Author Topic: PCN Contravention 16s (Redbridge) - Incorrect Parking Location Code  (Read 2548 times)

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Re: PCN Contravention 16s (Redbridge) - Incorrect Parking Location Code
« Reply #15 on: »
I've changed my mind. London Councils say for code 16:

Suffix ‘s’ only for use where bay is completely non-resident. In shared use bays where residents’ permits are valid, codes 12 and 19 should be used as appropriate.

It is a signed bay in a PPA though.



Re: PCN Contravention 16s (Redbridge) - Incorrect Parking Location Code
« Reply #16 on: »

Ok so I think I've now finally got it! they've issued a 16s, which is a wrong code, ie the 's' should not have been there, rather a code 12/19 should have been used, hence we are saying no contravention took place - Would we not just say wrong code used to spell it out for the LA?

Leaving the below point,

It is a signed bay in a PPA though.

This a good thing or a bad thing in our case and come into play with the defence we're looking at no contravention due to incorrect code?

Re: PCN Contravention 16s (Redbridge) - Incorrect Parking Location Code
« Reply #17 on: »
The PPA is not really relevant as it's a signed bay but I'm assuming both the PPA and signed bays permit resident parking. The sign just days Permit holders D.
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Re: PCN Contravention 16s (Redbridge) - Incorrect Parking Location Code
« Reply #18 on: »
So I've drafted up the appeal below, @stamfordman @H C Andersen await your advise and suggestions or amendments if any, before I submit tonight :)

Dear Redbridge LA,

I am writing to formally request the cancellation of the above PCN on the following grounds:

1. Genuine Oversight in Location Code Entry - A valid ticket was purchased for the full duration of my stay. The warden would have seen that a ticket had been purchased and that the location code entered was incorrect by only one digit. The code I used relates to York Road, which is only a few metres away and was shown in RingGo as the nearest location. The listed location was “Ilford Town, Redbridge,” which matches where I was parked, whereas the correct code refers to “Ilford Outer, Redbridge.” Given how similar these descriptions are, this was an easy and genuine mistake when using the RingGo app.

Furthermore, as the first hour of parking is free, this minor oversight resulted in no financial loss to the local authority. I had no intention of avoiding payment or failing to obtain a ticket—indeed,  I went out of my way to ensure a ticket was obtained.

I remind you of the Department of Transport's Statutory guidance for local authorities in England on civil enforcement of parking contraventions, which state you "have a duty to act fairly and proportionately and are encouraged to exercise discretion sensibly and reasonably and with due regard to the public interest".

In light of this, I respectfully request that discretion be applied.

2.Incorrect Contravention Code -  According to London Councils’ guidance for Contravention Code 16, the suffix “s” is only to be used where the bay is completely non-resident. For shared-use bays—where both residents’ permits and paid-for parking are valid—contravention codes 12 or 19 should be used instead.

The bay in which the vehicle was parked is a shared-use bay, allowing both resident permit holders and non-residents using a paid permit. Therefore, the contravention alleged on the PCN could not have occurred, as the code applied does not correspond to the type of bay involved.

Given that:

1. a valid ticket was purchased,

2. the mistake was an understandable, genuine oversight,

3. no financial loss occurred, and

4. the contravention code used was incorrect and therefore invalid,

I respectfully request that the PCN be cancelled.

Thank you for your time and consideration.



I deffinitly don't see the council applying any discretion or caring about point 1, as can be seen from the case @hippocrates referenced earlier, the adjudicator will also side with them, as they had said in that appeal "I find that it does remain the driver's responsibility to provide the correct location code before obtaining a parking session using the RingGo service"

Correct me if I'm wrong but we're counting on the incorrect location code to help us win this one?
« Last Edit: November 24, 2025, 06:05:11 pm by LondonTraveller84 »

Re: PCN Contravention 16s (Redbridge) - Incorrect Parking Location Code
« Reply #19 on: »
It's an informal challenge at this stage.

I would add to the first point:

I remind you of the Department of Transport's Statutory guidance for local authorities in England on civil enforcement of parking contraventions, which state you "have a duty to act fairly and proportionately and are encouraged to exercise discretion sensibly and reasonably and with due regard to the public interest".
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Re: PCN Contravention 16s (Redbridge) - Incorrect Parking Location Code
« Reply #20 on: »
I would add to the first point

Updated the post above with the addition. A question does it make sense to go full in on the informal rep or just keep it very basic, as the formal rep after will basically have nothing more for us to add?

Re: PCN Contravention 16s (Redbridge) - Incorrect Parking Location Code
« Reply #21 on: »
? It is NOT the wrong code just because it uses 's'. Your argument should accept that the 's' is correct, not claim it isn't.

I would also relegate the fact that you paid to a footnote because your actual argument is that even if you could prove you paid this is not a defence against the alleged contravention anyway!

OP, I would reword.

The contravention did not occur.

The evidence in this case is the PCN citing the grounds of '****' and giving code 16s. As the authority know, the suffix 's' is prescribed for use only for shared use bays. Indeed, the authority's own photos show a traffic sign which allows parking between the stated hours by either permit holders or on payment of the required tariff i.e. a shared use bay.

Given that parking is therefore permitted on display of a permit OR on payment of the tariff, then it cannot be the case that the contravention of '***' could apply in any circumstances to any motorist.

So:
The PCN acknowledges that the parking place was shared use by using the code suffix 's';
The authority's evidence shows a shared use traffic sign;

Therefore the authority cannot rationally assert that while its own evidence acknowledges the shared use nature of the parking place a contravention could have been committed based upon ONLY the fact that a permit was not displayed which means that the ONLY defence open to me in this regard would be to prove that I displayed the necessary permit.

Had the PCN used the correct grounds for this type of bay, that it to say 'failing to ******', then I would have made representations on the grounds that I actually paid and provided proof. But I do not need to deal with this as this is not the alleged contravention.

The contravention grounds and the CEO's actions cannot withstand scrutiny and therefore the PCN must be cancelled.

But you must draft as suits you.

Re: PCN Contravention 16s (Redbridge) - Incorrect Parking Location Code
« Reply #22 on: »
I would also relegate the fact that you paid to a footnote

Noted, will do so..

I think I have struggled to understand the reason you were proposing to the LA, hence my draft going off point on the wrong understanding. Having re-read your recent explanation, my current understnading is that issue isn't with the bay or the it being shared or the 's' code, rather the grounds and/or code used?

I am struggling to get my head around the below, it may that i am not able to see the wood from the trees as they say or the contradications in their grounds used against the point you're making.

Therefore the authority cannot rationally assert that while its own evidence acknowledges the shared use nature of the parking place a contravention could have been committed based upon ONLY the fact that a permit was not displayed which means that the ONLY defence open to me in this regard would be to prove that I displayed the necessary permit.

1. I understand the bit around 's' and the bay being shared
2. I understand the two conditions you can park, ie have a permit, or pay for a virtual ticket (permit).
3. The only defence would be to prove I had a valid permit (or a paid session in our case) surely? what other defence is there, as a permit is required to park in that bay.

The latter part of their grounds states ".... without a valid virtual permit or clearly displaying a valid permit'., which I am unable to prove and had taken place as I did not have a virtual permit or a valid permit for that location?

** UPDATED ** @ 22:11 - Having re-read this a dozen times, is it that is is a shared use bay, so grounds should be not displaying a valid permit, as that only applies to a permit only bay? ie they are enforcing that this is the only ground I can appeal on, where as it should be code 12, which is for shared used bays and has pay and display ground?
« Last Edit: November 24, 2025, 10:16:23 pm by LondonTraveller84 »

Re: PCN Contravention 16s (Redbridge) - Incorrect Parking Location Code
« Reply #23 on: »
@H C Andersen, Please see reworded draft using yours as a template, while it was difficult to reword as i struggled to word it any other way) draft, as you'd covered it as best possible.

Contravention did not occur -

The ground used in the PCN is 'Parked in a permit space or zone without a valid virtual permit or clearly displaying a valid permit' alongside a contravention code '16s'.

Redbridge LA is aware suffix 's' is prescribed for use only for shared use bays, in this instance the LA photo evidence show a signage stating that you have to be a permit holder OR can park upon payment of the tariff i.e. a shared use bay.

Given that parking is therefore permitted on either one these two conditions, with one clearly being 'payment upon tarrif. then it cannot be the case that the contravention of 'Parked in a permit space or zone without a valid virtual permit or clearly displaying a valid permit' could apply in any circumstances to any motorist - This would only be applicable in the case of a permit only bay.

Therefore this PCN cannot be valid and I request this is cancelled immediatly.

In addition to the above a valid ticket was purchased for the full duration of my stay.... etc (I've dropped this down as advised unless you further advise to leave it out in its entirity for this informal rep)


If this will suffice for now, I can send this to get it in tonight before the deadline, which then gives time to focus on formal appeal once they've rejected it.
« Last Edit: November 24, 2025, 10:28:10 pm by LondonTraveller84 »

Re: PCN Contravention 16s (Redbridge) - Incorrect Parking Location Code
« Reply #24 on: »
I've checked the difference between a code 16 and 12, if the issue is around the use of the code

16 - Contravention code 16 refers to parking in a permit-only space without a valid permit displayed. This applies to resident, visitor, or other types of permit bays, and the vehicle must either be clearly displaying a valid physical permit or have a valid virtual permit in place, where applicable

12 - Contravention code 12 is for parking in a residents' or shared-use parking place without a valid permit, voucher, or pay and display ticket where one is required. It can also apply if the paid time on a pay and display ticket has expired

Both sort of say the same thing no on the outset, while going deep I could do a lot of comparisons - 16 seems to be more focussed on permits, which includes visitor (I assume I fell into this) -

Is it that ground against the payment, cannot be for a permit rather has to be for a pay and display on a shared use bay which is only possible under code 12, ie code 16 does not cover payment tarriff permits for shared use bays, it only covers permit only?
« Last Edit: November 24, 2025, 10:32:04 pm by LondonTraveller84 »

Re: PCN Contravention 16s (Redbridge) - Incorrect Parking Location Code
« Reply #25 on: »
A permit only bay is.....a permit only bay!

This isn't.

End of....but give them the longer version!
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Re: PCN Contravention 16s (Redbridge) - Incorrect Parking Location Code
« Reply #26 on: »
Okay, I think I've now got it, hopefully I'll be able to hold my ground and argue that if it goes adjudication. I assume based on this my revised response above should suffice, as I've sort of covered that point.

Should I keep the oversight point (moved from 1 down to 2) or take it out as its not related to the PCN grounds?

Re: PCN Contravention 16s (Redbridge) - Incorrect Parking Location Code
« Reply #27 on: »
Submitted - Await their rejection :) - A miracile if they accept, but their track record says other wise

Re: PCN Contravention 16s (Redbridge) - Incorrect Parking Location Code
« Reply #28 on: »
Looks like they fully ignored everything we said about the permit bay, and other points, see attached examples

https://ibb.co/PvxR1mb2
https://ibb.co/wNySPRC1

I assume wait for NTO and take to adjudication or better to pay the discounted rate based on their recent response above? Am a bit worried how well i would be able to argue the permit point if the adjudicator further questions it above and beyond what we've said..


Hi All,

Have received the NTO finally, will look to fill in the adjudicator appeal process, any pointers on if I should be adding anythign different or additional or just state 'refer to previous appeal points'