Is there a time period by which a PCN must be issued ?

ngood77

Hi all,

I’ve started to use two private car parks near me as they are empty at the weekend.  One has warning signs up threatening a PCN, the other has one sign simply saying No Unauthorised Parking.  

I’m comfortable parking in the second car park as nothing is enforceable but before I start using the first one too I’d like to know if there is a period of time by which I must receive the PCN in the post ?  I’ve used the car park about a week ago and didn’t want to use it on consecutive days until I know I’m ’in the clear’ as it were.

Thanks for any help you can give.

Gr1pr

7 months is the deadline to obtain keeper details and get the PCN to the keeper 

I suggest that you don't take chances, private PCNs are certainly enforceable against a driver if issued correctly and within the laws and the code of practice 

ngood77

7 months ?!  That’s ridiculous.  Ok so maybe I’ll leave the first car park alone.  But the second - given the absence of any parking enforcement signage I don’t think they can do anything, can they ?

Gr1pr

I wont speculate on the unknown, so won't even try 

The limit for penalties and parking charge notices is 6 months, the added month is processing and postal periods 

Doesn't matter what your personal belief about the period is, it is what it is, you asked a valid question and I replied 

I doubt that the other land is common land, so will have a landowner, that landowner can use the laws to stop trespassing etc

ngood77

Gr1pr said:

I doubt that the other land is common land, so will have a landowner, that landowner can use the laws to stop trespassing etc

And how would they do that ?  They can’t issue PCNs.

The_Slithy_Tove

ngood77 said:

I’m comfortable parking in the second car park as nothing is enforceable but before I start using the first one too ...

It's behaviour like that which gives PPCs the excuse to operate. Deliberate trespass (which is what you are suggesting) cannot be condoned.

Coupon-mad

The regulars here hate parking firms but we would never condone bilking on private land.  That's what causes PPCs to exist.

ngood77

Gr1pr said:

7 months is the deadline to obtain keeper details and get the PCN to the keeper  

But once the initial 14 days has passed the 7 months is an irrelevance so long as the driver’s details are not disclosed ?

Coupon-mad

More or less right. It is about when the NTK was deemed delivered AND the wording on it. Even if it was non-POFA, that doesn't really stop them trying to pursue the keeper.

Gr1pr

There are current court cases on this forum where the claimant doesn't know who was driving, that didn't comply with Pofa 2012, especially almost all of the Smart Parking cases, so as coupon mad says above,  it doesn't put them off pursuing the victim 

But they might lose in court, if they actually went to the final whistle