Vale of White Horse District Code 90 PCN Appeal (2026)

1. What does Vale of White Horse District Code 90 mean?

Code 90 alleges re-parking in the same car park within the prohibited return period, commonly one hour in the code description. Read the actual notice and site restriction. The evidence must support the first departure and the later return, not merely two observations somewhere in the car park.

Contravention

Code 90 alleges re-parking in the same car park within the prohibited return period, commonly one hour in the code description

Category

Council Car Park PCNs

Issuing authority

Vale of White Horse District 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

Vale of White Horse District, then Traffic Penalty Tribunal after a formal Notice of Rejection.

2. What must Vale of White Horse District establish?

Photograph the no-return wording, operating hours and area it covers. Compare the actual period with the full PCN allegation instead of assuming every car park uses the same interval.

Read the return restriction separately from maximum-stay and payment instructions. Moving between spaces within the car park is not proof of a departure and return.

• The one-hour no-return allegation must match the operative parking order and displayed return restriction for this car park and time.
• The restricted area must be identifiable so the council can establish that both visits concern the same car park, not neighbouring parking places.
• The observations must support departure and re-parking within the prohibited interval. Two sightings alone do not establish when the vehicle left and returned.
• Any permit exception must cover the return. A new ticket or change of bay does not automatically reset a restriction applying across the car park.

3. Grounds and exemptions for a Vale of White Horse District Code 90 appeal

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

An applicable permit or special authorisation may alter the return condition, but prove its scope. Paying again, collecting another passenger or changing parking bays does not automatically start an unrestricted new stay.

• The required no-return interval had elapsed. Provide the first departure and later arrival times and compare them with the council's calculation.
• The observations concern different car parks or a different vehicle. Mark the entrances and location boundaries and check registration details.
• The no-return restriction did not apply to that visit or permission. Identify its operating hours, area and any qualifying permit exception.
• The evidence does not establish the alleged return. Request both sets of observations or captures and explain the specific gap. A stay, a departure and re-entry are different events.
• 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 Vale of White Horse District

For a parking PCN attached to the vehicle or handed to the driver, send an informal challenge to Vale of White Horse District. 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.

• Entry and exit records or officer observations for each alleged visit.
• The sign showing the no-return period and the area it covers.
• Dashcam, journey or time-stamped destination records supporting the interval away.
• Permit terms or written permission covering the return.

1. Follow the submission instructions on your current notice. The link below is Vale of White Horse District'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 90 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 Vale of White Horse District have to respond?

Vale of White Horse District 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 Vale of White Horse District rejects your representation

A formal Notice of Rejection explains Vale of White Horse District'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 90 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 Vale of White Horse District appeal to Traffic Penalty Tribunal

Traffic Penalty Tribunal is independent of Vale of White Horse District. Use the registration instructions and verification details in the Notice of Rejection, upload your evidence and explain why the alleged Code 90 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 Vale of White Horse District'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

0 of 1 recorded cases were allowed (0.0%).

Full Code 90 PCN Appeal Guide

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