Free Traffic Legal Advice

I can submit pictures over the weekend. Given the imminent deadline to submit the appeal, shall we just not submit it while trying to contact the leisure centre to get it cancelled? Getting a response from the centre will take some time.

Thank you mate. Please let me know what to do.

I agree. It's a disgraceful letter from the Council. I'm happy to take it to tribunal if anyone here is able to help with the appeal?

Hi all,

I forgot to update:

1. They've cancelled one of the pcns (the one that had the incorrect road name) saying "Thank you for your letter regarding the above Penally Charge Notice.
The matter has been considered and as a resultit is considered that there are suffcient grounds for the notice to be cancelled. No further action wilbe taken."

2. For the PCN that had the correct road name (which is what the original post here is about), we recieved the NtO giving the reason as" parked without payment of the parking charge". Here is the NtO: https://freeimage.host/i/faL1lZx

I have only until tomorrow I believe to submit a rep (however the NtO says 28 days from when the letter was served, which would mean I have another two days or so).

I've lost the discount so can someone help with the rep? Should I just re submit what I sent for the challenge?

Many thanks

Pastbybest is saying just say something like:

I checked my car clock and it said 7:59 (or before 8am) so was reassured I was able to proceed before the restriction started.

OK have amended. See below. Should I also remove the second para under no. 1? Or is it all now good to go? Many thanks.

I am writing to challenge this PCN on the following grounds:

1. Trivial Timing – De Minimis Breach

I checked my car clock and it was not yet 8am, so was reassured I was able to proceed before the restriction started.

I do not have independent confirmation of the accuracy of the council’s recording device time. If the council’s timing is accurate, any contravention was entirely unintentional and occurred in a very brief period (53 seconds) immediately after the restriction began.

2. Unclear “Term Time Only” Signage

Although I believed I had entered the road before the restricted time shown on the sign, I was not certain if the restriction was in force due to the accompanying sign that said "restricted access term-time only". The  sign does not specify any term dates or provide a means of knowing when those terms begin and end.

Adjudicators have previously criticised such signage as ambiguous and unfair, since motorists cannot be expected to know school term dates, which vary between boroughs and regions.

Without clear dates displayed or referenced, the signage fails to convey the restriction adequately, and any enforcement based on it is therefore unreasonable.

For these reasons, I ask the PCN to be cancelled.

Best wishes,

OK, as per advice, I have removed point no. 3 and have amended point no. 1:

I am writing to challenge this PCN on the following grounds:

1. Trivial Timing – De Minimis Breach

According to the still images accompanying the PCN, the vehicle entered the zone at 08:00:53, only 53 seconds after the restriction came into effect at 8:00 am.

I do not have independent confirmation of the accuracy of the council’s recording device time. If the council’s timing is accurate, any contravention was entirely unintentional and occurred in a very brief period immediately after the restriction began.

Such a minimal difference clearly falls within a reasonable margin of timing variation between clocks and recording systems. Entering the zone less than a minute after the restriction began did not endanger pedestrians nor undermine the purpose of the restriction. This is plainly a de minimis case — one so minor that enforcement would be disproportionate and contrary to the spirit of fair regulation.

2. Unclear “Term Time Only” Signage

Although I believed I had entered the road before the restricted time shown on the sign, I was not certain if the restriction was in force due to the accompanying sign that said "restricted access term-time only". The  sign does not specify any term dates or provide a means of knowing when those terms begin and end.

Adjudicators have previously criticised such signage as ambiguous and unfair, since motorists cannot be expected to know school term dates, which vary between boroughs and regions.

Without clear dates displayed or referenced, the signage fails to convey the restriction adequately, and any enforcement based on it is therefore unreasonable.

For these reasons, I ask the PCN to be cancelled.

Best wishes

OK thanks, will shorten and send.