Free Traffic Legal Advice

Good afternoon FTLA,

Quick back story - I own a motorbike which I've stopped riding the past 3/4 years, because of this I've left it parked in the motorcycle bay outside of my flat chained without any issue. This is a fairly busy bay which is used frequently and generally always full. I've noticed that people have been tampering with my bike here and there but nothing major.

Recently though I saw that someone had moved my bike outside of the parking bay on my way to work one morning, they had slid my chain down and moved it sideways to the bay to use the space that my bike taking up. When I noticed this I moved the bike back but I left it within the bay on the edge (both wheels were within the bay).

This morning I had gotten home to see that It was moved yet again outside of the bay and there was someone parked in the spot I left my bike in.. (I have no proof of this) Someone had moved my bike outside of the bay area again & I was unable to move it back straight away. I left it and went to get some rest. When I went to move it back inside the bay later in the afternoon I saw that I had received a PCN for being outside of the bay. I have never received a ticket before because it had always been in the bay without issue but as someone has tampered with & moved my vehicle I had been issued a ticket..

Just to add to this also, initially when I went to check my bike this morning there was the PCN sticky pouch on my license plate but no official letter inside. I don't know if there would have been one issued earlier during the week as I was out of the country for the easter period and returned midweek, correct me if I'm wrong they usually stick the PCNs at the front of the vehicle not of the license plate? I'd like to assume that someone placed their PCN pouch on my license plate but I can't be certain as my bike has been continuously tampered with.

I don't have any video or photo evidence for any of this but at the same time I don't know if it would be of any use as it could be seen as fabricated.

Would appreciate any advice for this case as I'm unsure of how to fight this.

Images of the infringement:

Apologies! First time doing this.

Details are as follows:

PCN:


GSV link:

I am the registered keeper yes.

The vehicle has no insurance and has been SORN for the past 3 years.

My name & address on the V5 is correct yes.

Thanks.

Back in the old Pepipoo days, I remember a case on similar lines, and as I understand it, in order to legally be SORN, it must only be be off the carriageway. However where this is formalised in the statute, I'm not sure and memory fades.

Understood - it was only meant to be temporary until I scrapped the bike but has been a non prioritised task on my to-do-list.

As for this situation is there anything I can do to fight my case?

You can, and should, submit representations based on what you've told us, but even if the council give way and cancel, it is likely your bike will be moved again, and there's nothing to stop them serving PCN after PCN. So really you need to sort the matter out, so that you cease to use this bike parking space, which clearly is not intended for long term 24 hour a day parking.

'...I've left it parked in the motorcycle bay outside of my flat chained without any issue.'

What 'bay'? The two photos don't show any traffic sign designating an area as a parking place and, even if there was, what's it's lawful extent?

Below is the law and where it refers to a 'resolution', this includes a designated parking place properly signed.



4)A highway authority may by resolution, or in the case of the Secretary of State by such notice as appears to him to be appropriate, authorise, from a date specified in the resolution or notice, the parking of vehicles[F7—

(a)]on, or [F8on or over a road or part of a road] which is a highway other than a carriageway[F9; or

(b)on or over a footpath or any part of a footpath];

and notwithstanding the provisions of this section or of any other enactment or any rule of law, it shall be lawful from the specified date for any person to park a vehicle on the [F10road or footpath], or on the part thereof, as the case may be, to which the said resolution or notice relates and is for the time being in force.

IMO, you seem to be assuming something which has yet to be established.

Clearer and wider photos pl.

Okay so off the back of your reply John, I called my council & was told that there are 3 outstanding PCN that was dealt in the past week:

11/04/26 - JK19486936




14/04/26 - JK19546164





18/04/26 - JK1954662A (Images posted previously)

I arrived back in the country on the 14th and didn't check the bike straight away, when I did check the PCNs had already been torn off/tampered with that I didn't know there were PCNs before the one that I found on the 18th. After a brief conversation over the phone, they suggested that I file a police report and use it to help gain access to security cameras in the area that would be used as supporting evidence.
I had a conversation with the MET police & explained the situation, they took down my information and had given me a reference number for it.

In response to the area markings as shown in the GSV the Writing on the floor state "SOLO M/C ONLY" I have an image which was taken today but the signage has naturally worn off overtime.. the GSV is clearer:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TYWaexp1bh_Xj7RVg11us31jV0yRlHW4/view?usp=drive_link

The sign has now changed to this: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fZJmqlWIG2UWl-JeElO_q4kYE3Lbce_g/view?usp=drive_link

APCOA I believe just manage the fines for southwark council under contract and operate the ANPR cameras for that street.


These are images of cameras in proximity of the bay and after speaking to the business of the building the camera is on (first link), they had said to me that footage is available for up to 30 days but would require the police to visit so that i'm able to pull the footage.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ei3QET95RwFnA5Bk46zTlWcVuwxE-yKy/view?usp=drive_link
https://drive.google.com/file/d/14SMYFoSEc-5XjLNXqfbft4uyePWX0QCt/view?usp=drive_link


How shall I proceed given this information? Do I draft the challenges for all three PCNs or try and chase the evidence beforehand?

Thank you.