Hundreds of drivers face 'unfair rip-off' fine after 'being stuck in roadworks'

Newham council took £23,000 from drivers for entering a yellow box despite the road markings ‘serving no purpose’, it has been warned.
-Credit:Reach Publishing Services Limited


Drivers have woken up to "unfair fines" after being stuck in road works. Labour Party council Newham council took £23,000 from drivers for entering a yellow box despite the road markings ‘serving no purpose’, it has been warned.

The local authority “ripped off” more than 350 motorists it fined for entering a yellow box despite the road markings “serving no purpose whatsoever”. The council issued at the same spot during a month of roadworks when a test case fine “should not have been issued”.

Ricardo Bowden received a PCN after entering the yellow box on Barking Road in east London. After the council rejected his appeal, the 49-year-old motability electric car driver took his case to London Tribunals, the Telegraph reported.

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Newham conceded: “The PCN should not have been issued due to roadworks blocking the turn for which the box junction was installed.” The tribunal adjudicators agreed that “at the material time the box markings served no purpose whatsoever and did not fulfil its statutory purpose”.

It concluded the local authority was twice “wholly unreasonable” in its handling of the case. “The council is printing money for fines, which should now all be paid back,” Mr Bowden, from east London, said: “Newham initially rejected my appeal, simply dismissing it out of hand. A lot of people would then just pay up because they don’t want the grief.

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"It is absolutely disgraceful that the council has money from similar fines.” A Newham council spokesman said: “Enforcement of yellow box junctions is vital to keeping traffic moving on Newham’s roads. While we acknowledge that road works were taking place at this location, we believe it was right to continue to enforce so that traffic flow was not affected by inconsiderate drivers.

“Nevertheless, the appeals process exists to allow drivers who are unhappy with PCNs to dispute them, and we will always gladly look at any cases brought before us so that we deliver on our commitment to treat drivers fairly.”