You Stopped to Drop Off, Pick Up or Unload — That Is Not 'Parking'
A charge for 'parking' cannot bite on a vehicle that was merely stopped briefly to set down or pick up a passenger, or to load or unload. In Jopson v Homeguard Services Ltd (B9GF0A9E, Oxford County Court appeal, 29 June 2016) HHJ Harris QC held that 'parking', as opposed to stopping, means 'leaving a car for some duration of time beyond that needed for getting in or out of it, loading or unloading it, and perhaps coping with some vicissitude of short duration' — a resident stopped by the entrance to carry furniture in had not 'parked', and the charge failed. The industry Single Code itself distinguishes drop-off/pick-up activity from parking (grace periods, clause 5.2 NOTE 2, referring to airport and station drop-off zones as short-stay controlled land), and clause 5.3 only allows operators to pursue 'stopping' charges with explicit trade-association consent on security or safety grounds. This ground is for genuine brief attendance with an active purpose — the driver or passengers were with or about the vehicle dealing with passengers or goods — not for leaving the car and walking away.
Legal basis
Jopson v Homeguard Services Ltd, claim B9GF0A9E (Oxford County Court, appeal, HHJ Harris QC, 29 June 2016 — definition of 'parking' vs temporary stopping for loading/unloading; persuasive county court appeal authority); Private Parking Sector Single Code of Practice v1.1 (17 Feb 2025), clause 5.2 NOTE 2 (drop-off/pick-up zones distinguished) and clause 5.3 (charges for 'stopping' require explicit ATA consent on evidenced security or safety grounds).
How to identify this in your case
Only run this ground if the customer confirms the vehicle was stopped briefly for an active purpose — setting down or picking up a passenger (especially children, elderly or disabled passengers), or loading/unloading goods — and someone was with or about the vehicle throughout or the stop lasted only minutes. Typical evidence: ANPR entry/exit a few minutes apart, delivery records, or a passenger's statement. Do NOT use where the driver left the site or the car sat unattended for a significant period.
Sample appeal wording
Sample wording to adapt and send yourself — it may not fit your notice or the stage you are at. Replace the bracketed prompts with your own details; leave any case citation as it is.
The vehicle was not 'parked': it was stopped for the brief time needed to [set down/collect a passenger / load/unload], with the driver in attendance. In Jopson v Homeguard Services Ltd (B9GF0A9E, Oxford County Court appeal, 2016) HHJ Harris QC held that parking means leaving a car for some duration beyond that needed for getting in or out of it or loading or unloading it, and that a brief stop for such a purpose is not parking and cannot found a parking charge. Your own industry Code likewise treats drop-off and pick-up activity as distinct from parking, and permits charges for mere 'stopping' only where the operator holds explicit consent from its Accredited Trade Association on evidenced security or safety grounds (Private Parking Sector Single Code of Practice, clauses 5.2 NOTE 2 and 5.3). I put you to strict proof of: (1) evidence that the vehicle was left beyond the time needed for the loading/unloading or passenger activity described; (2) the precise term said to have been breached and how a brief stop engages it; and (3) if you characterise this as a stopping contravention, your ATA's explicit consent to pursue stopping charges at this site. Absent such proof the charge must be cancelled.
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