@stamfordman @Incandescent
Hi folks,
I had my Tribunal hearing yesterday, but my appeal was unsuccessful. The hearing was adjudicated by Andrew Harman.
In my argument, I cited previous successful cases (involving other drivers) that were handled by Sean Stanton-Dunne. However, right from the off, Adjudicator Harman made it clear that he didn't agree with the outcomes of those previous cases, so I feared the worst.
I tried to stand my ground, but he stated that precedent in traffic law doesn't necessitate that the outcome will follow previous decisions and that each case is subjective.
Given that he's explicitly disagreeing with established Tribunal decisions, is it worth appealing, or should I take the loss on this occasion?
PS. I did receieve an evidence pack from the council, but due to work and family pressures, completely forgot to post this here for feedback.
Adjudicator's Reasons
The appellant attended the hearing of this appeal today on the Microsoft Teams video conferencing
platform.
The council did not attend the hearing, it not being expected to do so.
The contravention alleged in these proceedings was that this vehicle, at Tottenham Court Road, by
the junction with Howland Street, used a route restricted to certain vehicles.
The appellant made submissions in accordance with those set out in writing, he explaining that he
was driving to collect his son from the UCH Macmillan Cancer Centre, he raising the issue of signage.
On the evidence before me, the appellant drove through regulatory signage posted at this junction
giving a mandatory direction to proceed left at it, the vehicle then being driven past a regulatory sign
posted on the left warning the appellant of the restriction.
I was satisfied on the council's video footage of the incident that that latter sign would have been
within the appellant's line of vision, it being clear and unobstructed.
I did not accept that there was any conflict in signage at this location, or that signage was confusing,
and I found signage, taken as a whole, to be adequate.
I respectfully disagreed with the adjudicator on this point in the cases cited by the appellant.
I accepted that driving in central London is not easy, and I noted the purpose of the appellant's
journey, but I was not satisfied that he had a defence to this penalty charge, and I found this
contravention proved.
The appeal was refused.
Andrew Harman
Adjudicator
10th November 2025
2250363958
CU70801006