How Can I Challenge A Bradford PCN?

This blog serves to answer the question “How Can I Challenge A Bradford PCN?”. It stresses on the necessity of being aware of the Parking Zone or Bus Lane restrictions being enforced at a specific location in the Metropolitan District of Bradford. The blog states all the Bus Lane camera locations along with their operational hours, in Bradford City Council.

How Can I Challenge A Bradford PCN?

You can challenge a Bradford City PCN online, by chatting with a chatbot on the Bradford City Council’s official website. This interaction will involve a series of questions which should be answered by providing your PCN number, vehicle registration number and the reasons for your PCN challenge. You should have some evidence regarding the traffic violation on your computer such as photographs of your vehicle or a medical certificate to prove mitigating circumstances.

Mitigating circumstances should be mentioned in the challenge only if you have signed medical documents (from your General Practitioner)to prove your illness or health emergency.  If you are sure that the relevant contravention code was never breached, you can simply attach photo or video evidence or an (authentic) written statement from a bystander present at the scene, with your Bradford City PCN challenge.

In many cases, PCNs are not enforceable and you may be able to win your case and avoid having to pay your fine.

You could begin the process by speaking to an online solicitor for as little as £5. 

Can I Only Challenge A PCN from the Bradford City Council on the official website?

Yes, you can only challenge a PCN from the Bradford City Council on the official website. This website can be accessed by clicking here.

Your Bradford City PCN appeal can be initiated by clicking here On this webpage you will see a chat window with the chatbot max. You need to interact with the chatbot by providing your PCN Number and Vehicle Registration Number. Once these details are verified by the virtual assistant, you can type in your PCN appeal with relevant reasons and evidence (which can be uploaded to the system).

You have to make the challenge to your PCN within 28 days of getting it.

If the Bradford City Council accepts your PCN appeal, the PCN will be annulled and you will not be liable for paying any monetary penalty. In case the council sends you a “Notice of Rejection” by disapproving of your representation you will have to pay the amount mentioned on your PCN.

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You can view CCTV camera footage of your traffic contravention before constructing your PCN appeal.The reasons for you disputing the PCN must be listed down on paper first and explained using the wording of relevant traffic regulations. These reasons need to be formally compiled into an appeals letter to be submitted to the Bradford City Council along with any material evidence.

So you can take 3 to 4 days for recollecting your thoughts about the traffic violation incident and even check your vehicle to recall the position in which it was parked that day. If you were driving with a passenger, their observations of the scene from the back seat of your vehicle could also help you to explain exactly what happened. Evidence including photos and videos can be attached online using the Bradford City Council website.

You are advised to send in your PCN challenge within 14 days to avail the 50% discount on the fine charges in case your appeal is rejected by the Bradford City Council. If you submit your Bradford PCN appeal before the 14th day, you will only have to pay £65 (or £40) if your PCN challenge fails.

If the Bradford City Council accepts your PCN appeal, the PCN will be annulled and you will not be liable for paying any monetary penalty. In case the council sends you a “Notice of Rejection” by disapproving of your representation you will have to pay the amount mentioned on your PCN.

What is a Penalty Charge Notice?

A Penalty Charge Notice is a fine or monetary penalty for driving violations. A PCN can be issued in response to any traffic contravention such as a parking contravention, a moving traffic contravention or a bus lane violation.

A PCN may be issued by a Civil Enforcement Officer or by CCTV.  You will be given 28 days to respond to a PCN. If you don’t pay the PCN within 28 days you will be issued a charge certificate.

A charge certificate will increase the PCN penalty amount by 50% of its original value.

Where are Bus Lane CCTV cameras located in Bradford City Council?

The Bus Lane CCTV cameras in the Bradford Metropolitan District are installed in the following locations (bus lanes, bus gates and bus only streets) :

  • On the A 650 route Bingley Road at Nab wood. The Bus Lane CCTV camera’s operational hours are from 7:30 am to 9:30 am. This CCTV camera is operational from Monday to Friday
  • On the A 650 route, at the junction with Avondale Road. The Bus Lane CCTV camera’s operating hours are from 3:00 pm to 6:30pm. This CCTV camera is operational from Monday to Friday
  • On the A 650 route, at the junction with Marlborough Road. The Bus Lane CCTV camera’s operating hours are from 3:00 pm to 6:30pm. This CCTV camera is operational from Monday to Friday
  • On the A 650 route, at the junction with Sleningford Road. The Bus Lane CCTV camera’s operational hours are from 7:30 am to 9:30 am.  This CCTV camera is operational from Monday to Friday
  • On the A 650 route at Manningham Lane section going towards Valley Parade. The Bus Lane CCTV camera’s operating hours are from 3:00 pm to 6:30pm. This CCTV camera is operational from Monday to Friday
  • Along the A 650 route at Manningham Lane for the traffic coming from Lister Park. The Bus Lane CCTV camera’s operational hours are from 7:30 am to 9:30 am. This CCTV camera is operational from Monday to Friday
  • Along the A 650 route at Manningham Lane for the traffic going towards Lister Park.  The Bus Lane CCTV camera’s operating hours are from 3:00 pm to 6:30pm. This CCTV camera is operational from Monday to Friday
  • On Bolton Road. The CCTV Bus lane camera is operational 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
  • On Bow Street at the junction with Keighley town. The CCTV Bus lane camera is operational 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
  • On Bridge Street at the junction with Broadway town. The CCTV Bus lane camera is operational 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
  • On Bridge Street at the junction with Hall Ings. The CCTV Bus lane camera is operational 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
  • On Bridge Street, at the junction with Market Street. The CCTV Bus lane camera is operational 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 
  • On Bridge Street at the junction with Bradford Interchange. The CCTV Bus lane camera is operational 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
  • On Church Bank A at the traffic junction going towards Bolton Road. The CCTV Bus lane camera is operational 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
  • On Church Bank B at the traffic junction going towards Wells Road. The CCTV Bus lane camera is operational 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
  • On Huddersfield Road at the junction with Netherland Avenue.  The Bus Lane CCTV camera’s operating hours are from 4:00 pm to 6:30pm.  This CCTV camera is operational from Monday to Friday
  • On Leeds Road  from The Bus Lane CCTV camera’s operational hours are from 7:30 am to 9:30 am and from 4:00 pm to 6:30pm.  This CCTV camera is operational from Monday to Friday
  • On Market Street. The CCTV Bus lane camera is operational 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
  • On Nelson Street. The CCTV Bus lane camera is operational 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
  • On Nelson Street B. The CCTV Bus lane camera is operational 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
  • On Shipley Market Square. The CCTV Bus lane camera is operational 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
  • On Thornton Road.  The Bus Lane CCTV camera’s operating hours are from 4:00 pm to 6:30pm. This CCTV camera is operational from Monday to Friday
  • On Thornton Road, at the junction with Brownroyd Road.  The Bus Lane CCTV camera’s operating hours are from 4:00 pm to 6:30pm. This CCTV camera is operational from Monday to Friday
  • On Thornton Road, at the junction with Ingleby Road.  The Bus Lane CCTV camera’s operating hours are from 4:00 pm to 6:30pm.  This CCTV camera is operational from Monday to Friday
  • On Woodside Road at the junction with Wyke Ward.The CCTV Bus lane camera is operational 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Bus Lane restrictions apply to all bank holidays except for Christmas Day and New Years Day.

How much is the PCN fine for each of the 3 kinds of PCNs served in the Bradford City Council?

The 3 kinds of PCNs served in the Bradford City Council are a Parking PCN, a Bus Lane PCN and a Moving Traffic PCN. 

The Penalty Charge Notice fine for a Bradford City Council Parking PCN is set at £70 for a higher level traffic violation and £50 for a lower level traffic violation. A 50% discount applies to early payment so If you pay your higher level parking PCN within 14 days, you just have to pay £35. Similarly, if you pay your lower level parking PCN within 21 days, you just have to pay just £25.

If you pay a Bus Lane PCN within 28 days, you will be charged £70 and if you pay it within 21 days, you just have to pay £35. The PCN fine for a moving traffic PCN in the Bradford City Council is £70. There is a 50% discount for paying it within 14 days, which reduces the fine to £35.

How can I pay my Bradford City PCN fine?

You can pay your Bradford City PCN by using the postal service, by telephone, in cash at a Paypoint outlet or online here

The Bradford City Council website provides an online payment service for PCN fines. You need to open this webpage to access the Penalty Charge Notice payments portal. Your PCN number and vehicle registration number have to be entered to initiate the payment process. In the next window, you will be required to provide your payment card details. Bradford City Council accepts VisaCard, MasterCard, Maestro Card, DeltaCard, Electron Card, and Solo Card.

 You can also pay on the Bradford City Council’s automated payments hotline by dialing: 0345 145 0071. Next, you will be required to provide your payment card details, PCN Number, and vehicle registration number. This payment hotline is active 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The Bradford City Council also accepts PCN fine payments by post. You need to send a check, postal order, or bank draft payable to “Bradford Council”. You can write down your PCN Number and Vehicle Registration Number on the back of your check or postal order.

Send your PCN fine payment to this address:

Payments,

PO Box 1249,

Bradford,

BD1 9YW,

You can also pay your PCN in cash at the post office. Bradford Post Office is located at:

22 Charles Street, Mall

The Broadway

Bradford,

BD1 1US

You can pay your Bradford PCN in cash by using Paypoint. To pay you will have to search for your nearest PayPoint location here. A letter containing your unique Paypoint barcode is required to access the payments system. There are more than 70 PayPoint locations in the Bradford Metropolitan District. Once you have located your nearest Paypoint outlet, you can visit the location to pay your PCN in cash.

Your nearest PayPoint location might be:

  • ASDA Supermarket located at,

147 New Line,

Bradford,

BD 10 0BT

  • Shell Bradford, located at

152 Valley Court,

Bradford,

BD1 4SP

  • BP Arkle located at 

Barkerend Road,

Bradford,

BD3 9DB

  • Morley Street Mini Market,

187 Morley Street,

Bradford,

BD7 1BE

  • BP East Bowling located at,

Wakefield Road,

Bradford,

BD 4 7PE

  • Shipley Convenience located at,

130 Valley Road,

Shipley,

BD 18 2DD

  • McColls located at,

191 Otley Road,

Bradford,

BD 3 0HY

  • J Sainsbury Pudsey located at,

15-17 Chapletown,

Pudsey,

LS28 7RZ

What will happen if I don’t pay my Bradford PCN within the 28-day limit?

If you fail to pay your Bradford PCN within the 28-day limit you will be sent a charge certificate from the Traffic Penalty Tribunal. The charge certificate increases your PCN fine by 50%. You should pay the charge certificate within 14 days as it cannot be appealed and ignoring the charge certificate may result in the filing of a court order (for recovery of debts) against you by the Bradford City Council.

When the charge certificate is also not paid within 14 days, you will receive a “Notice of Debt Registration” and a witness certificate from the Traffic Penalty Tribunal. The unpaid amount will be treated as a debt with the Traffic Enforcement Centre at the Northampton County Court.

The court order for debt recovery enforces that the charge certificate amount must be paid in full within 21 days or it will have to use additional powers to recover the money from your possession. The responsibility for recovering the debts of the charge certificate will be passed onto Bradford City Council’s enforcement agents Jacobs and Cder Group.

Can I Dispute A Bradford PCN with the Traffic Penalty Tribunal if the council dismisses my appeal?

Yes, you can dispute the decision of the Bradford City Council in your “Notice of Rejection of Representations” with the Traffic Penalty Tribunal. For this, you can use the Traffic Penalty Tribunal’s website by clicking this link 

You can watch this instructional video here to learn about your challenge process. It clearly explains how to use the online service offered by the Traffic Penalty Tribunal. On the Traffic Penalty Tribunal webpage, you will first have to select the type of PCN you were served by the Bradford City Council (shown on the bottom part of the page) .

You will then be required to enter your Vehicle Registration Number, the reference number from the “Notice of Rejection” letter from the Bradford City Council, and your PCN number for which the appeal was rejected.

This challenge to Bradford City Council’s PCN appeal dismissal can only be made online. You can use the online service to challenge multiple “Notices of Rejection” simultaneously. You will require a valid email address to create an account on the Traffic Penalty Tribunal website. You have to attach a copy of your “Notice of Rejection of Representations” letter to your application by using the Traffic Penalty Tribunal’s online portal.

Scanned copies of evidence to strengthen your case such as a pay and display ticket or photographs of the scene can be added along with your explanation. The explanation of your case should be well worded and convince the tribunal of an error on the part of the Bradford City Council in adjudicating your case.

You will be able to contact the Traffic Penalty Tribunal adjudicator during the registration of your appeal. The result of your appeal will be communicated to you within 14-28 days of submission. If the adjudicator decides the case in your favour, the PCN will be cancelled by the Bradford City Council.

Conclusion

This blog post addressed the question “How Can I Challenge A Bradford PCN?” You should remember the moving traffic contravention codes for Bradford City Council, because if you don’t it is very likely that you might lose focus from following the road traffic signs on your route. These contravention codes along with Parking contravention codes and Bus Lane contravention codes applicable to different areas of the city are essential knowledge for all drivers in Bradford City Council.

Citations

www.paypoint.com