Free Traffic Legal Advice
Live cases legal advice => Civil penalty charge notices (Councils, TFL and so on) => Topic started by: Pollybine on May 23, 2026, 01:42:59 pm
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Back in February (not my formal representation) I wrote at the foot:-
Please could you supply any video evidence of the incident to my home address XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX.
They did not send any video evidence to me.
Edit: In my formal representation of July (this has been received by TFL), I requested it on CD to be sent to my address.
I have not received anything yet.
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I have submitted a formal representation for their consideration.
When and how? The last day of the 28-day period was 7 July.
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Have you asked for and seen the video
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Thank you for your reply Incandescent. I will have a look at the information on the Register over the next days. I have submitted a formal representation for their consideration.
Thank you once again.
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I realised after I posted that we have seen this location before, and yes, the ULEZ charge sign does partly obscure the advance warning sign. There have been 26 cases at this location. Having a quick look on London Tribunal statutory register, Case No 2250627878 seems to fit your circumstances, i.e appeal based on inadequate signage, which the appellant lost, but I haven't looked at them all.
Have a look yourself, using the full location description on your PCN:-
https://www.londontribunals.gov.uk/about/registers-appeals
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Thank you Incandescent for your very prompt reply.
What are you suggesting I should note from the images though? I am a little confused.
Please could you let me know.
(I have photos showing how the bus sign is obscured in my opinion by the preceding large Congestion Zone sign a little further back, as the driver approaches the signs on Camden Road (on their left) coming down from the Camden Road Station which is on their right - does this help you in any way to see this?)
I am planning to submit my formal representation in handwriting on the form - is their a requirement to send TFL images at this stage?? I didn't think this was the case as I believed photos would be useful if the matter goes further to the Tribunals.
Thank you for your comment as I am soon to submit the text I provided above. Are there any other obvious tweaks I should make to the text itself do you think?
Thank you I am a little unfamiliar with this process as you might assess.
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There is an advance warning of the bus lane:-
https://maps.app.goo.gl/9KaLspP166zVU4mA6
and also a sign at the start of it:-
https://maps.app.goo.gl/uH3D5Z2PFfr9CQ1W7
however, there are no Bus Lane markings on the carriageway.
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I am keen to submit a formal representation as soon as possible urgently re the above PCN. It is at Enforcement Notice stage. I have been absorbed with family health matters. My previous message below set out my situation at informal representation stage but I would be pleased to provide any further information.
Would anybody be able to review a formal representation I wish to make imminently?
I am planning to submit what I have submitted at informal stage (and adjust it slightly as necessary to get my case across) - i.e. I believe it is wrong to have a box junction leading/going straight into a bus lane and with ensuing fines. As a first-time visitor to Camden in my car, and with no foresight of the layout in advance, I feel the set-up is wholly misleading and I drove ahead unknowingly. In my opinion, it is a precarious situation.
Which correspondence (which would be blank of key personal details) should I supply at this point which would assist your potential review?
I have 1) a PCN (not attached)
Attached: 2) typed up text of my informal representation(it was handwritten content originally) -
I am wishing to challenge PCN GX32826947. I wish to contest it for the reasons below:-
1) Advance warning of the bus lane – a blue sign in Camden Road just before Lyme Street is obscured by a Congestion Charge sign. I did not see any advance tarmac sign for a bus lane immediately at the other side of the box junction.
2) The inside lane became the bus lane immediately after the yellow box junction with traffic lights at Camden Street. The bus lane is so close to the exit of that junction that dotted white line of the bus lane sit side-by-side/meets the yellow of the box junction. Therefore, driver(s) exiting the junction is/are not able to leave the junction in the inside lane. However, the arrow on the road surface at the stopline at the junction indicates drivers may continue straight on (i.e. into box junction and coming out onto bus lane as explained above). or This is very confusing for drivers. Going onto the box junction is permitted but coming out of it would mean going into a bus lane and a fine ensuing. I don’t believe this can be reasonable. I expect that advance warning should be given and that authorities must ensure signs and road markings are clear, not misleading and transparent (i.e. not ambiguous).
Cont’d
3) I saw no markings on the tarmac of the bus lane with words “Bus Lane”. They do not appear. Your photos above capture my vehicle over being at the mouth of the bus lane. They show a short period of 1530.57 to 15.31677. On that afternoon, I only recognised that I had been temporarily in an area not designated for drivers when I simultaneously saw a solid white line to my right on the tarmac and I immediately took action to leave there as quick as possible. There had been no bus lane marking on the floor and it was not clear to me that I could have been in a bus lane. I had no intention of going or being in a bus lane and took immediate steps at that time in the presence of the white line.
I am a new driver to Camden (i.e. it was my first visit to Camden in my car) and was unfamiliar with the area. I saw no markings that made me believe that I would enter a bus lane virtually directly from a permissible lane of a box junction at the site.
I would therefore request the PCN be cancelled thereby avoiding effort for both parties. If you do not cancel it, please send me a form so that I may refer the matter to London Tribunals.
Please could you supply any video evidence of the incident to my home address XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX.
Thank you.
Yours sincerely
XXXXXX
3) TFL's subsequent reply (not attached), and
Attached: 4) an Enforcement Notice dated 08/06. 3 of 6 pages.
https://cdn.imgpile.com/f/Ow5DAD4_xl.jpg
https://imgpile.com/p/UQXeT5N
https://cdn.imgpile.com/f/pJh4kUV_xl.jpg
https://cdn.imgpile.com/f/1Ma4IJC_xl.jpg
Or do you need full page sets and TFL's reply as well?
I have many photos of the area of issue taken both in February 2026 (evening, rainy) and June 2026 (daytime, bright) and markings/directional arrows on the road and the congestion charge sign which completely obscures a bus lane sign. This dynamic has not changed over the time. I would be glad to upload those upon your advice.
Location of Junction (Oct 24 https://maps.app.goo.gl/ubEfEtxxeUhBQ91P7
Please could you advise if you could assist me further with a review and do you think you could help at a later stage if it does not resolve itself. I am sorry to approach you at this late stage but I am quite preoccupied on an ongoing basis.
Thank you for your comments or requests.
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I deliberated and deliberated Hippocrates. I considered that there might be tribunal charges to find and as I am not knowledgeable of the process, I did not know if it would have too many risks.
However, I may be able to get a retrieval of the £80 cheque in light of the Bank Holiday non-despatch. If I cannot get it back, I only hope that it is accepted as the settlement in full I have outlined to them. I was wondering if I had nothing to lose, but I just didn't know.
I do not want to disturb you further but as you have replied, do you think if I could change the situation it might be achievable??
Apologies and thanks for your brief reply if you are able.
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Please don't tell me you have paid it!
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Thank you Catnip, your guidance is much appreciated.
I suppose I feel I am in doubt whether the lower level payment has a chance of being accepted (although their response from my informal representation does not give a timeframe for the £80 to be paid, only that an enforcement notice may be issued - which has not received by me), I will just have to make a sensible decision on it and proceed with the route for advice you have highlighted if I do need it.
Thanks once again.
Good evening.
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Have a look at this post which explains the details required to offer you assistance: https://www.ftla.uk/civil-penalty-charge-notices-(councils-tfl-and-so-on)/read-this-first-before-posting-your-case!-this-section-is-for-council-tfl-dartme/
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This is my first posting - I am not sure I have done so before. I hope I have done this correctly. I sent a message to another member directly this early AM as I was not sure how to post here (they had assisted someone else faced with an identical penalty in London in 2025. I was buoyed by his situation as they were successful)!
I submitted an informal representation to TFL in February 2026 in relation to a PCN issued by them regarding my entrance in a bus lane for a short duration observed 15.30.58 to 15.31.02 in January 2026. Recently (probably 15 May 2026) I received a response from them dated 5 May rejecting my representation.
Whilst I feel strongly that the penalty is unfair (given the Bus Lane follows virtually on from the exit of a yellow box junction - the latter indicates to drivers to enter it encouraged by a go-ahead directional arrow going into the yellow box, and the Lane has prior signage obscured by a large congestion charge sign and has no 'Bus Lane' marking on the tarmac of the bus lane, although TFL states the contrary), I went yesterday to the library to pay the £80 penalty on-line. However I could not complete the transaction as the library device was not verifiable by my bank (I did make a screen grab of my endeavour for my own record) and I have prepared an alternative cheque payment yesterday evening (22 May). However, on entering the TFL website this early today I find that the penalty has risen to £160.
My question is - do you think my 22 May dated cheque in payment for the penalty will be accepted as full settlement or could/will they continue with seeking the remainder of the higher charge? Do they have any discretion with this if they choose and is it worth to discuss this with them after the Bank Holiday I wonder?
At this point, with an elderly parent needing my support, I had intended to settle the £80 charge to finish the matter as I have very real pressing priorities with this and want no further stress but now at £160, which I can ill afford and they may persist on, I wonder if I may as well pursue a formal representation - in light of I may have nothing to lose. I cannot afford the £160 and honestly I feel the charging of the penalty is so unfair. I have had two PCNS in the past (one from TFL) and have paid these unquestionably. However, I felt strongly that this one is unjust and at £160, has moved to be exorbitant.
Could you offer me any comments or advice? I am sorry that this message may sound wordy but I am worried now that I may incur more distress from this situation if they were to only accept my payment as a partial one.
Importantly, if my payment was not to be accepted as full settlement, could I revert to a formal representation then? Should I consider proceeding? I would be delighted to provide any further information you require for your review.
I hope this is not too unclear.
Thank you for any comments or advice you can offer.
Mention to @ Hippocrates