Suggested representations (need to be emailed to Brent today). There is a 99% chance Brent will reject these representations, in which case your options will be to either pay £65 or go to the tribunal where the PCN is either cancelled or you have to pay £130. Personally I think your odds are better than 50% at tribunal but I can't give any guarantees as it's a subjective decision.
Dear London Borough of Brent
Re PCN BT21227033
I received the above PCN recently relating to stopping in a box junction and wish to submit representations on the grounds that the contravention did not occur.
A contravention with respect to a box junction occurs if a driver causes a vehicle to enter the box junction so that the vehicle has to stop [my emphasis] within the box junction due to the presence of stationary vehicles. Having viewed the video evidence supplied, I contend that the circumstances of my stop in the box junction are not consistent with a contravention having occurred.
Just beyond the box junction, the road changes from two lanes to one due to, first, a disabled parking bay on the left, and then, immediately beyond that, a pedestrian crossing. On the approach to the box junction, there is a white 'filter right' arrow painted on the carriageway instructing drivers to aim for the right hand lane. As such the natural manoeuvre for a driver crossing the box junction in the left hand lane is to direct their vehicle towards the exit in the right hand lane. This is particularly true in the circumstances shown in the video as a red car seeks to park up behind the disabled bay, thereby additionally filtering all traffic to the right at the exit of the box junction.
The video clearly shows this exit to the box junction was always clear and, as such, at no time was I forced to stop due to the presence of stationary vehicles - which is a necessary condition for a contravention to occur. Had I been minded to, or perhaps more assertive and less willing to give way, I could have moved forward and completely cleared the box by simply pulling up behind the white car on the other side of the box. That I didn't do this seems to be because I initially hesitated, conscious that the lanes were merging and there was another car slightly behind me and to my right. The cars in the side road then took this as a cue that I was giving way and began to move across my path. While there was sufficient space to accommodate my vehicle beyond the box, due to the level of traffic ahead I decided there was little benefit in moving forward at this point and let four cars out of the side road. However, these vehicles were never stationary and so are not in the scope of the box junction contravention. Once traffic beyond the junction started to ease and there was a sufficient gap in the flow of traffic emerging from the side road I then moved forward and out of the box junction.
On this basis I encourage you to review the video evidence and, having done so, I trust you will see fit to cancel the PCN.
Kind regards,
