Free Traffic Legal Advice

Hi guys,

if anyone has a similar experience, would be great to share thank you

As far as I understand it:

There is nothing to corroborate the OP's claim regarding stopping and exiting:'I realised by the time i reached the zebra crossing (short way in) stopped and reversed back out. This part has been removed from the clip.';

They have made formal reps to which they have not yet had a response.

OP, is this correct? 

Had a job in Leyton this morning so popped to the site and took a pic;
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Bs2sVO7vNjC3yxwe4cLOr7s4CYQfnSgh/view?usp=drive_link

There is now a RH sign, it is on the "unicycle" post, minus the unicycle.
Pic taken from the route the OP took i presume, as the vid doesn't show turning.
High sign on left sits in the sight line of the chimney. Time 21.18 so dusk so sign not visible and unlit. No RH sign in vid.

Thanks a lot and thanks Rob for the updated picture.

What the photo shows is the absolutely absurd height of the sign on the left. If this was the only sign there when the OP drove past it, then that height should be a major point in the evidence because it is totally out of the sightline of the driver who should not have to be looking at sign positioned in the sky. The new sign on the right is correctly positioned.

Hi, both signs are there and yes the left side sign is quite high

Had a job in Leyton this morning so popped to the site and took a pic;
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Bs2sVO7vNjC3yxwe4cLOr7s4CYQfnSgh/view?usp=drive_link

it is on the "unicycle" post, minus the unicycle.
Pic taken from the route the OP took i presume, as the vid doesn't show turning.
High sign on left sits in the sight line of the chimney. Time 21.18 so dusk so sign not visible and unlit. No RH sign in vid.

There is a RH sign I believe the video isn't wide enough to catch it, When i entered the bus lane i was entering straight on (no turning from either side road)

As far as I understand it:

There is nothing to corroborate the OP's claim regarding stopping and exiting:'I realised by the time i reached the zebra crossing (short way in) stopped and reversed back out. This part has been removed from the clip.';
They have made formal reps to which they have not yet had a response.
OP, is this correct?

I definately stopped, paused to check rear view and reversed back out (no U turn) I requested the full video they said If I want the full video I need to submit a freedom of information request

Update
Council have rejected my appeal today (as expected) I would like to go to the tribunal but i'm not sure what i need to do next, I believe its a gamble as If i lose I pay £160 but i do feel this charge is unfair so willing to risk it

they didn't respond to my complaint I didn't use the route, they said entering it triggers the PCN (Code 33 - Using a route restricted to certain vehicles)
Gov.uk

Next steps
This letter is a formal Notice of Rejection therefore, before the end of the period of 28 days
beginning with the date of service of this Notice of Rejection ("the 28-day period") you must
either:
- pay the Penalty Charge; or
- appeal to the Environment and Traffic Adjudicators ("ETA").

Please show the NOR (Notice Of Rejection).

Date of NOR?

NOR Date 27 July 2026, recevied via email

What they've conceded and what they've claimed
They've conceded it was a genuine error. More importantly, they've made a specific factual claim I can dispute: "the footage clearly shows the vehicle entering and continuing travelling within the restricted area until the video footage stops."

Surely "until the video footage stops" is significant. They're not saying the footage shows me completing the restriction or exiting at the far end. They're saying the footage ends while i'm still inside. That is not the same as a completed contravention.

Surely the evidence is incomplete, it shows me entering and then?


Code 33 - Using a route restricted to certain vehicles - there was no use of the route and i gained no advantage by entering.

Their legal argument

They're arguing the contravention is complete at the point of entry — that any vehicle crossing the restriction line has committed the offence, and what happens afterwards is irrelevant.