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Traffic Penalty Tribunal Deadline — 28 Days From Council Rejection

By GetRighted Legal Research TeamLast updated July 2026

Summary

After a council issues a formal Notice of Rejection (rejecting your informal representation against a PCN), you have 28 days to appeal to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal (outside London) or London Tribunals (within London). Missing this deadline means the council can issue a Charge Certificate increasing the penalty by 50%. The tribunal is independent of councils, its adjudicators are legally qualified, and its decisions are binding on the council. There is no fee to appeal.

TPT Deadline Dates

Council PCN escalation stages after formal rejection:

  1. 1Notice of Rejection received: Day 0 — your 28-day TPT window starts
  2. 2Days 1–28: Submit TPT appeal at trafficpenaltytribunal.gov.uk
  3. 3If no appeal within 28 days: Charge Certificate issued — full penalty + 50% surcharge
  4. 4Charge Certificate to TEC registration: Debt registered at Traffic Enforcement Centre
  5. 5TEC enforcement: Bailiff instruction possible — court process for Order for Recovery
  6. 6TPT hearing: Written or oral; adjudicator issues binding decision

What Happens If You Miss the 28-Day TPT Window

Missing the TPT deadline triggers the Charge Certificate, adding 50% to the penalty. After that, the debt is registered at the Traffic Enforcement Centre and enforcement agents can be instructed. There is a limited route to challenge via an Out of Time application to the tribunal, but these are rarely granted absent compelling reasons. Do not miss the 28-day window.

What to Do After Receiving a Notice of Rejection

Act within 28 days of the Notice of Rejection:

  • ✓Note the Notice of Rejection date — your 28-day TPT clock starts from this date
  • ✓Identify whether your council falls under TPT (outside London) or London Tribunals
  • ✓Visit trafficpenaltytribunal.gov.uk and register your appeal
  • ✓Prepare your grounds: TMO defect, signage failure, camera error, procedural ground
  • ✓Upload supporting evidence: photographs, council correspondence, TMO extract
  • ✓Submit before the deadline — no fee required

Legal Basis

Traffic Management Act 2004, Schedule 9, Para 7: after a formal rejection, the person may 'appeal to an adjudicator within 28 days of the date of service of the notice of rejection.' Para 8: if no appeal is made within 28 days, the enforcement authority may issue a Charge Certificate. Para 9: the Charge Certificate increases the penalty by 50%. Civil Enforcement of Parking Contraventions (England) General Regulations 2007: sets out the procedural requirements for each stage.

Sources

  1. Traffic Management Act 2004, Schedule 9
  2. Civil Enforcement of Parking Contraventions (England) General Regulations 2007
  3. Traffic Penalty Tribunal procedural rules

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Traffic Penalty Tribunal the same as the Traffic Court?
No. The Traffic Penalty Tribunal is an independent administrative tribunal for parking and traffic contraventions — not a criminal or civil court. It is not part of the court system. Its adjudicators are legally qualified and its decisions are binding on the council.
Can I appeal to TPT on grounds I did not raise in my informal representation?
Generally yes — the tribunal can consider new grounds not raised in the informal representation. However, some councils object to new grounds being raised for the first time at tribunal. Raise all your grounds at the informal representation stage to avoid procedural complications.
Does TPT have a time limit for issuing its decision after my appeal?
TPT aims to issue decisions within a target period but has no statutory deadline. Most written representations decisions are issued within 4–8 weeks. Oral hearings are listed within 3–6 months in most areas.
Can I still appeal to TPT if I missed the 28-day window?
Technically yes — via an Out of Time application to the tribunal explaining why you missed the deadline. Tribunals grant these rarely, typically only where there is a compelling reason (serious illness, genuine non-receipt of the Notice of Rejection). Submit as soon as possible if you have missed the deadline.

Related

  • tmo-defect
  • defective-road-markings
  • pcn-served-late

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