Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) are issued when a vehicle is observed parked in contravention of either on-street or off-street parking regulations. These are more commonly referred to as parking fines or parking tickets.
If you believe your PCN has been issued incorrectly, or you believe you have mitigating reasons as to why you feel the council should reconsider your case, you can challenge through the statutory process.
Please read the following guidance before submitting your appeal.
Case details may take up to 24 hours to appear on our system. Please ensure you enter your 10 digit PCN reference (starting with JS) and vehicle registration exactly as shown on your notice.
If your information does not show, this does not mean your PCN is invalid. Contact Parking Services and the team will check the case details for you.
If payment is made at any stage, liability is accepted, and the case will be closed. East Suffolk Council is not obliged to reopen a paid case.
All challenges need to be submitted online via our PCN Viewer. Appeals cannot be accepted over the telephone, even if you believe the PCN has been issued in error.
For a PCN that has been put on the windscreen of the vehicle or handed to the driver, informal challenge is the first stage of the process.
An informal challenge must be made within 28 days of the PCN being issued. The challenge should clearly set out the reasons for contesting the PCN and must be supported by any relevant evidence, such as photographs or receipts.
We will notify the motorist whether the challenge has been accepted or rejected.
Where an informal challenge is received within 14 days of the PCN being issued, the discounted rate will be re-offered if the challenge is rejected.
Where an informal challenge is rejected and the PCN remains unpaid, a Notice to Owner (NtO) will be served in the post to the registered keeper of the vehicle.
The formal representations stage applies after a Notice to Owner (NtO) has been issued for either an unpaid PCN; or where the PCN has been issued by post.
Formal representations must be made within 28 days of the Notice being served.
The NtO sets out the statutory grounds on which representations may be made. Any supporting evidence should be submitted at this stage.
We will notify the registered keeper whether the formal representation has been accepted or rejected.
Where a formal representation is rejected, a Notice of Rejection (NoR) will be issued to the registered keeper.
The registered keeper is entitled to appeal to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal (TPT), an independent adjudication service, within 28 days of the NoR being served.
Appeals can be submitted online using the appeal details provided on NoR, including the PIN code. If the appellant is unable to go online, they can request a Notice of Appeal from TPT by contacting them and having the details from the NoR to hand.
The appellant must select the statutory ground(s) of appeal and submit any supporting evidence. The adjudicator may consider evidence submitted by both the appellant and the authority.
Once an appeal is submitted, TPT will carry out initial checks and register the appeal. Confirmation of registration will be issued.
Once the adjudicator has reached a decision, the appellant will be notified.
The decision will state one of the following:
Where an appeal is allowed, the matter is concluded and no payment is required.
Where an appeal is dismissed, the penalty charge must be paid within 28 days of the adjudicator’s decision. Failure to do so may result in the authority continuing enforcement action.
If the appellant remains dissatisfied, the adjudicator’s decision letter will explain whether any further steps are available.
The discount does not form part of the statutory appeals process. It is offered as an incentive for early payment should the motorist choose to settle the PCN:
If you are supporting someone who has received a PCN you can submit a challenge on their behalf via the PCN Viewer. If this is not possible, you may send your challenge by post to:
Parking Services
East Suffolk Council
Riverside
4 Canning Road
Lowestoft
Suffolk
NR33 0EQ
Below are some useful links you may wish to consider viewing before appealing your PCN.
PATROL (Parking and Traffic Regulations Outside London
Traffic Management Act 2004
Traffic Penalty Tribunal (TPT) Free, fair and fast appeals
The Highway Code, road safety and vehicle rules
On-street parking control signs and road markings
The Blue Badge scheme: Rights and Responsibilities in England
East Suffolk Council provide the appeals process in accordance with The Civil Enforcement of Road Traffic Contraventions (Approved Devices, Charging Guidelines and General Provisions) (England) Regulations 2022.
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