NI penalty levels — wrong band charged

DfI parking penalties in NI are split into Band A (£90) and Band B (£60), reduced by 50% if paid within 14 days of service. The contravention code determines the band under SR 2008/192. Many DfI PCNs are issued at the wrong band (most commonly Band A applied to a code that is properly Band B). A PCN charging the wrong amount is technically defective: regulation 4 of SR 2008/192 requires the correct prescribed amount.

Legal basis

Parking Penalty Charge Notices Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 (SR 2008/192) reg 4 and Sched 1; DfI Parking Penalty Charge Levels published guidance

How to identify this in your case

Match the contravention code on the PCN against the published band table. If band/amount mismatch, defence applies.

Sample appeal wording

Dear Sir/Madam, Re: PCN [PCN_NUMBER] The PCN charges £[X] under contravention code [CODE]. According to Schedule 1 of the Parking Penalty Charge Notices Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 and DfI's published banding, code [CODE] is a Band [A/B] contravention attracting £[CORRECT AMOUNT]. A PCN that does not state the correct prescribed amount is fundamentally defective under regulation 4 of SR 2008/192. Please cancel. Yours faithfully, [NAME]

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

Beat It writes this argument automatically

Scan your PCN — our AI checks if this ground applies to your specific ticket, drafts a properly-cited appeal letter, and submits it to the council on your behalf. Only pay if you win.

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Sources

legislation.gov.uk/nisr/2008/192
infrastructure-ni.gov.uk — parking penalty levels