We call parking fines Penalty Charge Notices. There are three stages to appealing a Penalty Charge Notice. These are:
- Informal challenge
- Formal representation
- Appeal to an independent adjudicator at the Traffic Penalty Tribunal
Stage one - informal challenge
This is the first stage of the appeal process. You can make an informal challenge for a Penalty Charge Notice that has been placed on the windscreen of a vehicle or handed to you. If your parking fine was issued by post, for example, a bus lane Penalty Charge Notice, you must make a formal representation instead.
You must make an informal challenge within 28 days of being issued the Penalty Charge Notice. You can do this online.
Your challenge must clearly set out your reasons for appealing the fine and you must submit relevant evidence. For example:
- photographs
- receipts
- witness statements
Stage two - formal representation
The formal representation stage happens:
- after we have rejected an informal challenge
- if the parking fine was issued by post, for example, a bus lane Penalty Charge Notice
If we have rejected your informal challenge and you still do not pay your fine, we will serve a Notice to Owner on the registered keeper of the vehicle. You can then make a formal representation against this. You must do this within 28 days of the notice being served.
The Notice to Owner will tell you the grounds you can make a representation on. This could be:
- the contravention did not happen
- you were not the owner or keeper of the vehicle when the contravention happened
- the vehicle was taken without the owner's consent
- the vehicle is owned by a hire firm who has supplied the name and address of the hirer
- the penalty charge was more than the applicable amount
- there has been procedural impropriety on behalf of the council
- the Traffic Order was invalid
- the penalty charge has been paid in full
You should also submit any supporting evidence you have at this stage.
We will let you know if your formal representation has been accepted or rejected. If it is accepted, the parking fine will be cancelled.
If it is rejected, we will send you a Notice of Rejection of Representations and you must either pay the fine or appeal to the independent tribunal if you still want to challenge the fine.
Stage three - appeal to an independent adjudicator
You are entitled to appeal to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal within 28 days of being served a Notice of Rejection. This is an independent adjudication service.
You can submit an appeal to an independent adjudicator online on the Traffic Penalty Tribunal website using the details in the Notice of Rejection including the PIN code.
You will need to select the statutory grounds for your appeal and submit any supporting evidence you have. The adjudicator may consider evidence from both you and us.
Once your appeal is submitted, the tribunal will carry out initial checks and register your appeal. They will issue a confirmation of registration.
If you cannot submit your appeal online, you can contact the Traffic Penalty Tribunal and ask for a Notice of Appeal. You will need to give them the details from your Notice of Rejection.
The adjudicator's decision
The adjudicator will contact you to tell you their decision. They will either decide to:
- allow the appeal - the penalty charge will then be cancelled
- refuse the appeal - the penalty charge must then be paid
If they refuse your appeal, you must pay the penalty charge within 28 days of the adjudicator's decision. If you do not pay, we may take enforcement action.
If you are not satisfied with the decision, the decision letter from the adjudicator will explain if there is any more you can do.