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Live cases legal advice => Civil penalty charge notices (Councils, TFL and so on) => Topic started by: ammarm93 on March 06, 2026, 05:07:26 pm

Title: Re: PCN - Waltham Forest - Code 31 (waiting in yellow box) while turning right
Post by: MrChips on March 06, 2026, 10:28:26 pm
Well in that case, you didn't commit a contravention and should appeal on that basis

It's only an offence to have to stop due to stationary vehicles.  That bicycle never stops moving.
Title: Re: PCN - Waltham Forest - Code 31 (waiting in yellow box) while turning right
Post by: ammarm93 on March 06, 2026, 10:24:49 pm
https://ibb.co/Y4P7k5gn

Here's the PCN letter.

I wanted to pull into the space but a cyclist started coming across me as you can see in the video and so I waited...
Title: Re: PCN - Waltham Forest - Code 31 (waiting in yellow box) while turning right
Post by: MrChips on March 06, 2026, 07:44:40 pm
Can you share a copy of the PCN so we can check for fatal defects?

I agree wth Stamfordman, you didn't actually have to stop where you did and could have pulled alongside the car in front of you.

Further you are allowed to wait in the box when turning right if it's for oncoming traffic or another vehicle waiting to complete a right turn. In my opinion the car in front of you was still in the process of completing it's right turn so the turning right exemption applies. However we've seen adjudicators apply this exemption more narrowly then it is expressed in the wording of the law.
Title: Re: PCN - Waltham Forest - Code 31 (waiting in yellow box) while turning right
Post by: stamfordman on March 06, 2026, 06:09:23 pm
It looks like you had ample room to move out of the box anyway - I'd go for no contravention on that too.

Some of these right turns are deemed unfair owing to sight lines - I'll have a look at the register.

The right turn exemption applies to waiting for oncoming traffic to clear before turning right at a crossroads but there is some ambiguity I think.
Title: PCN - Waltham Forest - Code 31 (waiting in yellow box) while turning right
Post by: ammarm93 on March 06, 2026, 05:07:26 pm
Hi,

Would appreciate some help with a PCN I believe I received unfairly this week.

I received a PCN from the London Borough of Waltham Forest on 26/02/26 for the alleged contravention: 31 (Entering and stopping in a box junction when prohibited).

I was turning right (as shown in the video evidence below) and had 2 cars ahead of me. The large lorry 2 cars ahead stopped earlier than I expected (this isn't shown in the video evidence) and so I had to wait to complete my right turn on the yellow box junction.

Just to mention in case this may also be relevant: the reason the truck stopped was because the car in front of it stopped unexpectedly (I forget now if it started parking or stopped to drop off a passenger) so I wasn't expecting to be slowing down in the junction as there was no build up of traffic in the road ahead.

Pictures:
https://ibb.co/ymKCqtD9
https://ibb.co/NdHcw8gy
https://ibb.co/MxMz5zwN

Video evidence:
https://streamable.com/twlr4z

From my understanding stopping is allowed while turning right if you are obstructed by other cars also turning right.

Do I have grounds to appeal this PCN on that basis?

Grateful for any help with this.