Appeal a parking fine

1. If you appeal within 14 days of the issue of the Penalty Charge Notice but your appeal is rejected then you will still be able to pay the discounted charge if paid within 14 days of the rejection letter. If it is an appeal against a postal penalty charge notice then a further 21 days are given.
2. If the penalty charge remains unpaid then after 28 days the council will ascertain the registered keeper details from the DVLA.
3. The council will issue a Notice to Owner to the registered keeper. At this stage the penalty charge will have increased to the original charge.
4. If a penalty charge notice is issued through the post then this will be sent to the registered keeper who will have 21 days to pay the discounted charge or 28 days to appeal.
5. At this stage the registered keeper may appeal or pay. The Grounds of appeal are detailed on the Notice to Owner.
6. If an appeal is rejected then an appeal may be made to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal (It is only at this stage that an appeal to the Tribunal can be made).
7. If the penalty charge remains unpaid then after at least 28 days a charge certificate will be issued which increases the penalty charge by a further 50%. At this stage no appeal will be considered by the council.
8. If the penalty charge remains unpaid then after a further 21 days the council will register the charge at the Traffic Enforcement Centre, Northampton County Court as an outstanding charge. The council will issue an Order for Recovery and the penalty charge will increase by a further £9. At this stage an appeal cannot be made to the council but an appeal may be made to the Enforcement Centre on any one of the formal grounds.
9. If the penalty charge remains unpaid then the council will apply for a warrant and instruct an enforcement agent to make recovery.

1. If you receive a penalty charge notice through the post, then your vehicle was captured by a camera going through a bus gate when it was in force.
2. You can appeal against the penalty charge notice. This must be in writing and must be made within 28 days. You must detail why you are appealing and enclose any supporting documents that you think will assist your appeal.
3. If your appeal is rejected then an appeal may be made to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal. It is only at this stage that an appeal to the Tribunal can be made.

Although a driver may make an initial appeal or pay the charge the registered keeper is liable for the charge even if they were not the driver.

All appeals must be made in writing.

Your Councillor and MP may be interested in learning about the difficulties you may be experiencing and can help to resolve a problem that may have been the cause of you receiving a penalty charge. However, an elected member of the Council may not play a part in deciding whether a particular motorist should have to pay a penalty charge. This decision is made by authorised parking office staff only or ultimately by the Traffic Penalty Tribunal if a decision is appealed. This is because the legal procedure does not permit their involvement in the process.

The Statutory Guidance published by the Secretary of State for Transport under section 87 of the Traffic Management Act 2004 s92 states that elected members and unauthorised staff should not under any circumstances, play a part in deciding the outcome of individual challenges, representations or appeals. This is to ensure that only fully trained staff make decisions on the facts presented.