Yellow Boxes at T Junctions

The last couple of months have seen a number of successful appeals against yellow boxes situated at ‘T’ junctions that span the full width of the road like this:

The correct configuration, as prescribed in diagram 1044 of the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2002 is a half box, like so:

‘Tis the Season of Appeals

Well, the first anniversary of this website went unmarked on November 12^th. I was so busy preparing for the next few weeks that I didn’t have time for retrospection. That will have to wait for the Christmas break now.

The postal strike played havoc with applications for appeal and at one stage PATAS were receiving mail posted one month previously. Many people were served Charge Certificates by over eager councils because appeal applications were not received on time.

From my point of view it means that I have delayed appeals all stacked up between now and Christmas.

Citizens Arrest

“He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone…” (John 8:7)

You couldn’t make this up if you tried.

One of our happy band of persecuted motorists was going about his lawful business when he saw this:

Yes, it’s a Haringey CCTV enforcement vehicle stopped in a box junction. And here it is again a few seconds later.

When Things Go Right

This month has been good so far. I was assisting on three cases all lined up for appeal hearings this month. The Local Authorities ran away from every case. Here’s a summary:

Readers Write

A couple of contributions from ‘victims’ –

In response to representations, Haringey Council sent this series of pictures to Jason. Interesting, but far from convincing.

(1) This picture shows your vehicle approaching the box junction. Assuming this is supposed to be the time of entry then it hardly shows any of the road on the exit side. If the road was clear, then Jason would be justified in entering the box. As it is we can see less than 1 car length of the road on the exit side.

(2) This picture shows your vehicle stationary within the box junction. Oh, do me a favour – it’s a still photograph! When will councils get it into their heads that it requires TWO photographs, preferably 5 seconds or more apart, to demonstrate that a vehicle is stationary. (I trust the red car got a PCN as well.)

(3) No comment.

The following was posted by Dave on the Ealing page, but I thought it was worth reproducing here:

Hi there… Thanks to finding your website I queried a PCN I received regarding Ealing’s Ruislip Rd/Mansell Rd box Junction, I am normally quite careful concerning these money making boxes so was a bit surprised to get one, I did not contest it at first but did ask to view the video, and after about 3/4 week wait, lo and behold get sent letter stating due to error on their behalf the PCN has been cancelled… I would suggest anyone else getting one for this location to ask to see video

I agree with that last bit. Even thought that junction has now been repainted 4 times (what a waste of money) it is still non-compliant.

Score Sheet

I realised that this website has now been in operation for a little over 6 months. The lack of postings in May is mainly due to the fact that I have been busy helping a number of ‘victims’ appeal against their Penalty Charge Notices.

I thought that now would be an appropriate time to review achievements to date; not for any egotistical reasons, but to encourage others to stand up for their rights and challenge “The System”.

The Haringey Files

The truth is out there…

The name Green Lanes has a grandiose ring to it. Stretching from Islington to Enfield we can only imagine what it was like to travel along it in times gone by; perhaps tree lined or flanked by verdant fields. As one of London’s main arteries it must have been busy with horse drawn traffic, cattle making the one way trip from the fields of Hertfordshire to Spitalfields Market, and no doubt it had its share of highwaymen.

Well, some things change; travel down Green Lanes today and you will witness a microcosm of the UK’s consumerist, multicultural society. It is flanked by ethnically diverse shops and you can sample most of the World’s food in the many restaurants.

Some things don’t change: the highway robbers are still there, but they now have legal immunity from prosecution. However, some unexplained, strange things have been happening; for instance Haringey Council keep ‘losing’ box junctions. Could it be that strange forces are at work that defy human comprehension?

April’s Fools

“A little government and a little luck are necessary in life, but only a fool trusts either of them.” (P. J. O’Rourke)

April Fool’s Day has come and gone. I did think about writing a spoof story, but I was hard pushed to better reality with fiction. I try to keep this site balanced and fair, but the incredible stories just keep rolling in. I sometimes wonder who the bigger fools are. Is it the incompetent staff in the parking department, the greedy, power hungry elected councilors, or us motorists for allowing ourselves to be endlessly and needlessly persecuted?

I’m glad to see that other people have had enough too, so in their words, here is a selection from the ‘postbag’.

Unlawful Enforcement in Haringey

A few days ago I received information from Haringey Council about the locations of their box junctions, obtained under the Freedom of Information Act. Coincidently, I was contacted around the same time by reporter William Lee from the Tottenham Journal. He had just received information about the revenue raised from penalties. I then did a quick tour of all the sites. Add this lot together and you get a picture of a Council that has been issuing Penalty Charge Notices unlawfully for the last 12 months or so.