If you believe a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) has been issued incorrectly, it may be challenged through the statutory process.

Challenges must be submitted in writing or online, quoting the PCN number in all correspondence.

The challenge process may include the following stages depending on the type of PCN that has been issued:

  • Informal challenge
  • Formal representations
  • Appeal to an independent adjudicator at the Traffic Penalty Tribunal

Stage 1 - Informal challenge

For a PCN that has been put on the windscreen of the vehicle or handed to the driver, informal challenge is the first stage of the process.

An informal challenge must be made within 28 days of the PCN being issued. The challenge should clearly set out the reasons for contesting the PCN and must be supported by any relevant evidence, such as photographs, receipts or witness statements.

Informal challenges may be submitted in writing or online using the PCN number and vehicle registration.

We will notify the motorist whether the challenge has been accepted or rejected. 

  • Where an informal challenge is accepted, the PCN will be cancelled, and no payment will be required.
  • Where an informal challenge is rejected, the motorist must either pay the PCN or proceed to the next stage of the process.


Where an informal challenge is received within 14 days of the PCN being issued, the discounted rate will usually be re-offered if the challenge is rejected.


Where an informal challenge is rejected and the PCN remains unpaid, a Notice to Owner will be served on the registered keeper of the vehicle.

Stage 2 - Formal representation

The formal representations stage applies:

  • after a Notice to Owner has been issued for an unpaid PCN; or
  • where the PCN has been issued by post (for example for a bus lane PCN).


Formal representations must be made within 28 days of the Notice being served. Postal PCN’s will include details of any applicable discount periods (14 or 21 days).


The Notice to Owner sets out the statutory grounds on which representations may be made. Any supporting evidence should be submitted at this stage.


Formal representations may be submitted online using the PCN number and vehicle registration provided on the Notice to Owner, or at the postal / email address provided.

 
We will notify the registered keeper whether the formal representations have been accepted or rejected. 

  • Where formal representations are accepted, the PCN will be cancelled.
  • Where formal representations are rejected, the registered keeper must either pay the PCN or appeal to the independent tribunal if continuing to challenge the PCN. 

Stage 3 - Appeal to an independent adjudicator

Where formal representations are rejected, a Notice of Rejection of Representations will be issued to the registered keeper.


The registered keeper is entitled to appeal to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal (TPT), an independent adjudication service, within 28 days of the Notice of Rejection being served.


Appeals can be submitted online using the appeal details provided on the Notice of Rejection, including the PIN code. If the appellant is unable to go online, they can request a Notice of Appeal from the Traffic Penalty Tribunal by contacting them and having the details from the NoR to hand.


The appellant must select the statutory ground(s) of appeal and submit any supporting evidence. The adjudicator may consider evidence submitted by both the appellant and the authority.


Once an appeal is submitted, the Tribunal will carry out initial checks and register the appeal. Confirmation of registration will be issued.

After the decision

Once the adjudicator has reached a decision, the appellant will be notified.
The decision will state one of the following:

  • The appeal is allowed and the penalty charge is cancelled
  • The appeal is refused and the penalty charge must be paid


Where an appeal is allowed, the matter is concluded and no payment is required.


Where an appeal is refused, the penalty charge must be paid within 28 days of the adjudicator’s decision. Failure to do so may result in the authority continuing enforcement action.


If the appellant remains dissatisfied, the adjudicator’s decision letter will explain whether any further steps are available.

Stage 1: Notice to Owner is issued

Payment of the penalty charge notice is the liability of the registered keeper of the vehicle. They'll receive a Notice to Owner if the charge remains unpaid after 28 days, and be given the option to pay the full amount or make a representation.

Stage 2: Charge Certificate

If the Notice to Owner isn't actioned by the registered keeper, a Charge Certificate will be issued after the statutory 28 days have elapsed (56 days from the initial penalty issue date). The original penalty charge payable at this stage will have been further increased by 50%.

Stage 3: registered debt and recovery by Enforcement Agents

If the increased amount remains unpaid after a further 14 days, the amount will be registered with the Traffic Enforcement Centre at Northampton County Court as a debt. Reaching this stage will incur an additional charge of £10. Once the debt is registered, a further 21 days will be allowed for payment. A warrant of execution will be issued and discharged by certified Enforcement Agents, who will take recovery action if the debt isn't paid within the statutory time limit.

The original penalty charge on the date of issue will have been £50 or £70 depending on whether or not the contravention is levied at the lower or higher level of penalty; by this time it will have increased to £75 and £105 respectively.

Increases to the payment are part of the cases progression and statutory charges through Traffic Penalty Tribunal and Traffic Enforcement Centre.

Even if a penalty charge notice is subject to a warrant of execution, we'll only ever receive the £85 or £115 registered as a debt at the county court. Any Enforcement Agent costs attached to the amount in respect of recovering the debt is kept by the Council.

If you had a medical emergency and this resulted in a penalty charge notice being issued you can appeal and include a letter from the hospital or doctor as proof.

The Neighbourhood Enforcement Officer may not be aware of your vehicle break down. Appeal your penalty charge notice and include evidence such as a garage receipt for the work carried out.

The registered keeper of the vehicle is liable for paying the penalty charge notice (PCN).

A Neighbourhood Enforcement Agent will observe a vehicle for a given time (this observation time is printed on the penalty charge notice (PCN) to establish whether it is being used for loading/unloading purposes. If no activity is seen around the vehicle during the observation period then a penalty charge notice (PCN) will be issued. If you feel the neighbourhood enforcement officer (NEO) issued the penalty charge notice (PCN) wrongly, you may appeal and supply evidence of a delivery note as proof of loading/unloading was taking place.

Loading/unloading should be a continuous activity involving heavy goods.

Pavement parking can be anti-social and can cause significant disruption to pedestrians including people with small children, who use mobility aids and wheelchairs, are blind or partially sighted or use assistance dogs.

You usually can park near to most residential properties on the road although not necessarily outside without causing an obstruction.

Most schools have a transport plan that identifies areas where parking is acceptable without the need to park on the pavement. For example, local shops may volunteer their car park at school pick up times. These may be away from the school but no more than a short walk.

View the extensive list of free car parking in most local centres. Obstructing pavements in shopping areas is not justifiable even if it is just for a few minutes.

Parking a vehicle on the footway where no other restrictions are in place is not currently an offence that can be enforced under car parking enforcement (CPE).

However, there are circumstances where we may be able to take action such as:

  • where there are existing parking restrictions that are in force at the time on the adjacent carriageway, such as (but not limited to) waiting restrictions or clearway markings
  • where a pavement parking ban is in place with the associated signing, and supporting Traffic Regulation Order. These restrictions have not yet been used in Telford and Wrekin, but may be considered on a case by case basis.

In other circumstances where a parked vehicle is blocking access along the footway, this offence is called ‘obstruction’ and could still be enforced by the Police.

With regard to the national position, we are awaiting the outcome of ongoing national discussions on the potential for additional powers being added to Civil Parking contraventions to tackle this issue. Whilst these discussions are ongoing, we will continue to consider traditional solutions via Traffic Regulation Orders, partnership working with the Police and engineering solutions.