Free Traffic Legal Advice

Hi all,


I would appreciate some advice on a council-issued PCN and representations letter that just appeared!

Location: Langley Hill short stay car park (Dacorum Borough Council)
PCN contravention: Code 80 – Parked for longer than permitted
Observation time: 11:49 to 11:53 (4 minutes)
Max stay: 4 hours (free, but requires vehicle registration input)

The PCN was issued by a Civil Enforcement Officer as there is no ANPR at this location. The observation period is only 4 minutes and no evidence has been provided of arrival time or total duration of stay. The council rejected my initial challenge and stated that the PCN was issued because the vehicle was parked “beyond the permitted duration without a valid parking session.”

The contravention issued is Code 80 (overstaying), which is time-based. However, there is no evidence I exceeded the 4-hour maximum stay, the officer only observed the vehicle for 4 minutes, and the council appears to be relying on “no valid session” rather than actual duration

From the council’s own contravention list, failure to obtain a session appears to fall under a different contravention (e.g. Code 73 or 83), list linked here: https://www.dacorum.gov.uk/docs/default-source/parking/guide-on-how-to-park-legally.pdf?sfvrsn=62800c9e_2

At the location the main sign says registration must be entered for free parking, however the machine wording states failure to obtain a session “may result” in a PCN

Therefore I have a few questions:

1. Is Code 80 valid in this situation without evidence of duration?
2. Can the council rely on “no valid session” to justify an overstaying contravention?
3. Is this worth taking to tribunal?

I am currently at the Notice to Owner stage and preparing formal representations.

I have attached images of both the machine and signage at the location below:





Thanks in advance.