Free Traffic Legal Advice
Live cases legal advice => Civil penalty charge notices (Councils, TFL and so on) => Topic started by: bleeky on July 22, 2025, 11:11:45 pm
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Thank you. I have challenged both and will let you know the responses.
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I think you should have a go at both.
On the first:
London Councils guidance on timing:
Where a time restriction applies, CEOs should not issue a PCN less than two minutes before a restriction starts or less than two minutes after the restriction has expired. For example, if a restriction starts (or paid-for time expires) at 8.00am then a PCN should only be issued if the vehicle is in contravention after 8.02am. Similarly, if a restriction ends at 6.00pm then no PCNs should be issued after 5.58pm. It should be stressed that a vehicle in such a situation does not have the right to be in place for two minutes – this is not a grace period.
There is no traffic management purpose in penalising someone for a suspension that could have ended 1 second later.
On the second, you have the defence of being parked when the sign went up.
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I parked there at about 1400 and I know it's amazing I missed the sign but unfortunately I did! The optimist in me thinks maybe the CEO saw my car there in the afternoon and gave me until the last minute (literally) to move it but when I didn't return they gave me the ticket.
Is there any particular wording you would recommend in asking for discretion for the second PCN?
Thanks for your reply!
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The first PCN (pics below) is 7 July and timed at 17:59 when the suspension ended at 18:00, which is harsh and within the 2 minute window that is London Councils guidance for not enforcing on single yellow lines and bays but they take a hard line with suspensions.
When did you park there.
I can't see how you missed the sign if it was up and presume you were in the suspended area as the bay is short. .
I would have thought you could ask for discretion on the second as you were there before that sign went up but you'll probably have to pay the first to get it cancelled.
(https://i.ibb.co/gLvYMQYy/l2.png)
(https://i.ibb.co/sJDnwzR9/l4.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/844y7R7S/l3.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/mVxQrrMP/l1.jpg)
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Good evening,
I live on a pedestrianised road so I have to park my car on a road several minutes walk away and I use my car very infrequently. I parked my car in a bay for which I have a permit on this street on 8th July and I didn't go near it until today when I saw I had received 2 PCNs for parking in a suspended bay from 2 separate suspensions a week apart (8th and 15th July). I somehow didn't notice the sign stating the bay was suspended when I first parked there so I presume they've got me bang to rights for the first one although the first of the photos was taken 7 seconds before the suspension expired which seems harsh. For the second PCN, do I have a leg to stand on if my car has evidently not moved between the dates of the two PCNs (as evidenced by the CEO's photos) and, because I don't live on the street, I was unaware of the second suspension? I know the council states that a driver is responsible for checking daily for any suspensions but it seems unreasonable when I don't live on the street I have to park on and it's not a road I have any reason to visit otherwise.
First PCN number: LJ36449764
Second: LJ36484878
VRN: ME19UBX
PCNs are here: https://imgur.com/a/kacV37O
Annoyingly, because of how infrequently I go to this street I have missed the 14 day reduced price deadline for the first PCN.
Google street view: https://maps.app.goo.gl/t8nnRmFPsUDDrxJt9
Thanks!