Author Topic: Tower hamlets PCN 33H - using a restricted route for buses and cycles only  (Read 145 times)

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Date of PCN - 22/06/2026
Date of contravention - 04/06/2026
TT61772255
EJ59AOE

Video clip
https://streamable.com/e/flh1q7


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other information
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.

does the date of offence (04/06/2026) being more than 14 days (18/06/2026) make the PCN invalid ?
« Last Edit: June 24, 2026, 07:34:19 pm by Movieman9000 »

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The LLA & TfL Act 2003 (see your PCN), allows 28 days to send out a PCN.

Video shows that you approached the signs head-on, so they would have been visible to you on approach. Any reason for ignoring them ?

Yeah the signs are there for sure, it clicked about a second later after i had gone through what the situation was.

By then i had driven through but went no further than the zebra crossing (this part has been cut from the video)


Not much we can recommend for this PCN, but there could be a 'technical' appeal based on the PCN or TH web pages related to it. Hippocrates is our resident expert on these and has won appeals at London Tribunals on them, but of course you must be willing to risk the full PCN penalty; no discount option there

What do you think of the below i got from google

Yes, you can absolutely appeal this, and you have strong legal grounds to do so.

Since you acknowledge the signage was clear, your appeal will rely on a legal argument called ***de minimis non curat lex*** (the law does not care about trivial matters), combined with **lack of full video evidence**.

Here is how you structure your representation to Tower Hamlets Council:

### 1. The "De Minimis" Argument (Trivial Breach)


Crossing the line by only 20 meters before immediately stopping means no actual contravention occurred in a meaningful sense. You did not use the restricted route to gain an unfair advantage, bypass traffic, or compromise safety.

### 2. Failure to Show the Full Incident / incompelte evidence


A Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) for a moving traffic restriction must show a complete action. If the council's footage cuts off while your brake lights are on and fails to show you reversing, **their evidence is incomplete**. They cannot prove you proceeded down the restricted route.

request the full video footage from them, if they fail to provide you have a strong case to have the PCN dismissed
« Last Edit: June 26, 2026, 11:59:08 am by Movieman9000 »

Yes, those points can be made, but will they result in a win at London Tribunals ? I think not. The council will, of course reject them, because they keep the money if they reject the reps and re-offer the discount, and they know that >95% of people then do so, to get the discount.

Hold fire.
@Incandescent!

I AM ABLE TO TAKE ON MORE CASES AS A REPRESENTATIVE AT THE LONDON TRIBUNALS. I HATE RETIREMENT.


If you do not challenge, you join "The Mugged Club".

cp8759 and mrmustard are true geniuses. I know my place in the hierarchy of The Three Musketeers. 😊 "The Clinician", "The Gentleman" and "The Showman"

There are "known knowns" which we may never have wished to know. This applies to them. But in the field the idea that there are also "unknown unknowns" doesn't apply as they hide in the aleatoric lottery. I know this is true and need to be prepared knowing the "unknown unknowns" may well apply.

To Socrates from "Hippocrates"

Yes, those points can be made, but will they result in a win at London Tribunals ? I think not. The council will, of course reject them, because they keep the money if they reject the reps and re-offer the discount, and they know that >95% of people then do so, to get the discount.
would have thought, at least been it when a human views it , they will see the full picture .

For me the fact they cut if off when I stopped and didn't show the reversing back the way I came  indicates they know they can't show that otherwise the case falls apart by itself.

It's £240 as well I think if I go to tribunal and lose as they say they'll increase it by 50% (discount £80, normal fee £160)

Have you heard from Hippocrates yet ? If not, as he said, hold fire for a bit as he is our "technical" appeal expert, and these do win appeals at LT.

I haven't had a reply, i didn't know he was the Guru :(

i have already appealed and i went with the below


- I admited i entered the junction (i think this is obvious)

- i went along the lines of the contravention didn't occur as i didn't proceed along the route. 

- i requested the full CCTV footage including showing me reversing out (break lights come on
11m in, full stop at 20m). i reversed out the way i came no vehicles or people were around me.

- Di minimis

33H says - Using a route restricted to certain vehicles. Contravention Code 33These contraventions relate to using routes restricted to certain vehicles like cycles. The restrictions are shown on signs with white diagrams on blue backgrounds.

Suffixes:
33b) buses only
33c) buses and cycles only
33e) buses, cycles and taxis only
33f) buses and taxis only
33g) local buses only
33h) local buses and cycles only
33i) local buses, cycles and taxis only
33k) local buses and taxis only
33s) tramcars and buses only
33q) tramcars and local buses only

What do you think of the below i got from google

Send it back to it!

You passed the signs, that's it. Whether you 'only' went a little further and reversed out is mitigation, NOT a statutory defence, sorry. 

Let's hope a technical defence emerges.

What do you think of the below i got from google

Send it back to it!

You passed the signs, that's it. Whether you 'only' went a little further and reversed out is mitigation, NOT a statutory defence, sorry. 

Let's hope a technical defence emerges.
Will the Hippocrates Cavalry come to the rescue !! (or maybe they are Dragoons)

I been busy of late. Extra reps. can always be added. Website only has general box and my conflation argument. Sorry: 6 cases tomorrow so back after them.
« Last Edit: Today at 11:02:45 pm by Hippocrates »
@Incandescent!

I AM ABLE TO TAKE ON MORE CASES AS A REPRESENTATIVE AT THE LONDON TRIBUNALS. I HATE RETIREMENT.


If you do not challenge, you join "The Mugged Club".

cp8759 and mrmustard are true geniuses. I know my place in the hierarchy of The Three Musketeers. 😊 "The Clinician", "The Gentleman" and "The Showman"

There are "known knowns" which we may never have wished to know. This applies to them. But in the field the idea that there are also "unknown unknowns" doesn't apply as they hide in the aleatoric lottery. I know this is true and need to be prepared knowing the "unknown unknowns" may well apply.

To Socrates from "Hippocrates"