Quote from: slapdash on 12 May, 2024 11:24I am not sure which "court" you mean. That's out of process and generally will end badly.The "proper" process is documented on the PCN. It seems you have not engaged with that.The 'proper process' is the process whre one accepts the pcn is legal as per the sign as contract to be obeyed, but disputes it on certain grounds. As you probably know, 'I didn't see the sign, it wasnt in te HCighway Code/ you didn;t send a letter to me, is not accepted.Yes court of law, is not the usual avenue, tese tings are well sirted normally. A court of law present no grounds that haven't been envisaged.But it doesn't have to end badly; that's up to the judge and the legal argument they are presented with; first htey decide if you have a case that is worth hearing.I wonder how many , if any , have actually take such a case of sign authorisation to court. I know of none.I can send you our 'particulars of claim' by pm after it reaches court decisoin if you like, but probably best not beforehand; if successful at that stage, I imagine you may be interested. If it does pass scrutiny, I'm not particularly worried about court charges if we dont get a verdict in our favour upon full hearing, becaase they are unlikely to be awared against us I should think, if it is accepted. Why? Because,- the LA has so far deviated from our request for a fair amicable solution, where we did offer to pay the charge itsef.- we raised amatter of driver saftey with the LA and askewd them to take it up on our behalf; driver's duty of care depends on skill and cognition - attention to the road, sign recognition vs. interpretation, and pre-attentional cognitive filters; Technically well researched, but also commonsense.- Autrity by sec of state under leglislation to authorise LA's to put up signs, does not mean that the signs are legal; to be so they must - do the job (clear in meaning and vision - they aren't clear but imply and require pre-evident meaning) and, - must not conflict with law (i.e assumed drivers duty of care, and what that takes), and - be fair (i.e all people have been notified and are offered the same). It seems that the legislation for sec of state to authrise signs apples to local signs, i.e to be read at a crawl, or upon entry to a parking place etc. or for specialised purposes - e.g road and land works drivers (e.g. road works, which also imply they are notified and on the look out). So they can get away with it if the signs are clear.With CAZ, I understand, in their desire to avoid discussion in parliament althoug that is what it is set up for, as representatives, the sec for state thought that clear and bold is all a sign need sot be. Not so. Perhap she has a chauffeur and no experience of drive=ing.Signs to notify and inform driving at speed, are a dfifferent matter altogether.Finally, if does not pass judge's scrutiny, we can appeal that if we wish. Migt not wish to.Otherwise, we are stuck with Traffic enforcement. But LA/collection agency wont persit for long; I doubt they will take it to court for enforcement. We could, in that case, appeal again against any previous decsion, according to reason.

Main thing is, we are perfectly serious, and they know that now. A might quietly let it drop. It as happened before.We do mean what we say, according to our reasons. They should be heard.Especially bevcause this behavuior sets a very bad precedent for drivcing on the road wrt safety; more will pop up by decree, if left unchallenged; And drivers will then be anxious looking out everywhere for novel charge signs.It must be stopped. CAZ signs have to be in the HC, or write to everyone.

One simple, cheap temporary solution suggested to LA by us (and others before_no doubt) is that they contact every new entrant to te CAZ zone to make an initial demand; or better to simply inform them with a warning for 'next time'. Its easy enough for them to flag such drivers on their db. They chose not to, so far, and if they dont do so now, that will look bad in court too.