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proceduralUK · England & WalesDifficulty: moderate

Double Parked Only While Loading or Setting Down Passengers

Section 85 contains its own exemptions. Stopping just to let people in or out of the vehicle, for no longer than necessary, is not 'parking' at all. And a vehicle delivering or collecting goods may park away from the kerb for up to 20 minutes where the loading cannot reasonably be done with the vehicle parked closer in — for example when parked cars occupy the whole kerbside. A code 26 ticket issued mid-delivery or mid-drop-off is unlawful.

Legal basis

Traffic Management Act 2004 s.85(4) (delivery/collection/loading exception: 'no more than 20 minutes' where loading cannot reasonably be carried out otherwise) and s.85(7) (parking excludes stopping 'for no longer than is necessary, for the purpose of allowing people to board or alight'; also stopping where prevented from proceeding or to avoid an accident)

How to identify this in your case

Were you actively loading or unloading goods for 20 minutes or less, with the kerbside fully occupied so you could not reasonably load from closer in? Or had you stopped only to let a passenger in or out? Keep delivery paperwork, courier app records or a passenger's statement, and compare your timings with the officer's observation times on the PCN.

Sample appeal wording

formal

Replace [PARKING DATE], [NtK DATE] etc. with your own dates before sending.

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