Yellow box junction fine in London: how to challenge it

What the rule actually says

• You must not enter the box unless your exit road or lane is clear.
• You can enter and wait in the box if you want to turn right and are only stopped by oncoming traffic, or by other vehicles waiting to turn right.
• So the question is: when you entered, was your exit clear? Stopping in the box isn't itself the offence if your exit was clear when you went in and something unexpected then blocked it.

What to look for in the video

Use the PCN number to watch the footage on the council's or TfL's website. Watch it several times, and from before you entered the box.

• Was there space for your vehicle beyond the box when you entered? If the car in front then stopped suddenly, or another vehicle cut in, say so.
• How long did you stop for, and how much of your vehicle was in the box? A very brief stop, or only the back of the vehicle inside the markings, can be worth raising.
• Were you turning right and waiting only for oncoming traffic?
• Were you stopped by something you couldn't foresee, such as a pedestrian, an emergency vehicle, or a bus pulling out?
• Are the markings clear and correctly laid out? Faded or unusually large boxes, or boxes in places that aren't really a junction, can sometimes be challenged.
• Is the vehicle in the video actually yours, and were you the keeper on that date?

How to challenge it

• 1. Make representations to the borough or TfL (whoever issued the notice) within 28 days of the notice date. Describe exactly what the video shows, with timings, for example 'at 08:14:32 the exit was clear; at 08:14:35 the van ahead stopped suddenly'.
• 2. If your representations are rejected, appeal free to London Tribunals, usually within 28 days of the Notice of Rejection. Adjudicators watch the footage themselves.
• 3. If you do nothing, the amount usually rises by 50% with a Charge Certificate, and unpaid penalties can go to enforcement agents.

Is it worth challenging?

London penalties are among the highest in the country, and they're usually halved if paid within 14 days. If the video clearly shows your exit was blocked when you entered, paying the discount may be cheapest. But if your exit was clear when you went in, or you were waiting to turn right, a challenge is free and often worthwhile. Our free check can look at your notice and tell you what grounds may apply.

Outside London?

Councils elsewhere in England can now also enforce box junctions with cameras. The same rule applies, but appeals go to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal, and at new camera sites a warning notice may be due for a first contravention. See our guide to bus lane and box junction penalties.