Scottish LEZ — extenuating circumstances reduced your penalty
This ground only exists in Scotland's Low Emission Zone (LEZ) rules — there is no equivalent in England. You can use it when you did enter the LEZ in a non-compliant vehicle, but the circumstances were so difficult that it would be unreasonable to make you pay the penalty. You do not have to deny what happened — you are explaining why the penalty would be unfair given what you were dealing with. The test is broader than similar English rules: it weighs up how urgent your situation was, how avoidable it was, and the hardship involved.
Legal basis
SSI 2021/177 reg 8(4)(f)
How to identify this in your case
Drive happened in unavoidable circumstances — medical emergency, diversion, breakdown, road closure, third-party error.
Sample appeal wording
Dear [COUNCIL], Re: PCN [PCN_NUMBER] Representation under reg 8(1); ground reg 8(4)(f) — extenuating circumstances render imposition of a penalty unreasonable. On [DETECTION_DATE] I drove in the [LEZ] because: [DESCRIBE — e.g., my [RELATIONSHIP] [NAME] suffered a [MEDICAL EVENT] and I drove from [ORIGIN] direct to [HOSPITAL] in the LEZ; A&E records and 999 call log enclosed]. The drive was unavoidable, urgent, the only safe route. I had no realistic opportunity to substitute a compliant vehicle. Reg 8(4)(f) is wider than the comparable English ground — it addresses 'unreasonable' imposition. I respectfully ask the council to exercise that discretion. Evidence: [hospital admission / 999 call ref / breakdown invoice / road closure FOI response]. Yours faithfully, [NAME]
Replace [PARKING DATE], [NtK DATE] etc. with your own dates before sending.
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Scan my ticketSources
- SSI 2021/177 reg 8(4)(f)
Related appeal grounds
- Asking the Council to Let You Pay in Instalments
- Bus lane — emergency / unavoidable (giving way to emergency vehicle)
- Compelling reasons to ask Oxfordshire County Council to cancel the Oxford ZEZ penalty
- Council acted unreasonably — claim your appeal costs
- Drove into low-traffic zone during a genuine emergency
- EV bay overstay — TRO max-stay vs reasonable charging time