Vehicle was actively charging — Code 14 defence
PCN Code 14 (on-street EV bay) and equivalent off-street codes can only be issued when the vehicle is parked in an EV bay during restricted hours WITHOUT charging. If the vehicle was plugged in and drawing power, the contravention is not made out. Charging session data from the CPO is conclusive.
Legal basis
Traffic Management Act 2004 s.78 and Schedule 7; Civil Enforcement of Road Traffic Contraventions (Approved Devices, Charging Guidelines and General Provisions) (England) Regulations 2022 (SI 2022/71); contravention code 14 (parked in an EV-charging bay without being connected to a charge point or while not actually charging) – defence: vehicle was actively charging.
How to identify this in your case
Request a charging session report from the CPO (BP Pulse, Pod Point, ChargePoint, Ubitricity, etc.) showing start time, end time, kWh delivered, and authorisation events. If the session window covers the time the CEO observed the vehicle, the PCN is invalid.
Sample appeal wording
Dear Sir/Madam, Re: PCN [NUMBER] — Vehicle [REG] — Code 14 / EV Bay — [DATE/TIME] I challenge this PCN. The contravention code requires that the vehicle be parked in an EV charging bay during restricted hours WITHOUT charging. My vehicle was actively charging at the time observed. Attached is the charging session record from [CPO NAME], showing: - Session start: [TIME] - Session end: [TIME] - Energy delivered: [kWh] - Authorisation reference: [REF] The PCN was issued at [TIME], which falls inside the charging session window. The contravention is not made out. The DfT Statutory Guidance on Civil Enforcement of Parking Contraventions makes clear Code 14 is reserved for non-charging use of a charging bay. Please cancel the PCN. Yours faithfully, [NAME]
Replace [PARKING DATE], [NtK DATE] etc. with your own dates before sending.
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