Hounslow Code 48 PCN Appeal (2026)

1. What does Hounslow Code 48 mean?

Code 48 covers prohibited stopping on entrance markings outside schools, hospitals and emergency-service stations. DfT explains that the yellow zigzags and an upright sign establish a mandatory no-stopping restriction during the displayed times. This protects visibility and access; dropping off a child is not automatically permitted because the stop is brief.

Contravention

Code 48 covers prohibited stopping on entrance markings outside schools, hospitals and emergency-service stations

Category

On-Street Parking PCNs

Issuing authority

London Borough of Hounslow

Formal representation deadline

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

Penalty and discount

£160 higher level / £110 lower level. Hounslow on-street higher- and lower-level parking PCNs, as listed in the council's current contravention-code tables.

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

Hounslow, then London Tribunals after a formal Notice of Rejection.

2. What must Hounslow establish?

Record the yellow entrance zigzags and upright no-stopping sign together, including every time panel. Entrance markings without that upright prohibition are advisory under this provision, although other parking restrictions may still apply.

The entrance can serve a school, hospital or emergency-service station. These yellow markings are not the white pedestrian-crossing zigzags covered by Code 99.

• The yellow entrance markings must be accompanied by the relevant upright no-stopping sign for the mandatory entrance-marking prohibition to apply.
• The stop must fall within the signed period. School holidays matter only if the applicable restriction makes term dates relevant; a sign with no time period applies at all times.
• The evidence must establish a stop on the entrance marking, not merely a vehicle passing the school or standing beyond the restricted area.
• The statutory entrance-marking exceptions must be considered on their own terms. Routine school drop-offs are not exempt, and these signed markings do not need a separate traffic order to convey the prohibition.

3. Grounds and exemptions for a Hounslow Code 48 appeal

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

Dropping off or collecting children is not a general exception to an active no-stopping restriction, and a Blue Badge does not provide one. A genuine emergency or compelled stop must be distinguished from a convenience stop. The ten-minute parking-bay grace period does not authorise stopping on entrance zigzags.

• The stop occurred outside the sign's days or hours. If the condition expressly depends on term time, provide the relevant calendar; do not assume all school restrictions stop during holidays.
• The vehicle did not stop on the restricted entrance area. Use the complete recording and wide photographs to establish movement and position relative to the markings.
• The required upright prohibition was absent, obscured or inconsistent with the entrance markings. Explain what information was missing at the time. Other waiting restrictions can still apply even if this particular allegation fails.
• The vehicle had to stop because of traffic, a direction or an unavoidable event rather than voluntary passenger collection. Provide the sequence and evidence identifying the applicable exception.
• 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 Hounslow

For a parking PCN attached to the vehicle or handed to the driver, send an informal challenge to Hounslow. 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.

Hounslow says that if it receives a parking or moving-traffic challenge while the PCN is at the discounted rate, it will offer discounted payment again if the challenge is rejected. A subsequent tribunal appeal is considered at the full charge; the page does not specify the length of the re-offer.

• The full upright sign and all operating-time panels.
• Wide photographs showing the entrance markings and vehicle position.
• The complete recording or observation notes, including the cause and duration of any stop.
• A term-date record where expressly relevant, or evidence of an emergency or direction.

1. Open Hounslow's PCN service below. Enter the PCN reference (prefix NJ) and vehicle registration to find the notice and evidence.
2. Use the council-linked Taranto portal with your NJ PCN reference and vehicle registration to review the photographs or footage and make a representation.
3. Include your email address when submitting online: Hounslow says you should receive a copy of your representation and an email receipt. Include the PCN reference, vehicle registration and the evidence you want considered; the council will not obtain evidence from third parties for you.
4. The upload guidance accepts DOC, DOCX, JPG, JPEG, PNG and PDF evidence under 8 MB. If uploading fails, Hounslow directs you to hounslow.challenges@nsl.co.uk; include the PCN reference, vehicle registration, name and address so the documents can be matched to the case.
5. Explain which part of the Code 48 allegation you dispute. Include the PCN reference, vehicle registration, your address and copies of photographs or records supporting each point.
6. Postal alternative: London Borough of Hounslow (Parking Services), PO Box 211, Sheffield, S98 1NG. Allow time for receipt before the deadline and retain proof of posting.
7. Save the full submission, attachments and dated acknowledgement.

5. How long does Hounslow have to respond?

Hounslow 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 Hounslow rejects your representation

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

Compare the reply with the Code 48 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 Hounslow appeal to London Tribunals

London Tribunals is independent of Hounslow. Use the registration instructions and verification details in the Notice of Rejection, upload your evidence and explain why the alleged Code 48 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 Hounslow'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

35 of 115 recorded cases were allowed (30.4%).

Full Code 48 PCN Appeal Guide

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