Halton Code 24 PCN Appeal (2026)

1. What does Halton Code 24 mean?

Code 24 alleges that a vehicle was not correctly parked within the markings of a bay or space. The council's photographs should establish the relevant boundary and the vehicle's position. DfT guidance allows more than one lawful parking-place layout, including areas distinguished by paving or surface treatment, so an old diagram is not a universal template for every bay.

Contravention

Code 24 alleges that a vehicle was not correctly parked within the markings of a bay or space

Category

On-Street Parking PCNs

Issuing authority

Halton Borough Council

Formal representation deadline

28 days beginning with service of the Notice to Owner or postal parking PCN.

Penalty and discount

Use the charge and discount printed on your PCN; the applicable amount depends on the notice and contravention date.

Initial discount

The initial 50% discount applies for 14 days beginning with PCN service, or 21 days for an approved-device postal parking PCN. An early challenge may lead to a renewed discount if rejected; check the council's policy and the amount and deadline in its reply.

Appeal route

Halton, then Traffic Penalty Tribunal after a formal Notice of Rejection.

2. What must Halton establish?

Photograph the entire permitted area, including both ends, sides and any paving or surface changes. One wheel close-up may not establish which space the vehicle occupied.

A missing traditional end line does not automatically invalidate a bay. Explain a genuinely unclear boundary in the context of the whole layout and sign.

• The applicable parking conditions must require the vehicle to remain within the bay or space identified in the allegation.
• The layout must adequately identify that space through the applicable markings or permitted surface treatment; not every parking place has individual painted divisions.
• The evidence must show the vehicle's position against the actual boundary, distinguishing an individual space from a continuous parking area.
• Assess specific permission, an unavoidable event or a local tolerance on its own terms. A historic one-wheel test is not a universal statutory rule, and payment does not remove the positioning condition.

3. Grounds and exemptions for a Halton Code 24 appeal

The statutory ground must match what happened. These code-specific points explain how to establish it.

A tight space or another badly parked vehicle does not automatically permit parking outside the bay. Some authorities apply local policies to marginal encroachment, but a historical 'one wheel outside' instruction should not be presented as a universal statutory test. Blue Badge display and payment do not generally remove the obligation to use the permitted space.

• The vehicle was within the actual permitted space. Use photographs showing both ends and sides, not just one wheel, and ask the council to identify the boundary it says was crossed.
• The council treated a continuous parking area as separate individual spaces without establishing those divisions. Compare the layout and signs with the parking order and current signing arrangements.
• The markings or surface changes did not adequately identify the space. Explain the missing, obscured or contradictory boundary and how the wider layout appeared when parking.
• The recorded position resulted from a documented circumstance beyond the driver's control or express direction or authorisation. Explain what happened and why a different position was not reasonably available, distinguishing an exception from a request for discretion.
• The alleged parking contravention did not happen, including where a relevant exemption applied or the restriction was not adequately signed.
• You were not the owner at the relevant time: you never owned the vehicle, sold it before the event or acquired it afterwards.
• The vehicle was under someone else's control without the owner's consent at the time of the alleged contravention.
• You are a vehicle-hire firm and the vehicle was hired under a qualifying agreement with a signed statement accepting PCN liability. Supply the hirer's name and address.
• The authority is demanding more than the penalty legally applicable to this case.
• The authority failed to comply with a statutory requirement in imposing or recovering the penalty: a procedural impropriety.
• The traffic order relied on is invalid, except an order subject to Part 6 of Schedule 9 to the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.
• For a postal PCN relying on prevented service or a qualifying drive-away under regulation 10(2)(b) or (c), nobody prevented the officer from attaching or handing over the PCN. This is not the ground for an approved-device postal PCN.
• The enforcement notice should not have been served because the penalty was already paid in full, or at the valid discounted amount by the applicable deadline. Paying a parking tariff is different from paying the penalty.

4. How to make a formal representation to Halton

For a parking PCN attached to the vehicle or handed to the driver, send an informal challenge to Halton. Formal representations are made against the Notice to Owner, or directly against a postal parking PCN, within 28 days beginning with service. Respond to the formal notice even if an earlier informal challenge is unanswered.

The initial 50% discount applies for 14 days beginning with PCN service, or 21 days for an approved-device postal parking PCN. An early challenge may lead to a renewed discount if rejected; check the council's policy and the amount and deadline in its reply.

• Wide photographs showing the vehicle's full position and every disputed boundary.
• Close photographs of faded markings, paving changes or an obscured edge in context.
• The sign and parking-place layout, including whether spaces were individually divided.
• The officer's notes and any permission, direction or exceptional-event evidence.

1. Follow the submission instructions on your current notice. The link below is Halton's official parking information, not a verified submission form.
2. Check the issuing authority, PCN reference and vehicle registration on your current notice before choosing a challenge route.
3. Use the submission method and deadline stated on your current notice. Check that any online form is for the notice type and stage you have.
4. Keep a copy of your submission and attachments, and retain any acknowledgement or postal delivery record.
5. Explain which part of the Code 24 allegation you dispute. Include the PCN reference, vehicle registration, your address and copies of photographs or records supporting each point.
6. Save the full submission, attachments and dated acknowledgement.

5. How long does Halton have to respond?

Halton must serve its decision within 56 days beginning with receipt of qualifying formal representations. If it fails to comply, those representations are deemed accepted. This statutory period applies to formal representations, not an informal challenge or a request for photographs.

6. If Halton rejects your representation

A formal Notice of Rejection explains Halton's decision and how to appeal to Traffic Penalty Tribunal. You have 28 days beginning with service of that notice to pay or register your tribunal appeal.

Compare the reply with the Code 24 grounds and evidence you submitted. Identify any unanswered point, missing evidence or inconsistency between the restriction and the recorded event. Keep the rejection notice and the appeal details supplied with it.

An informal rejection is different: formal representations can be made if a Notice to Owner follows.

7. Taking your Halton appeal to Traffic Penalty Tribunal

Traffic Penalty Tribunal is independent of Halton. Use the registration instructions and verification details in the Notice of Rejection, upload your evidence and explain why the alleged Code 24 contravention or liability is disputed.

There is no fee to register the appeal. If it is refused, the full penalty is normally payable; an earlier discount does not automatically continue. If registering late, explain the delay so the adjudicator can decide whether to accept the appeal.

Read Halton's evidence pack and respond to the points relevant to your case. Keep to the tribunal's directions and evidence deadlines.

2025 London Tribunals results: shared context

49 of 107 recorded cases were allowed (45.8%).

Full Code 24 PCN Appeal Guide

Read the detailed legislation, signage requirements, exemptions and case analysis for this contravention.