Free Traffic Legal Advice

Live cases legal advice => Civil penalty charge notices (Councils, TFL and so on) => Topic started by: ucjvaog on January 18, 2026, 03:20:37 am

Title: Re: Croydon Council – 33E – using a route restricted to certain vehicles – George Street, Croydon
Post by: Incandescent on January 19, 2026, 10:45:38 pm

Pay close attention to Hippocrates advice, as he will suggest a 'technical' appeal to you that has nothing to do with the alleged contravention, but is based on their mismanagement of the process. Councils cannot break the law to enforce it.

Title: Re: Croydon Council – 33E – using a route restricted to certain vehicles – George Street, Croydon
Post by: ucjvaog on January 19, 2026, 10:18:37 pm

The pcn doesn’t have “motor vehicles” written.

So can I get out of this or am I dead to rights 😭?

 Why does it cost £80 for taking a wrong turn. All a bit unfair if you ask me. It was dark, I couldn’t see any sign tbh.

Title: Re: Croydon Council – 33E – using a route restricted to certain vehicles – George Street, Croydon
Post by: Hippocrates on January 19, 2026, 05:56:15 pm

Does the PCN state (motor vehicles)/  If not, we have a strong case. I'll be back later with a case won very recently.

Title: Re: Croydon Council – 33E – using a route restricted to certain vehicles – George Street, Croydon
Post by: Incandescent on January 19, 2026, 05:41:22 pm

Not much help to give really. Somehow you have to explain why you missed those signs, and following satnav is not sufficient reason, sorry to have to say it. The signs are reflective so would have shown up in your headlights.  We are seeing so many cases now where the driver was obeying satnav instructions, and not seeing signs that bar progress. Would you have gone past a traditional No Entry sign ? No, because most have been there for a few years so satnavs have them recorded so wouldn't have directed you past one, but there has been a huge roll-out of bus gates buslanes, and Low Traffic Areas, and the signs for these seem to escape people's attention.

Title: Re: Croydon Council – 33E – using a route restricted to certain vehicles – George Street, Croydon
Post by: ucjvaog on January 19, 2026, 05:14:58 pm

Hey thanks for the response!

I was following a satnav. I also didn’t know the area so missed all the signs :(. It was dark and I believe NYE so also very busy.

Any help would be much appreciated

Title: Re: Croydon Council – 33E – using a route restricted to certain vehicles – George Street, Croydon
Post by: Incandescent on January 18, 2026, 11:59:35 am

So here: -
https://maps.app.goo.gl/25C5WNDW5oZLLcgk7

Can you please give us a bit more narrative on why you managed to drive past the two clear signs barring all traffic bar buses, taxis and cyclists. Were you following satnav instructions ?

Title: Croydon Council – 33E – using a route restricted to certain vehicles – George Street, Croydon
Post by: ucjvaog on January 18, 2026, 03:20:37 am

Croydon Council – 33E – using a route restricted to certain vehicles – George Street, Croydon


I have received a PCN for driving in an area restricted to buses.

Here is the front page: (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wr_0da1k-bf_dzFak9Ti3bzeDUYn-EYo/view?usp=drive_link)

All pages can be viewed here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1-hFTT-q-WViqsjH4ZzQgKa7Y_eobmv7E?usp=drive_link (https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1-hFTT-q-WViqsjH4ZzQgKa7Y_eobmv7E?usp=drive_link)

google street view: https://maps.app.goo.gl/FqS9RKxB1ZS3Sjd17 (https://maps.app.goo.gl/FqS9RKxB1ZS3Sjd17)