Traffic Penalty Tribunal (TPT) Guide

Traffic Penalty Tribunal: How to Appeal a Council Parking Fine

The Traffic Penalty Tribunal (TPT) is the independent body that hears appeals against Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) issued by councils outside London. It is free to use, and its decisions are binding on the council.

For London, the equivalent body is London Tribunals (formerly PATAS). The process is similar but administered separately.

Who Can Appeal to the TPT?

You can appeal to the TPT if:

1. You received a PCN from a council outside London
2. You made formal representations to the council and they were rejected
3. You are within 28 days of receiving the council's Notice of Rejection

How to Submit Your Appeal

1. Register on the TPT website: Create an account at trafficpenaltytribunal.gov.uk
2. Enter your PCN details: You will need your PCN number and the council that issued it
3. State your grounds: Select the relevant statutory grounds and provide a written explanation
4. Upload evidence: Attach photos, documents, and any other supporting evidence
5. Choose your hearing type: You can opt for a decision based on written evidence alone (e-decision), a telephone hearing, or a personal attendance hearing
6. Submit: The council will be notified and will submit their evidence in response

Statutory Grounds for Appeal

The TPT can only consider appeals based on specific statutory grounds:

1. The contravention did not occur: The vehicle was not parked in contravention of the restriction
2. The PCN was not served in accordance with the law: Procedural errors in issuing or serving the PCN
3. The Traffic Regulation Order is invalid: The underlying TRO was not made correctly
4. The motorist is not the owner: The person who received the Notice to Owner was not the registered keeper at the time
5. The vehicle was used without consent: The vehicle was taken without the owner's consent
6. The hire firm has complied with requirements: Relevant for hire companies
7. The penalty exceeds the relevant amount: The charge is higher than the legal maximum
8. There has been a procedural impropriety: The council did not follow the correct process

The E-Decision Process

Most TPT appeals are decided on written evidence alone (e-decision). This is the fastest option:

1. You submit your appeal and evidence online
2. The council submits their response and evidence
3. You may be given the chance to reply to the council's evidence
4. An adjudicator reviews everything and makes a decision
5. The decision is emailed to both parties

Tips for Winning at TPT

Check the TRO: The Traffic Regulation Order is the legal basis for the parking restriction. You can request a copy from the council under the Freedom of Information Act. If the TRO does not cover the location where you were parked, or if the TRO was not made correctly, the PCN is invalid.

Photograph the location: Visit the site and photograph the signs, road markings, bay markings, and the overall context. Show any issues with visibility, fading, or inconsistency.

Request the CEO's notes: The Civil Enforcement Officer's contemporaneous notes and photographs are key evidence. You can request these from the council. Look for discrepancies between the CEO's notes and the PCN.

Check the signage against TSRGD: Signs must comply with the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions. If a sign is non-prescribed (wrong size, colour, or wording), the restriction may not be enforceable.

Use the observation period: For some contraventions, the CEO must observe the vehicle for a specified period before issuing a PCN. If the observation was too short, the PCN may be invalid.

TPT Success Rates

The TPT publishes annual statistics. Key findings:

• Overall success rates for appellants are around 55-60%
• Appeals with photographic evidence have higher success rates
• Signage and TRO challenges are the most successful grounds
• Councils withdraw a significant proportion of cases before the hearing, which counts as a win for the appellant

London Tribunals

If your PCN was issued by a London borough, you appeal to London Tribunals instead of the TPT. The process is very similar:

1. Formal representations to the council
2. If rejected, appeal to London Tribunals within 28 days
3. Submit evidence online
4. Receive a binding decision

London Tribunals can be reached at londoncouncils.gov.uk/services/parking-services.