Free Traffic Legal Advice
Live cases legal advice => Civil penalty charge notices (Councils, TFL and so on) => Topic started by: Ash487 on December 15, 2025, 12:36:47 am
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Your last paragraph is too confrontational. You want them to cancel, so make it easy for them. I suggest you substitute it with this: -
So in summary, I was engaged in unloading which you are well aware is an exemption to the yellow lines. I have described the goods that were being unloaded, and also supplied photographs of them, a total of 28 kilos. In addition to this, a passenger remained in the vehicle at all times to deal with any problems my parking might have been causing and the hazard warning lights were on. I consider this was enough to demonstrate to your passing CEO that an exempt activity was being undertaken. If in doubt, your CEO could have asked my passenger. I therefore request that the PCN be cancelled forthwith.
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Hi,
Can you please read my draft copy for review;
I have waited for thr Notice to owner to arrive. I am submitting a request that the above PCN be cancelled, as at the time it was served I was engaged in loading,(an exemption to yellow lines). I was engaged in conveying domestic goods such as heavy kitchen items consisting of pots and pans, an airfyer, blender and other kitchen accessories weighing a total of 28Kg. These were mostly packed in big heavy duty ikea bags to handle the weight and bulk. As there was no free parking spaces nearby it was necessary to park on the closest yellow lines to convey them to the chronos building, 23 Mile end road, E1 4TN which is a short distance away. I was assisting someone whos hasn't got the physical capability of carrying such heavy household items alone. I was not intending on leaving the car for longer than a few minutes but I did not realise that from the car to the main gate of the builindg is roughly a minute walk, after entering the main gate you must walk a short distant futher across the courtyard and enter a secondary gate into the building and then go up 4 flights of stairs to the residence. Please bear in mind that this whole journey takes longer whilst being weighed down with 28 kg worth of heavy items. This was the only route to the building and I was the only help for this vulnerable person at the time. Just because your CEO was not there at the time of which I left the car with the bags in hand (which would have been 1 minute before he supposedly arrived and started his observation of the vehicle)
I was most definitely unloading and I will attach the images of the bags that were carried to the building.
I therefore request that the PCN be cancelled. I was exercising my right to load/unload. I believe that a brief observation of 5 mins from your CEO is insufficient and that this case therefore will most definitely uphold with the London Tribunals. I find it highly unfair that tower hamlets council allow their CEO's to only observe a vehicle for 5 minutes before issuing a PCN. Even when the hazards on the vehicle are left on and a passenger in the car. Tower Hamlets council are cheating their residents by what I believe to be fraudulently taxing car drivers through illegal PCN's.
Regards,
Ashraf
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From your previous experience with loading/unloading cases, are councils lenient with proof of weight, photos of the items tht were unloaded etc?
Councils are never lenient, because they get the PCN money if they reject representations. The only unbiased place is the adjudicators at London Tribunals. So the bottom line is that if you want to stand your ground rather than cough-up, you have to be prepared to take the council to London Tribunals. Of course you have to risk the full PCN penalty. If you win you pay nothing, if you lose, you pay the PCN penalty, but there are no additional costs or charges.
However, first you have to go through the process, so must be rejected when you submit representations against the Notice to Owner. Of course they may accept your reps and cancel the PCN !
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From your previous experience with loading/unloading cases, are councils lenient with proof of weight, photos of the items tht were unloaded etc?
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I can't think of anything else to add. Normally for commercial loading, one has documents, but yours is a domestic loading case, so I doubt you have anything like this.
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If you are to be successful with an appeal, and I mean an appeal to London Tribunals, you do need to firm-up your case for loading, because the CEO saw no loading activity, but clearly there was such activity. In cases like this, some collateral, like weight of the goods and maybe a photo of them. If you can assemble this, then you have a much stronger case to take to LT. The alternative is you pay-up now to get the discount. The whole system is designed to encourage early payment, so the 50% discount is offered. Basically, if you feel hard done by, you have to stand your ground and forego the discount option. Needless to say, not a lot of PCN recipients do this, because most people kn ow very little about the legal process and think they have to pay huge sums if they lose which, of course, is totally wrong. The maximum financial exposure is the full PCN penalty.
Hi @Incandescent
the details you have told me to add from the above information into this draft, is there anything else you can advise for me to add alongside with it which could possibly help my case?
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Hi,
IU have now received the notice to owner. Could you please assist me on what to type out?
Could you also assist me on how to bring this topic back to the top of the main thread so that other users could see this and potentially advise on my situation?
Ashraf
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Ok thank you
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Ok thank you for the advice. Could you possibly help me word out the appeal when it comes to it?
Prepare a draft and post it here for review. Use of "clever" AI apps is not recommended.
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Ok thank you for the advice. Could you possibly help me word out the appeal when it comes to it?
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There is no mandatory observation time. Your strongest appeal argument is loading because that is a legal exemption to the double-yellow lines, but you have to prove it, hence my comment about proof of the weight and bulk of the goods.
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Thank you for your response Incandescent.
I would like to stand my ground and take this to tribunals. We you guys be able to assist me with the appeal when the Notic to owner arrives?
Also apart from the weight of goods and photos, is there anything else i can use to strengthen my case?
Such as the photos taken by the CEO were taken in the space of 1 Minute. Could the CEO provide any evidence to show that he was monitoring the vehicle 5 mins prior to this?
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If you are to be successful with an appeal, and I mean an appeal to London Tribunals, you do need to firm-up your case for loading, because the CEO saw no loading activity, but clearly there was such activity. In cases like this, some collateral, like weight of the goods and maybe a photo of them. If you can assemble this, then you have a much stronger case to take to LT. The alternative is you pay-up now to get the discount. The whole system is designed to encourage early payment, so the 50% discount is offered. Basically, if you feel hard done by, you have to stand your ground and forego the discount option. Needless to say, not a lot of PCN recipients do this, because most people kn ow very little about the legal process and think they have to pay huge sums if they lose which, of course, is totally wrong. The maximum financial exposure is the full PCN penalty.
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Hi John,
No, not yet. I received the rejection on 19/01/26 with a further 14 days to pay the reduced amount from that date.
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Have you received the NtO (Notice to Owner) yet?
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@JohnUK
The date this was proccesed is 19/01/2026
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Thank you John,
I am a novice to this and still trying to figure my way around this site.
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I have now re uploaded the link
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kP2VG0JZUhHtS30Cyd83oTdbHnd8CR5O/view?usp=sharing
You have also redacted the date of the letter (dates govern the whole enforcement process) which was 19th January 2026.
I have deleted the link to the unredacted version from yout earlier post #21.
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I have now re uploaded the link
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kP2VG0JZUhHtS30Cyd83oTdbHnd8CR5O/view?usp=sharing
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Please let me if you can access the PDF file through the above link
Regards,
Ashraf
Yes - very clear - BUT
it shows yr namr & address long enough to read before the overlying redaction appears. You may wish to actually cover the name & address with a small piece of paper qmd then rescan or photo before re-uploading.
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(EDIT)
Please let me if you can access the PDF file through the above link
Regards,
Ashraf
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Please post a copy (not transcript) of the letter (redact only yr name & address - leave all else in)
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I recently uploaded my query before Christmas regarding a PCN for parking on a double yellow whilst unloading. tower hamlets council have rejected it and I have added their response below. Their main argument is that the car was monitored for 7 mins or so and no one was seen to be unloading. I would be grateful of any advice on how to continue to appeal against this charge.
Tower Hamlets response;
refer to your challenge about the above Penalty Charge Notice, which has now been
considered in accordance with the Traffic Management Act 2004.
We refer to your appeal against the issuance of Penalty Charge Notice (PCN), issued for
parking on a double yellow line in a restricted street.
An observation was carried out by the Civil Enforcement Officer from 20:37 to 20:43, during
which no loading activity was observed. The officer also noted that the driver returned to the
vehicle after the PCN was issued, at which point the notice was handed directly to the driver.
The evidence indicates that the vehicle was parked in contravention of the Traffic Regulation
Order, and no valid exemption (such as loading or unloading) applied at the time. Therefore,
the PCN was correctly issued and remains enforceable.
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I will use the above as a template.
Can I also mention that someone was clearly waiting in the car whilst the ticket was issued?
Can I also argue that on the PCn its mentioned that the car was observed from 20:47 - 20:53 but all the images on the PCN evidence are timed at 20:54?
Presence of a person in the car is irrelevant; the vehicle was "waiting" so on contravention. PCN photos are normally taken after the PCN has been served so that a photo of the PCN on the windscreen can be taken.
just to note some authority's mention the vehicle has to be "attended" at all times (which clearly cannot happen if you are alone) so might be sn idea to include it to head off that argument before it starts.
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Is there anything else I could possibly add which could support/help with my appeal?
Please tell us more about this:-
Regarding any evidence of loading, I have none. I just got out of the car to help a family member into the building, up the starirs and into their flat with some bags.
Was this just a courtesy, or is the family member disabled or anything ? Apart from 'loading', there is an exemption for 'boarding/alighting' passengers. Normally this only allows picking up or setting down, but there is also 'assisted boarding' where the driver assists the passenger due to infirmity or disablement.
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Is there anything else I could possibly add which could support/help with my appeal?
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I will use the above as a template.
Can I also mention that someone was clearly waiting in the car whilst the ticket was issued?
Can I also argue that on the PCn its mentioned that the car was observed from 20:47 - 20:53 but all the images on the PCN evidence are timed at 20:54?
Presence of a person in the car is irrelevant; the vehicle was "waiting" so on contravention. PCN photos are normally taken after the PCN has been served so that a photo of the PCN on the windscreen can be taken.
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I will use the above as a template.
Can I also mention that someone was clearly waiting in the car whilst the ticket was issued?
Can I also argue that on the PCn its mentioned that the car was observed from 20:47 - 20:53 but all the images on the PCN evidence are timed at 20:54?
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I suggest you write something like this: -
Dear Sirs
Re PCN <PCN Number> served on <date> at <location>
I am submitting a request that the above PCN be cancelled, as at the time it was served I was engaged in loading, (an exemption to yellow lines). I was engaged in conveying domestic equipment goods of such weight and bulk that it was necessary to park on the yellow lines to convey them to <address> a short distance away.
I therefore request that the PCN be cancelled.
Yours faithfully
Can you support the above with any details of the equipment and goods being loaded ? If so, I would include this as an addendum.
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This is certainly not me and I do not want to pay an unfair penalty yet again to the council/government. Can yiu advise me what to write out on the appeal?
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Clearly the basis of any reps you submit must be the loading exemption. You need to fill out on the weight and bulk of the goods, and why it was necessary to park on DYLs to do the unloading. However, as you will find out, the usual response to a submission of a challenge, is for the council to send out a Fob-Off letter refusing it.They do this because they know from experience that most people, (>95%), then cough-up to get the discount, not knowing much qbout parking law. Is this you ?
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So initially my nephew did help me take some of the load to the building door which is about 20 metres from where I parked but I then had told him to go back to the car and wait in case a parking attendant came. There were 4 bags in total, the heaviest being a load of a few plates and mugs so I had to be careful when walking. The other bags were pots, pans etc.
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+1
Good to see the GSV view.When somebody is on DYLs we always like to look at the location, because there may also have been a loading restriction which most people never notice. Here there is no loading restriction. Your case seems to fall into the loading exemption for yellow lines.
Please tell us more about the goods and how far you had to take them.
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As I briefly parked on a double yellow line for 5 mins to collect something
I was helping a family member carry some bags up into the building,
Me and my nephew quickly hopped into the car and drove off
Only when we got in the car to drive off,
I told him to wait in the car.
there are a few direct contradictions in your account which are likely to discredit your story going forward. I suggest you start with what actually happened do the appropriate advice can be given.
[/quote]
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Hi,
This is my first time using google drive. Could you please let me know if you can view the images on the link below:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1y3tQNr3GkOFQnqEdBUHG5yMk46fzQjKP
Regarding the reasoning, I was helping a family member carry some bags up into the building, I assumed this would come under loading/unloading.
My nephew couldn’t help as the bags would have been too heavy for him. The bags were quite heavy, full of plates and mugs so I told him to wait in the car. He said he didn’t see and officers observing the car at any point whilst I was gone.
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None of your images work for me.
You first said you were collecting something now it's helping someone with bags into premises.
Exemptions are assisted alighting and loading but it sounds like you don't have a strong case - how many bags, how heavy, how far... was nephew no good for this...
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Thsnk you @Incandescent for making me aware of the private googe link.
Below is the public google drive link with images of the PCN.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1mkfilp_6fB02YSyZMPz-8covICL77IGw?usp=sharing
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The Google view location link:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/e1p3VbkdYVHG7Wyt8
Regarding any evidence of loading, I have none. I just got out of the car to help a family member into the building, up the starirs and into their flat with some bags.
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Here is google drive link with the images from the PCN :
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1mkfilp_6fB02YSyZMPz-8covICL77IGw?usp=sharing
Your link won't open.You need to set it to 'Public'
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Here is google drive link with the images from the PCN :
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1mkfilp_6fB02YSyZMPz-8covICL77IGw?usp=sharing
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It may surprise yo to learn that photos are not a requirement . . .
That said,
As usual, for meaningful advice we need to see the documents so please help by having a read of
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/
and post up here
(use
ibb.co (https://imgbb.com/) or https://imgpile.com/
for posting images.
Wherever possible, use the BBCode.)
both sides of the unredacted PCN ( leave everything in),
any council photos,
and
a GSV link to the location of the alleged contravention.
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What were youi loading (size, weight, etc.) and what evidence do you have of it?
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I have recently been given a PCN on a double yellow line by an enforcement officer. As I briefly parked on a double yellow line for 5 mins to collect something. As I walked back to my car, the officer was there printing out the PCN. He said he had monitored my car for 7 mins and that was the timing on the PCN. From (20:38 - 20:43) I took the ticket from him and he then started to take pictures of the car. Me and my nephew quickly hopped into the car and drove off whilst he was still taking the photos. I didn’t have any hazard lights on nor was there anything to show that I was unloading. The next day I viewed the images that were available online on tower hamlets.gov. All the pictures you could see me in front of the camera and you could see my nephew in the passenger seat. Only when we got in the car to drive off, the officer got a few good images of the back of the car and the yellow lines. However, it is dark and the double yellow lines are slightly faded. My hope here is that all 8 images online were timestamped at 20:43, but on the PCN it states that the car was observed from 20:37 - 20:43. But there are no photo evidence to prove the timings? The officer did say that his bodywork camera is recording everything so could that be used as evidence to show the timings the car was parked?
Any advice would be helpful.