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HOW TO APPEAL A COUNCIL PENALTY CHARGE NOTICE

A council Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) is different from a private parking ticket. It's issued under the Traffic Management Act 2004 by your local council or Transport for London — and it carries real legal weight. But it can still be challenged, at every stage, with the right arguments.

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THE THREE APPEAL STAGES

STAGE 1
INFORMAL CHALLENGE

Challenge the original PCN before you pay. If the 50% discount is still open, this is your first move. Success here means the ticket is cancelled — you pay nothing.

STAGE 2
FORMAL REPRESENTATION

If Stage 1 fails or you receive a Notice to Owner, this is a statutory representation. It must cite one of the legal grounds under TMA 2004. The council must respond in writing.

STAGE 3
TRIBUNAL APPEAL

If the council rejects your representation, you can appeal to the independent Traffic Penalty Tribunal (England outside London) or London Tribunals (London and TfL). They're free, independent, and overturn a significant proportion of appeals.

STATUTORY GROUNDS FOR APPEAL

APPEAL BY CONTRAVENTION TYPE

Yellow Line / No Waiting
Codes: 01, 02, 05, 06
Pay and Display / Overstay
Codes: 23, 30, 35, 40
Residents Permit / Controlled Zone
Codes: 16, 25, 26, 27
Bus Lane / Bus Gate
Codes: 31, 32, 33
Loading Bay / Restricted Area
Codes: 41, 47, 48, 49
Disabled Bay / Blue Badge
Codes: 12, 40
Box Junction / Yellow Box
Codes: 31

FIGHT BACK.
£5.