Free Traffic Legal Advice
Live cases legal advice => Civil penalty charge notices (Councils, TFL and so on) => Topic started by: flash2005 on June 25, 2026, 03:05:02 pm
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The first thing to say is that Redbridge will reject your reps, as the video shows a contravention, and they like to have the money as well, even if just the discount amount. So you'd have to take them to London Tribunals, and I have to say I don't think the odds are good, but wait and see what the others say.
Of course the PCN, and also the relevant Redbridge web pages may show serious errors which could be used for a technical appeal on the basis of a procedural impropriety, as the PCN is under the Traffic Managment Act 2004, where this is a statutory appeal ground. Such appeals have no connection to the actual contravention.
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Waiting for a space to clear for that length of time won't win I think.
We can check the PCN.
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Case reference 2250627073
Appellant Clare McCartney
Authority London Borough of Redbridge
VRM BB13 MAC
PCN Details
PCN AF58339812
Contravention date 12 Oct 2025
Contravention time 12:08:00
Contravention location George Lane
Penalty amount GBP 160.00
Contravention Stopped on a restricted bus stop or stand
Referral date -
Decision Date 29 Apr 2026
Adjudicator Sean Stanton-Dunne
Appeal decision Appeal allowed
Direction cancel the Penalty Charge Notice and the Notice to Owner.
Reasons Ms McCartney was scheduled for a personal hearing by video link today, but she has not attended and so the appeal is being decided on the evidence presented.
This PCN was issued for the alleged contravention of being stopped in a restricted bus stop.
I have looked at the CCTV footage and the library images submitted by the Council. The footage lasts a matter of seconds. It shows Ms McCartney’s car stopping, the reverse lights being engaged and the vehicle then starting to reverse. The footage clearly supports Ms McCartney’s evidence that she was reversing into the vacant loading bay and I accept her evidence. It is unclear as to why the Council stopped the footage without showing the completion of the manoeuvre. In my judgement, a vehicle engaged in a manoeuvre cannot be regarded as being “stopped” for the purposes of a no stopping contravention. I would take an entirely different view if the vehicle was stopped waiting for a parking place to clear but this was stopping as part of the manoeuvre.
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I'd appreciate some advice on whether this is worth contesting.
The driver saw a vehicle in a nearby parking bay whose occupant had already entered the vehicle and closed the door, so it was obvious they were about to leave. The driver therefore queued behind that vehicle for approximately 20 seconds while it started up and pulled out, then immediately parked in the now-vacant bay.
During that time, the passenger exited the vehicle safely. The driver remained in the vehicle throughout and never left it.
The CCTV footage does show the other driver getting into their vehicle and closing the door before driving away, which supports the explanation that the vehicle was simply waiting for the parking space to become available. However, the CCTV does not show the full 20-second sequence before the space became free, so it does not provide the complete context.
My questions are:
- Does the fact that the CCTV does not show the full sequence of events provide any grounds for challenge?
- Is there any argument that the vehicle was only momentarily stationary while waiting for an imminently available parking space, rather than stopping for the purposes of the bus stop restriction?
- or any technical/PCN wording mistake related grounds to contest this ?
I'd be grateful for any opinions before deciding whether to pay at the discounted rate or make formal representations.
PCN
(https://cdn.imgpile.com/f/CfdSwO8_xl.jpeg)
(https://cdn.imgpile.com/f/TAceUEx_xl.jpeg)
(https://cdn.imgpile.com/f/RPvbusz_xl.jpeg)
(https://cdn.imgpile.com/f/ybxY0Ig_xl.jpeg)
Council evidence
(https://cdn.imgpile.com/f/Th3cUO2_xl.jpeg)
Council Video
https://youtu.be/W5Njdy-QUuw (https://youtu.be/W5Njdy-QUuw)
Google Street View
https://maps.app.goo.gl/pWo9QrRE5fAiTt9dA