Reading Code 18 PCN Appeal (2026)

1. What does Reading Code 18 mean?

A Code 18 PCN alleges that a vehicle was being used to expose or offer goods for sale in a parking place contrary to its conditions. The central question is what was actually being offered and how the vehicle was being used. A delivery vehicle, a trader visiting a customer and a vehicle being used as a sales stall are not the same situation.

Contravention

A Code 18 PCN alleges that a vehicle was being used to expose or offer goods for sale in a parking place contrary to its conditions

Category

On-Street Parking PCNs

Issuing authority

Reading 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

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

2. What must Reading establish?

Identify the parking place and read its conditions with the order provision relied on. A business name on a vehicle is not a traffic sign or proof of prohibited selling.

If the allegation concerns offering the vehicle itself for sale, check that precise activity against the order; do not assume every sales advertisement is treated identically.

• The parking-place order must prohibit the sales activity alleged at this location; Code 18 is not a general ban on commercial vehicles.
• The evidence must identify how goods were exposed or offered for sale from the vehicle, rather than rely only on branding or goods carried inside.
• Distinguish roadside selling from delivering an existing order or parking while working elsewhere.
• Any trading licence or written permission must cover the actual location and activity, including any separate parking authorisation required. Ordinary parking payment does not grant trading permission.

3. Grounds and exemptions for a Reading Code 18 appeal

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

Permission must cover the actual use of the vehicle and parking place. Normal parking payment or a resident permit does not automatically authorise trading. Where the council alleges that the vehicle itself was offered for sale, inspect the order and evidence of that particular allegation rather than assuming every sales advertisement is governed identically.

• The vehicle was delivering previously ordered goods rather than offering goods for sale from the space. Explain the order, destination and handover, with documents that distinguish the activity from roadside trading.
• The vehicle was simply parked while its user worked elsewhere. Ask the council to identify the sales activity it recorded rather than relying only on business branding or the presence of goods inside.
• The applicable parking order did not prohibit the activity alleged, or the PCN identifies the wrong place or period. Request the provision relied on and compare its wording with the officer's account.
• A street-trading licence or other written permission expressly covered this location and activity. Check whether separate parking permission was also required; a general trading licence does not necessarily override parking-place conditions.
• 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 Reading

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

• The officer's photographs of any stall, advertisement, goods or customer transaction.
• A prior order, delivery note or appointment record explaining the commercial visit.
• The trading licence or location-specific permission and its conditions.
• The parking-place order provision relied on, together with photographs identifying the space.

1. Follow Reading's official challenge instructions using the link below.
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 18 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 Reading have to respond?

Reading 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 Reading rejects your representation

A formal Notice of Rejection explains Reading'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 18 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 Reading appeal to Traffic Penalty Tribunal

Traffic Penalty Tribunal is independent of Reading. Use the registration instructions and verification details in the Notice of Rejection, upload your evidence and explain why the alleged Code 18 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 Reading'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

4,151 of 13,391 recorded cases were allowed (31.0%).

Full Code 18 PCN Appeal Guide

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