Free Traffic Legal Advice

Live cases legal advice => Civil penalty charge notices (Councils, TFL and so on) => Topic started by: freestars on August 30, 2025, 10:32:48 am

Title: Re: City of Westminster - Code 16 - Parked in a permit space or zone without a valid virtual permit - Belgrave Gardens,
Post by: freestars on August 30, 2025, 06:53:01 pm

Is there any advice on how I can go about challenging this?

Title: Re: City of Westminster - Code 16 - Parked in a permit space or zone without a valid virtual permit - Belgrave Gardens,
Post by: H C Andersen on August 30, 2025, 01:41:37 pm

I quoted the TSRGD which gives the exact wording for the description associated with the EV symbol.

Road markings are optional as I read the regs.

Title: Re: City of Westminster - Code 16 - Parked in a permit space or zone without a valid virtual permit - Belgrave Gardens,
Post by: stamfordman on August 30, 2025, 01:20:50 pm

The parking sign could be said to be ambiguous and the road legend should specify it's a permit bay - on that latter point we've seen similar issues with disabled bays not marked as permit only disabled bays on road legends, so misleading people.

Title: Re: City of Westminster - Code 16 - Parked in a permit space or zone without a valid virtual permit - Belgrave Gardens,
Post by: H C Andersen on August 30, 2025, 12:59:06 pm

The sign means that the bay is reserved for Res Permit Holders 'C' while charging an EV. A two-part test, and from your account you failed both i.e. you were not the holder of a Res Permit 'C' neither were you charging.

Title: City of Westminster - Code 16 - Parked in a permit space or zone without a valid virtual permit - Belgrave Gardens, NW8
Post by: freestars on August 30, 2025, 10:32:48 am

Yesterday, I had an appointment, so I opened up Electroverse to see charging points to plug in my EV for the hour.

I saw an empty EV bay with a lamppost, usually powered by Ubitricity, and usually not working (because their app is so bad that you can't even register - the "continue" button is unclickable, but that's another story). I said I'll complete the payment/start the charging via Electroverse. I tap on start charging, put the phone away (since it takes a few seconds) and go to my appointment. A moment later, I see an error on the screen "something went wrong: we're aware and doing our best to fix it". It was too late for me to go back.

When I came back I found a ticket for which I was kind of prepared to challenge because the EV wasn't charging but wasn't my fault in the end.

Instead, what I've found was a code 16! I looked up and wondered "but this is an EV charging bay, what the hell?" only to see that apparently this is an EV charging bay ONLY for residents. Is this a new one now?

Also, from the pics it's not showing that the bay marking does not specify a residents only, it's the generic CV charging bay. I think you get my point; it looks like any council can create an EV bay and slam whatever requirements they think of on the sign?

(https://i.imgur.com/fxsAEIE.jpeg)

(https://i.imgur.com/unMejXT.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/hoVtdja.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/LFgfAjI.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/mwryIKx.jpeg)