Prohibition on certain types of vehicles
Contravention code 52:
Failing to comply with a sign indicating a prohibition on certain types of vehicles.
Many local authorities are now enforcing this contravention using CCTV . Quite often however the signs are not sufficiently clear.
Suffixes:
52g) goods vehicles exceeding max gross weight indicated
52m) motor vehicles
52s) solo motorcycles
52v) all vehicles except non-mechanically propelled ones being pushed
52x) motor vehicles except solo motorcycles
Sample signs:
52g) Goods vehicles exceeding the gross weight indicated on the goods vehicle symbol prohibited.
52s) Solo motorcycles prohibited.
52m) No Motor Vehicles
52v) No Vehicles
52x) Motor vehicles except solo motorcycles prohibited.
How to have your penalty charge notice (PCN) for this moving traffic contravention cancelled.
Before checking the specific information relating to this offence you will need to check the following general information.
General advice for all moving traffic contraventions
What a penalty charge notice (PCN) must contain
Specific grounds of appeal for this contravention
Was the PCN sufficiently clear as to the contravention. In one case the PCN stated failing to comply with a sign indicating a prohibition on certain types of vehicle, however the signage at the location stated motor vehicles prohibited. The adjudicator said the PCN should have referred to “motor vehicles” rather than “certain types of vehicle”. Certain types of vehicles is too general. the contraventions have various suffixes. The correct suffix must be used and the contravention stated must be the exact one that relates to the stated contravention code.
As the contravention is that of “failing to comply with a sign indicating a prohibition on certain types of vehicles,” it is important to remember that in order to prove this contravention that the enforcing authority must actually show you passing the sign and continuing to drive into and along the street where certain vehicles are prohibited. It is not sufficient to simply show your vehicle. You can ask to see the video or photographic evidence.
Was the weight of your vehicle within the limit. If so then you should send a copy of the vehicle registration document to the local authority.
Was the signage clear, on both sides of the street, illuminated and placed before the restrictions actually start to allow you sufficient time to take an alternative route?
We have evidence of some councils such as Camden continuing to enforce restrictions such as these even though adjudicators have ruled that their signage is unclear.
Were there road markings, if so did they contain exactly the same restrictions as the signs.Appeals have been upheld where wording on the road did not exactly match the sign.
Were you loading/unloading? Sometimes there will be an exemption relating to loading to premises within the zone. If you were loading within the street, or in fact drove through the street but parked elsewhere in order to return to the street to make a delivery, then you may not have committed a contravention.
Were you displaying a disabled badge as quite often there are concessions relating to disabled badge holders.
If there are restrictions at certain times were times stated on the Penalty charge notice (PCN) actually the same as on the signs.
The PCN must also show a picture of the sign which is essential as the contravention is “failing to comply with a sign” etc
Did you commit the contravention because you had no alternative. In one case a lorry blocked the road so the motorist had no alterative. The appeal was allowed.
Were you carrying out a delivery as most TMO’S (traffic management orders will allow deliveries)
