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#Post#: 128395--------------------------------------------------
Harrow - Stopping where prohibited (46) - Picking up aged
relative
DIR By: ktaragorn
Date: August 20, 2026, 4:08 pm
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I just got a PCN from Harrow council for "stopping where
prohibited" as shown in the PCN below. I feel there is quite a
lot of extenuating circumstance here, wanted an experienced
opinion.
I was stopped to pick up my aged mother, who at 70 years old,
has very severely reduced mobility and cannot walk very far or
fast. She is visiting from India, and so I dont have any blue
badge or similar.
I stopped in a spot between parked cars which meant i had no
impact on the flow of traffic, and the point of no stopping on
red routes is to prevent obstructions to flow of traffic.
I was stopped for less than a minute to pick up a passenger,
whom i had taken care to prepare to board fast and also come to
the right place, to again minimize any disruption.
I stopped in a space where there was a small side alley opening,
which meant the red markings on the road were actually broken
here.
Almost all of the "red route" marking on that road on both sides
of the road are covered by parking, I dunno if that makes it
acceptable as hard to see. I dont think i really clocked it that
a road with that much parked traffic is actually a red route for
e.g
I can check the council page for the video and it shows
- Unobstructed and flowing traffic
- My car with the hazard lights on to alert other drivers
- My mother taking a while to get down due to her mobility ~30s,
and me moving off a couple seconds later
- Camera then kinda follows my mom for a bit for some reason..
showing her walking slowly
I am thinking of appealing with the above points, would it have
a good chance of being waived in your experience/opinion?
Exact location -
HTML https://maps.app.goo.gl/EheEma7PL2zjpCtG8
HTML https://ibb.co/4ZDn5TLy
#Post#: 128399--------------------------------------------------
Re: Harrow - Stopping where prohibited (46) - Picking up aged
relative
DIR By: fraser.mitchell
Date: August 20, 2026, 6:57 pm
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Google Street View is of little value here, because it is way
out of date, the last view being 2019. The video and photos on
the Harrow website show the double-red lines where you stopped
adjacent to your car, so the PCN is legally valid. I have to
say it's a bit of a money-grubbing PCN because as you say, you
did not interrupt traffic at all. You need to realise that PCN
penalty income is now a huge money-spinner for London councils
and Transport for London with revenues from penalties now well
beyond £650million per annum.
By all means submit representations on the lines you suggest,
but don't expect a favourable result. You state in your
narrative that you stopped to pick up your elderly mother, but
the Harrow video shows her alighting from the car not boarding.
As the discount period is 21 days, I suggest that before
submitting your representations, you wait a bit to see what the
others say here. However, don't miss the discount deadline if
nobody else suggests any alternatives if you are not willing to
risk the full PCN penalty.
#Post#: 128418--------------------------------------------------
Re: Harrow - Stopping where prohibited (46) - Picking up aged
relative
DIR By: stamfordman
Date: August 21, 2026, 5:28 am
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This is the traffic order. It's in an experimental 18 month
phase.
Taxis and blue badge holders are exempt from boarding/alighting
so they may use discretion given it's been in place for only
about 8 months.
HTML https://www.harrow.gov.uk/downloads/file/33452/25-39-rayners-lane-emto-red-route
It's alarming to see London boroughs doing their own red routes
as all TFL's roads are red routes so confusion can reign as
we've seen with Redbridge, where the PHV taxi exemption does not
apply.
#Post#: 128449--------------------------------------------------
Re: Harrow - Stopping where prohibited (46) - Picking up aged
relative
DIR By: fraser.mitchell
Date: August 21, 2026, 12:27 pm
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My thanks to SFM for doing the research ! It may well be useful
therefore to submit representations on the lines you suggest in
your narrative, emphasising that no traffic was held up. If you
like, post your proposed reps on here for review before
submitting.
#Post#: 128451--------------------------------------------------
Re: Harrow - Stopping where prohibited (46) - Picking up aged
relative
DIR By: tincombe
Date: August 21, 2026, 1:08 pm
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OP, have you looked at the video?
This shows you dropping off someone from the rear passenger door
and moving off immediately. No-one is picked up.
I wouldn't submit what you've posted here because it's not
supported by the camera evidence. You only get one go at this
before adjudication.
#Post#: 128537--------------------------------------------------
Re: Harrow - Stopping where prohibited (46) - Picking up aged
relative
DIR By: ktaragorn
Date: August 22, 2026, 5:47 pm
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Thanks guys for correcting me, I meant to say dropping off. Will
be sure to reword to that in the appeal. Thanks for all the
input.
#Post#: 128538--------------------------------------------------
Re: Harrow - Stopping where prohibited (46) - Picking up aged
relative
DIR By: ktaragorn
Date: August 22, 2026, 5:55 pm
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This is the letter AI suggests I use based on the context.. Let
me know if it is sensible.
I wish to make formal representation against the above PCN
issued for "Stopping where prohibited on a Red Route".
I accept that I stopped at the location. However, I believe the
PCN should be cancelled due to the following compelling
circumstances:
1. Compelling reason - Passenger with severely reduced mobility
I stopped briefly to drop off my 70-year-old mother who was
visiting from the UK. She has very severely reduced mobility and
is unable to walk more than a few metres unaided. As a visitor
from India she does not hold a UK Blue Badge.
I stopped at the closest and safest point to her destination to
minimise the distance she had to walk. The stop was for less
than one minute.
2. No obstruction to traffic flow
The purpose of the red route restriction is to prevent
obstruction. In this case:I stopped between parked vehicles,
fully out of the running lane
Hazard lights were on to alert other drivers Traffic was
flowing and unobstructed, as shown on your own CCTV footage
The stop was momentary and caused no delay to other road users
3. Lack of clear signage / misleading road layout
The red route markings at this location are broken due to a side
alley opening where I stopped. Furthermore, almost all of the
red route markings on this stretch of road are obscured by
parked vehicles. I understand this is a recent/experimental red
route. Combined, this made it difficult to identify that
stopping was prohibited at that exact spot.Given the above, I
respectfully request that you exercise discretion and cancel
this PCN. The contravention was brief, caused no obstruction,
and was necessary due to my mother’s medical needs.
R.e the "broken red lines" the point i am making, is there is a
small alley that breaks off from the road here, so while I am
indeed blocking that alleyway for the minute, the red lines at
that point are arguably not present exactly where I am stood.
#Post#: 128544--------------------------------------------------
Re: Harrow - Stopping where prohibited (46) - Picking up aged
relative
DIR By: fraser.mitchell
Date: August 23, 2026, 4:01 am
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--- Quote ---
> R.e the "broken red lines" the point i am making, is there is
a small alley that breaks off from the road here, so while I am
indeed blocking that alleyway for the minute, the red lines at
that point are arguably not present exactly where I am stood.
--- End Quote ---
Yes, but the red lines go round the kerb, so they do cover the
entrance to the alley.
#Post#: 128549--------------------------------------------------
Re: Harrow - Stopping where prohibited (46) - Picking up aged
relative
DIR By: stamfordman
Date: August 23, 2026, 4:40 am
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I would just use this and add that you understand a blue badge
holder would be exempt and would they kindly use discretion on
this occasion, and that you also understand it's under a recent
experimental traffic order. .
1. Compelling reason - Passenger with severely reduced mobility
I stopped briefly to drop off my 70-year-old mother who was
visiting from the UK. She has very severely reduced mobility and
is unable to walk more than a few metres unaided. As a visitor
from India she does not hold a UK Blue Badge.
I stopped at the closest and safest point to her destination to
minimise the distance she had to walk. The stop was for less
than one minute.
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