Free Traffic Legal Advice
Live cases legal advice => Civil penalty charge notices (Councils, TFL and so on) => Topic started by: Tod on June 09, 2026, 12:16:43 pm
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It's an attempt to pre-empt them taking the simple and lazy way out.
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I thought of mentioning the picture but it isn't part of the mandatory fields on the PCN, and I don't think mentioning what's on the website is relevant. The PCN is what it is. Or isn't.
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+1.
But I would suggest amending 1 to read:
Procedural impropriety - the PCN is not compliant as it does not state the time of contravention, only the date. The time is a mandatory item under the legislation. If the authority's position is that the time of contravention could be inferred from the photo in the PCN, then this would clearly be untenable because the photo reads 18.26 whereas your website(see snapshot enclosed) states '..time of contravention 18.27'.
The PCN does not comply with the regulations and must be cancelled.
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Wait for others to check this but this is all you need in my view. I see the CEO did say you'd get a PCN so if that is the only point it would hinge on whether he really had got the PCN partially logged.
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I am challenging the PCN on two grounds.
1. Procedural impropriety - the PCN is not compliant as it does not state the time of contravention, only the date. The time is a mandatory item under the legislation.
2. Procedural impropriety - at no point did I prevent service of the PCN either to me or on my car. I had a conversation with your CEO in which I said I had just completed a drop-off as an Uber driver and he advised me it would be better to wait on yellow lines.
I look forward to your early cancellation on this PCN.
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Thank you. I found the evidence tab and can now see the photographs.
There are seven photos in total. One is timestamped 18:26 and the remaining six are timestamped 18:27.
What would you suggest as the next step?
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I think there's an evidence tab when you log-in here:
https://cityoflondon.tarantoportal.com/PCNs
Other pics are close-up to check for a blue badge.
The pic on the PCN is not relevant for the compliance of the PCN so this looks like an easy win.
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As far as I can see, the PCN itself only states the date of the alleged contravention (05/06/2026).
I cannot see any field on the PCN stating the time of contravention.
The only time I can find is the timestamp shown on the photograph, For some reason I can't see any photographs at all on the City of London portal, either in Chrome or Safari. How are you able to see the seven photos and their timestamps? Is there a link or section of the portal that I'm missing?
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Can you see a time of contravention on the PCN?
It's mandatory to have both date and time.
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Thank you @stamfordman.
I certainly did not make any attempt to evade service of a PCN.
As I explained above, when I returned to the vehicle the CEO was already there taking photographs. I explained that I had just completed a drop-off and had only been away from the vehicle for around 30 seconds.
I also asked him if he had seen my hazard lights on, which he confirmed. He said I could have stopped on the yellow line instead. I replied, "Thanks, next time I will know", and that was the extent of the conversation.
There was no argument, no confrontation and no attempt whatsoever to hand me a PCN or place one on the vehicle. I then continued with my work and left.
To be honest, I was quite surprised when the postal PCN arrived.
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EDIT: The PCN is defective because it doesn't have the time of the contravention that I can see, only the date.
If you made to attempt to evade service of the PCN either to you or on the vehicle then you have a good case.
The PCN is timed at 18:27 according to the website and nearly all the pics have the same time (only one of seven at 18:26) which may mean the PCN may not have been in preparation and only pics taken.
(https://i.ibb.co/gFgdkBCR/Screenshot-2026-06-09-at-13-41-33.png)
(https://i.ibb.co/Ndt1W66K/Screenshot-2026-06-09-at-13-41-24.png)
(https://i.ibb.co/mrTnq34y/Screenshot-2026-06-09-at-13-41-16.png)
(https://i.ibb.co/cSpkVRvz/Screenshot-2026-06-09-at-13-41-50.png)
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I was actually surprised when the postal PCN arrived. There was no argument or confrontation. The CEO did not attempt to hand me a PCN or place one on the vehicle. We simply spoke briefly and then went our separate ways.
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You've been served with a "driveaway" PCN. The bold text at the top says it is because the CEO had begun to prepare a PCN, but you drove off before he could serve it. Is this true ? I ask because if the CEO had the PCN ready and could have served it, this postal PCN is void.
So please tell us more.
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Hi all,
I'd appreciate some advice on this PCN from the City of London.
I'm an Uber driver and on 5 June I dropped passengers off in Playhouse Yard. The street is very narrow and stopping in the carriageway would have blocked access, so I pulled into the bay with my hazard lights on while the passengers got out.
After the drop-off I briefly left the vehicle.
When I came back to the car, a CEO was already there. I explained what had happened and that I had just completed a drop-off and gone to return forgotten property. I also asked him if he had seen my hazard lights and he said that he had. He nevertheless said a PCN would be issued.
No PCN was placed on the vehicle and I've now received a postal PCN.
I've attached the PCN, the Uber trip details and Street View images of the location.
The council website doesn't show any CEO photos, notes or observation records, which I find odd.
Do you think I have any grounds to challenge this, and should I first ask the council for the CEO notes and photographs?
Many thanks.
https://ibb.co/FLPfCpwv
https://ibb.co/C3y36X3v
https://ibb.co/fd6NrDLz
https://ibb.co/fd6NrDLz