Richmond Code 31 PCN Appeal (2026)

1. What does Richmond Code 31 mean?

Code 31 alleges that a vehicle entered and stopped in a yellow box junction when prohibited. The ordinary rule concerns a vehicle that has to stop inside the box because of stationary vehicles. It is not enough to treat any photograph of a vehicle over yellow paint as the whole allegation.

Start with the complete recording: identify when the vehicle crossed into the box, whether any part of it became stationary within the boundary and what caused that stop. Slow movement and a complete stop are different. A green traffic light does not remove the box-junction restriction.

Contravention

Code 31: entering and stopping in a box junction when prohibited

Issuing authority

London Borough of Richmond upon Thames

Formal representation deadline

28 days beginning with service of the 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 during the first 14 days beginning with the date of the PCN. A challenge does not automatically extend that period. Check the council's policy and any renewed offer in its reply.

Appeal route

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

2. What must Richmond establish?

The evidence and legal basis must fit the box and the event shown. For an ordinary junction, work through these checks in order.

The yellow criss-cross road marking is the sign. Diagram 1043 is prescribed in TSRGD 2016, Schedule 9, Part 6, item 25. Read the drawing with its permitted variations, Part 7 paragraph 11 and the applicable Part 8 requirements; an older diagram reproduced online is not a complete compliance test.

An ordinary yellow box does not need two upright signs, an advance warning sign or a separate traffic regulation order to create the box restriction. Check the visibility and condition of the actual road marking. If you challenge its layout, explain the relevant requirement and how the location or markings fail it rather than simply saying the box is too large.

• A qualifying box: paragraph 11(6) covers road junctions, gyratory systems or roundabouts, certain narrow two-way roads and the road adjacent to emergency-service premises. The conditions are not identical for every location.
• A sufficiently clear, prescribed or authorised marking: compare the yellow pattern, boundary and actual location with the relevant legislation. The Traffic Signs Manual provides design guidance; departing from guidance is not automatically a statutory defect.
• Entry and a stop within the box: paragraph 11(7) includes a vehicle partly within the box. Identify the wheel movement and boundary rather than relying only on a timestamped still.
• The cause of the stop: under the ordinary paragraph 11(1) rule, the vehicle must have had to stop because of stationary vehicles. Identify those vehicles and any genuine intervening event.
• The appropriate notice and liability: check the location, vehicle identity, service, required wording and statutory ground relevant to the recipient. A driver's identity alone does not decide owner liability.

3. Grounds and exemptions for a Richmond Code 31 appeal

Build the representation around what the recording establishes, not a list of generic parking arguments. Useful grounds depend on the actual sequence.

The right-turn exception is narrow. At a junction between roads, paragraph 11(3) applies where a vehicle entered to turn right and was prevented from completing that turn by oncoming vehicles or vehicles stationary while waiting to turn right. It does not exempt a driver who turns right and then queues behind stationary traffic blocking the exit.

Paragraphs 11(4) and (5) provide a conditional exception for specified emergency-service and related purposes where obeying the prohibition would hinder that use. An ordinary delivery, passenger collection, Blue Badge or personal urgency is not that statutory exception.

There is no general five-second or ten-second allowance. Adjudicators assess the facts; a short stop is not a guaranteed cancellation. Saying that you obstructed nobody, followed a satnav or expected the queue to move is not, by itself, an answer to the allegation. You may ask the authority to exercise discretion for mitigation, but that differs from proving a statutory ground at tribunal.

• No complete stop was proved: identify continuing movement or footage too unclear to establish a stop on the balance of probabilities.
• The stop was not forced by stationary vehicles: show the available space or other event that actually caused the stop. The tribunal examples below illustrate the difference.
• The right-turn exception applied: identify the intended turn and show that only oncoming traffic or other vehicles waiting to complete a right turn prevented it.
• A material marking or location problem: explain the statutory provision and support the point with wide photographs, measurements or an authorised-layout comparison.
• The PCN or liability is wrong: provide the relevant documents for a wrongly identified or cloned vehicle, ownership or hire issue, or a material notice defect. Do not assume that every clerical error invalidates a PCN.

4. How to make a formal representation to Richmond

Send formal representations to Richmond within 28 days beginning with service of the Code 31 PCN. Explain the ground relied upon and attach the evidence supporting it.

The initial 50% discount applies during the first 14 days beginning with the date of the PCN. A challenge does not automatically extend that period. Check the council's policy and any renewed offer in its reply.

1. Open Richmond's PCN service below. Enter the PCN reference (prefix RT) and vehicle registration to find the notice and evidence.
2. Use the PCN number and vehicle registration to look up the notice and evidence. Richmond says PCN information becomes available after 10am on the next working day; its web chat cannot accept an appeal.
3. The online challenge and representation forms allow up to five supporting files, no larger than 5MB each and 23MB in total. Accepted formats include PDF, JPEG, DOC and DOCX.
4. For moving-traffic PCNs, Richmond directs the registered keeper to make a formal representation on receipt of the PCN. There is no informal challenge stage for moving traffic; do not wait for a Notice to Owner.
5. Explain which part of the Code 31 allegation you dispute. Include the PCN reference, vehicle registration, your address and copies of photographs or records supporting each point.
6. Postal alternative: Parking Services, PO Box 221, Twickenham, TW1 3TL. 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 Richmond have to respond?

London Tribunals says the authority "should normally respond to representations within 3 months". Keep Richmond's acknowledgement and the date your representations were received.

6. If Richmond rejects your representation

A formal Notice of Rejection explains Richmond'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 31 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.

7. Taking your Richmond appeal to London Tribunals

London Tribunals is independent of Richmond. Use the registration instructions and verification details in the Notice of Rejection, upload your evidence and explain why the alleged Code 31 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 Richmond'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

538 of 2,252 recorded cases were allowed (23.9%).

Full Code 31 PCN Appeal Guide

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