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@Incandescent: They do not appear to accept that I was legitimately picking up a passenger as a private hire driver as sufficient grounds to cancel the PCN.

I have come across previous cases on this forum where private hire drivers received tickets for picking up passengers on the same road, and those appeals were consistently rejected. Based on this, it seems unlikely that the PCN will be cancelled on that basis alone.

Thank you for the advice. I will include it if I am unable to identify a stronger ground for challenging the PCN when I submit the appeal.

Hi all,

I’m looking for some advice regarding a PCN I’ve received for driving through the Rye Lane / Hanover Park junction.

I was working at the time and relying on Uber navigation, which in hindsight was not suitable for this area. As I approached the junction at around 20mph, I did see a sign but misinterpreted it in the moment. I believed it indicated a time-based restriction (such as no entry during certain hours), and since it was exactly 10pm, I assumed I was outside the restricted period and proceeded.

I accept that this was my mistake; however, the conditions made it more difficult to properly interpret the signage. It was dark at the time, and although the sign is illuminated, it was not immediately clear enough to process correctly while driving. I have attached a JPEG of the first sign I saw.

Upon reviewing the location afterwards on Google Maps, I noticed there is an additional sign near the bus stop stating “No left turn for motor vehicles except for access,” which I did not see on the night. I am unsure whether the “except for access” element is relevant in my case, as I was entering the road specifically to pick up a passenger.

Regarding the final sign positioned near the traffic lights, I did notice it, but due to its placement and angle, I was unable to properly register its meaning in time to safely stop or change direction. By the time it became apparent, I had effectively committed to the route, and there was no clear opportunity to exit or turn around once at the traffic lights.


After entering and reaching the pickup point, I immediately felt something was off — there were no regular vehicles around, only buses, and the layout felt unusual given how I had just come out of normal traffic. I hesitated but assumed I had misunderstood the situation and waited for the passenger.

Shortly after, a passer-by kindly approached me and warned that it was a bus-only route and that I would likely receive a ticket.

Since then, I’ve done some research and found that a significant number of drivers seem to have been caught out at this exact location, many of whom have shared similar experiences here and elsewhere. It appears to be a recurring issue rather than an isolated mistake. I have browsed this forum and found instances of others asking for help for the same location. So far from what i have found on the forum, the cancel only cancelled it once.

From what I’ve seen so far:

* Most people end up paying the PCN
* Some have taken it to the London Tribunal
* I’ve only come across a couple of cases where the council cancelled the ticket


What I’m struggling to understand is whether there is any consistent or successful argument for appeal in cases like this — particularly where:

* The signage may be misread in real-time driving conditions
* Navigation apps route drivers directly into the restriction
* There is a clear pattern of repeated confusion among drivers

I fully accept I drove through the restriction, but I’m trying to determine whether it’s worth appealing based on signage clarity and the volume of similar cases.

Has anyone here successfully challenged a PCN at this specific junction, or does anyone have insight into whether it’s realistically worth taking this further?

Appreciate any guidance.

Photos and Video: https://imgpile.com/p/H4WF9mi

Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/hzxszKcbLjFGu58A8

Note: On the google maps, please make sure to set the date as the latest 2022 as before then sign is not there. It is the road turning left toward Baba LTD and toward KFC.

Here is the GSV that i searched up and found:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/YyQR1pMxHNrW5iCy9

Hi all,

Just a quick update and huge thanks to everyone here for the guidance — especially around Horizon’s failure to comply with PoFA 2012 Schedule 4.

I used the appeal format discussed in my earlier post, clearly stating I was the hirer (not the driver), and pointed out their non-compliance. I also attached receipts from the day of the incident, while making it clear that these did not identify the driver — and that I had no intention of doing so.

Horizon has now responded and cancelled the charge as a “gesture of goodwill”. Here’s what they said:

"Thank you for your recent correspondence regarding the above Parking Charge, which we have reviewed.

I can confirm as a gesture of goodwill the Parking Charge has now been cancelled and no further action will be taken in this matter.

Please note that further Parking Charges may not be cancelled."

Whether it was goodwill or just them avoiding a losing battle, I’ll take it — and I wouldn't have got there without this forum.

Thanks again!

Consider this case closed.

Thanks again for the guidance — I’ve now read through the forum guide you linked and understand the importance of not revealing who was driving.

To clarify my earlier post: while I may have used “I” a lot when describing the events, I haven’t made any formal contact with Horizon or anyone else in writing. I haven’t identified the driver at any stage.

All that has happened so far is:

I received the Notice to Hirer today (04/09/2025).

On my way to a job earlier today, I briefly stopped by the petrol station to try and find a contact email or number for the site operator to potentially raise a complaint.

I only asked the person there about who to contact regarding a PCN and didn’t give any details or discuss the incident.

I haven’t submitted any appeals or correspondence to Horizon at all.

In response to your other question — nothing else came with the Notice to Hirer. It was just the single-page letter titled Parking Charge Notice to Hirer (which I've already attached in the thread). There were:

No copy of the Notice to Keeper

No copy of the hire agreement

No copy of a statement of liability signed by me (the hirer)

Just wanted to give a quick update and say thank you to everyone who offered help and guidance regarding the PCN for O/S 2 YORK WAY N1 – Stopped where prohibited (on a red route or clearway) from TfL.

After weighing everything up, I’ve decided to just pay the charge today as it’s the final day before the 50% discount expires. I genuinely appreciate all the support and the time people took to share their knowledge and advice — it really does mean a lot, especially as it's done out of pure goodwill. Blessings to you all for that.

This PCN is now closed and dealt with.

THANK YOU.

OP, let's sort out who's who first pl.

You are not the registered keeper; you do not have a PCN in your own name; whether to appeal to the tribunal is not your decision although you may act for the keeper with their consent.

If the keeper lost at appeal would they charge you a fee for processing payment of the penalty?

TfL say you were stopped for 4 minutes, you say you had your brake lights on all the time which proves it was more momentary. The CCTV will show, I suspect TfL are correct. You then drove off without anyone boarding and you don't have any job sheet or similar record for the day.

Barring there being procedural grounds to make an appeal worthwhile then why risk the discount?

We really need to know who's who.

Thanks for the reply — let me clarify the situation:

I'm not the registered keeper of the vehicle, but I hire it directly from the company that owns it — no third party involved. I was also the driver on the night in question.

If I do decide to challenge it at tribunal, there won’t be any extra charges from the company that owns the vehicle — they’re not involved beyond the hire. So the only risk on my end would be losing the discount and having to pay the full PCN amount. I’ve never taken a case this far before, so I’m not fully sure what costs or steps might come with the tribunal process.

Normally, if I make a mistake or stop somewhere I shouldn't, I take the hit, pay the PCN, and treat it as a lesson. I don’t usually challenge things unless I genuinely believe there’s some justification — and in this case, I was genuinely there to pick up a passenger.

Unfortunately, if the PCN had arrived even a few days earlier, I might’ve been able to retrieve the relevant job record or cancellation proof. But by the time it came through, that data was gone. So at this point, there’s no point dwelling on what I could’ve done.

I’m seriously considering just paying the discounted rate now — unless there’s a clear procedural ground to challenge it. I'm aware that appealing and then losing means paying full price, and with limited evidence and no guarantee, it may not be worth the time and stress.

You can treat this as more of a last attempt to check if there’s any solid ground to go on. If I’d known about this forum earlier, I would’ve started here — but it is what it is.

Thanks again to everyone who's taken the time to help.

Please Advice.