BcTBQd3AfFjHhl7EhjvERUp/view

I've done a bit of reading on similar PCNs people posted on this forum, but I'm still not fully sure which road to take in the appeal logic. I could mention signage, but I'm not too sure of its strength. I could use 'de minimis' since I never turned off the engine and was out of there as quick as I entered. A unique one I saw suggested using the 'Taken without consent' ground. Since I was driving and am insured, but the car is registered to a relative, and thus the letter addressed to them, the TWOC ground seemed interesting to me.

I would appreciate any tips you have on how to word the appeal, since I've not drafted something like this before.

Thanks all!

Good afternoon,

Thanks a lot for your advice on how to proceed. I do agree that I can wait a while before I submit reps, in case someone else on the forum kindly puts forward more valid points I could include. However, since the discount period ends in 3 days, I was wondering if B&D Council is known to re-offer the discount or just the full amount, upon rejection of the appeal. Anyone heard about this?

Not that I would want to take either option let's be honest, but like I mentioned, since the car is registered to a relative and I was the (insured and consented) driver, they're uncomfortable about taking it to Tribunals.

Would it benefit, or do harm to, my appeal to if I informed them that the PCN recipient was not the driver at that time? I was seeing the TWOC grounds on some of the forum posts but I'm not sure if I can use it given the way this PCN was worded (see page 2 of PCN)

Aahhh I see, if I can act for them up to that stage then it's not really an issue. Thanks for clarifying.

I live with my relative so the PCN arrived at our shared address, just addressed to them, since they're keeper of the V5. I'm handling the appeals process, with their permission, simply on the condition that they don't have to turn up to a physical Tribunal, and if there's a penalty at the end I'll pay it myself.

As for the TWOC ground, I guess that only works if the appeal is coming from the keeper themselves, so me declaring myself a nominee probably nullifies that.

There may be other points you can put in your representations, incl a technical appeal based on B & D mismanagement of the enforcement process

By the way, could you please explain how I could include this in the draft? What exactly should I accuse them of with regards to their mismanagement? Don't get me wrong I could probably name 10 things right now, but I mean which of them holds the most strength. Is it perhaps the fact that they're penalising me for minimal entry (de minimis) or did you have something else in mind?

Any other forum members reading this, I'd appreciate all your thoughts also 🙏🙏 anything you feel I may be able to use in my appeal let me know!

simply on the condition that they don't have to turn up to a physical Tribunal

When it comes to it, always opt for a personal hearing, which these days means by telephone or video link, rather than a decision on papers.