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       #Post#: 49938--------------------------------------------------
       Barnet Council - 31J Stopping in Box Junction - Edgware Bus
       Station Entrance (northbound)
   DIR By: taylorjohn21
       Date: December 15, 2024, 10:07 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       I would like to know from members on this forum whether they
       believe I have legal grounds to appeal a PCN I
       recently received from my local council.
       The PCN was issued for the following traffic contravention - 31J
       Entering and stopping in a box junction when
       prohibited.
       The photographic evidence (together with the time stamps)
       provided by the Council is shown below.
       Picture 1 - 13:58:58
       [attachimg=1]
       Picture 2 - 13:59:09
       [attachimg=2]
       Picture 3 - 13:59:09
       [attachimg=3]
       Picture 4 - 13:59:10
       [attachimg=4]
       I challenged this PCN as follows
       --- Quote ---
       > I would like to challenge the liability for PCN AG47146723 on
       the basis that the alleged contravention did not occur. I did
       not enter and stop in a box junction when prohibited.
       >
       > 1) In the frames you have provided - 2024-11-12 13:58:09 and
       2024-11-12 13:59:10 - the exit was not blocked by stationary
       traffic when I entered the box junction as the bus and the
       traffic ahead of the box junction was still moving.
       >
       > 2) On the date the PCN was issued - 12/11/2024 - I believe
       there was a set of temporary traffic lights situated beyond the
       box junction on Station Road which were green when I entered the
       box junction.
       >
       > 3) My rear red brake lights were not on when my car was
       photographed in the box junction behind the bus in frames
       2024-11-12 13:59:09 and 2024-11-12 13:59:10 - my car was,
       therefore, still in motion when the PCN was issued.
       --- End Quote ---
       The Council rejected my challenge - their response is in the
       post below.
       I also attach the PCN certificate and the rejection letter from
       the Council.
       [attachment deleted by admin]
       #Post#: 49940--------------------------------------------------
       Follow up from above post
   DIR By: taylorjohn21
       Date: December 15, 2024, 10:12 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Here is the response from the Council to my challenge
       --- Quote ---
       > We have carefully considered your comments and decided not to
       cancel your PCN.
       >
       > You have stated that there was temporary traffic lights,
       please be advised that traffic lights,
       > temporary or otherwise have no bearing on box junction
       criteria as box junctions are in place to
       > prevent gridlock and ease congestion. As such, if the light is
       green, but the exit is not clear
       > motorists must wait behind the box, until they can drive
       through without stopping.
       >
       > The PCN was issued because your vehicle entered the box
       junction with the exit lane not being
       > clear and stopped due to the presence of a stationary vehicle
       in front, a bus, which entered the
       > restricted area prior to your vehicle. A contravention occurs
       if the motorist enters the box
       > junction and has insufficient space at the other side to exit
       without stopping. A contravention is
       > committed if any part of the vehicle is left stationary within
       the confines of the box junction
       > regardless of the length of time involved.
       >
       > The CCTV footage shows your vehicle travelling through the
       box, following the vehicle ahead,
       > without slowing or waiting to ensure your exit route or lane
       was clear prior to entering.
       > Please be advised that motorists should not follow the vehicle
       in front as it may stop and
       > prevent their exit from the box junction.
       >
       > The Highway Code Rule 174 states: "Box junctions. These have
       criss-crossed yellow lines
       > painted on the road (see 'Road markings'). You MUST NOT enter
       the box until your exit road or
       > lane is clear. However, you may enter the box and wait when
       you want to turn right and are
       > only stopped from doing so by oncoming traffic, or by other
       vehicles waiting to turn right. At
       > signalled roundabouts you MUST NOT enter the box unless you
       can cross over it completely
       > without stopping."
       >
       > It is the practice of some drivers to follow other vehicles
       into box junctions, on the assumption
       > that the traffic will continue to flow smoothly, so that their
       own vehicle will not have to stop in
       > the box junction. However, the only way a driver can ensure
       that their vehicle does not breach
       > the above contravention, is by not entering the box junction
       until a space large enough to
       > accommodate their vehicle can be seen beyond the junction
       markings.
       >
       > The Council would like to refer you to the following web link
       (Online Media), to where you can
       > view the CCTV evidence of the contravention; as well as the
       photographic images;
       --- End Quote ---
       Is the Council right about this? Or should I appeal the decision
       to the independent Environment and Traffic
       Adjudicator? Bear in mind that if I appeal and lose then the
       penalty charge I have to pay would increase from
       £65.00 to £130.00.
       I would be grateful for any advice you can offer on this forum.
       Please let me know if you need any further information
       John Taylor
       [attachment deleted by admin]
       #Post#: 49941--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Barnet Council - 31J Stopping in Box Junction - Edgware Bus
       Station Entrance (northbound)
   DIR By: John U.K.
       Date: December 15, 2024, 10:18 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       The video is the evidence: please download it and post here.
       #Post#: 49951--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Barnet Council - 31J Stopping in Box Junction - Edgware Bus
       Station Entrance (northbound)
   DIR By: taylorjohn21
       Date: December 15, 2024, 10:47 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       --- Quote from: John U.K. link ---
       >
       > The video is the evidence: please download it and post here.
       >
       --- End Quote ---
       Here is the link to the video
  HTML https://barnetocm.itsvc.co.uk/PCN/GetPartialVideo?v=4A0097F6ED2CBDDC5FEEAF7E4E1EFF9EE957FC819377A7F18691335DBE90FB637D27233CCF8AB25883056A5562971AD2C3A0F82FE9B150AC84C78BFE52684A563EFCEEEFFF92609281EE8F134400B0CB4C9817340404A06FA0F5689F8379685A672DCB57F8DA47166025A1908E29B7594316FC3DFB174965EB006B1ED157F6436A2327EB71A9725055B7345B78E78CC4027877450E91CBE432B6D17C71EEDD71343D7B1EDB4BEDE3214FDDA1464E8B61
  HTML https://barnetocm.itsvc.co.uk/PCN/GetPartialVideo?v=4A0097F6ED2CBDDC5FEEAF7E4E1EFF9EE957FC819377A7F18691335DBE90FB637D27233CCF8AB25883056A5562971AD2C3A0F82FE9B150AC84C78BFE52684A563EFCEEEFFF92609281EE8F134400B0CB4C9817340404A06FA0F5689F8379685A672DCB57F8DA47166025A1908E29B7594316FC3DFB174965EB006B1ED157F6436A2327EB71A9725055B7345B78E78CC4027877450E91CBE432B6D17C71EEDD71343D7B1EDB4BEDE3214FDDA1464E8B61
       #Post#: 49952--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Barnet Council - 31J Stopping in Box Junction - Edgware Bus
       Station Entrance (northbound)
   DIR By: mickR
       Date: December 15, 2024, 10:48 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       nope
       #Post#: 49958--------------------------------------------------
       PCN Video Evidence 
   DIR By: taylorjohn21
       Date: December 15, 2024, 11:19 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       I also managed to download the video evidence in MP4 format - do
       you need me to send it to you or upload it somewhere?
       Kind regards
       John
       #Post#: 49962--------------------------------------------------
       Reply to John U.K. and Mick R
   DIR By: taylorjohn21
       Date: December 15, 2024, 11:44 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       --- Quote from: mickR link ---
       >
       > nope
       >
       --- End Quote ---
       I have uploaded the video evidence in MP4 format as a zipfile,
       please let me know if you can now view it.
       Thank you John
       [attachment deleted by admin]
       #Post#: 49979--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Barnet Council - 31J Stopping in Box Junction - Edgware Bus
       Station Entrance (northbound)
   DIR By: fraser.mitchell
       Date: December 15, 2024, 1:27 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       You don't seem to have posted the PCN, so please do so. Only
       redact name and address. We can go and look at the video using
       your PCN Number and car reg, its easy-peasy.  The offence occurs
       at the point of entry into the box, and the video must show
       this. Their rejection is the usual Fob-Off, I'm afraid.
       #Post#: 49983--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Barnet Council - 31J Stopping in Box Junction - Edgware Bus
       Station Entrance (northbound)
   DIR By: stamfordman
       Date: December 15, 2024, 1:52 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
  HTML https://i.imgur.com/3BfZXtw.gif
  HTML https://imgur.com/3BfZXtw
       #Post#: 49987--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Barnet Council - 31J Stopping in Box Junction - Edgware Bus
       Station Entrance (northbound)
   DIR By: fraser.mitchell
       Date: December 15, 2024, 2:14 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Having now seen the video, I don't think it supports your case.
       You entered the box just when the bus was turning in front of
       you at the other end of the box, and there was no space
       available for you to leave the box. However, there may well be a
       'technical' appeal case based on council management of the
       enforcement process and the content of the PCN. Hippocrates is
       ace at finding these, much to the chagrin of the councils that
       lose their cases !
       So wait a bit for others to contribute.
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