Have you been given a penalty for stopping in a box junction? This can be scary and confusing. But don’t worry, we’re here to guide you. Each month, over 32,000 people come to this site for advice on tickets and fines.
In this article, we’ll help you understand:
What a box junction is and why you might get a penalty.
How to challenge your penalty and possibly beat it.
The rules for using a box junction.
How much a box junction penalty can cost.
What could happen if you don’t pay the penalty.
We’ve helped many people who were in the same situation as you, so we know how it feels to get a penalty, and we want to help you. Let’s get started and find out how you can deal with your box junction penalty.
What are the rules for box junctions?
According to the Highway Code, box junctions have yellow criss-cross lines which indicate that you mustn’t enter the area until you have a clear way to exit the ‘box’.
That said, you are allowed to enter a box and wait if you’re turning to the right and only oncoming traffic prevents you from doing so, or other vehicles are waiting to turn to the right as well.
How much is the penalty for a box junction offence?
The penalty for entering or stopping at a box junction varies in different parts of the country. For example, in London on red routes, the penalty for entering a box junction is £160.
You’d get to pay half that amount if you pay within 14 days though. In short, you’d only pay £80 if you pay the fine promptly.
In Scotland, the penalty is £130 for improperly using a box junction which is reduced to £65 if the fine is paid within 2 weeks.
Should you pay a Box Junction Penalty Charge straight away?
Most box junction infringements are caught on camera which means that local authorities have a record of the motoring offence. It’s very like bus lane penalty charge notices which can also be very hard to successfully challenge!
As an incentive to settle the fine early, local authorities offer the chance to pay a discounted amount. It could be worth considering if you don’t have a good enough reason to challenge the Penalty Charge!
What happens when you don’t pay a Box Junction fine?
Things get more expensive when you don’t pay the Penalty Charge for improper use of a Box Junction, and you don’t file an appeal.
A local authority could pass your details onto a collections agency and they’ll chase you for payment!
If a Penalty Charge Notice goes unpaid, a council may decide to take you to court and if they win, you could end up with a County Court Judgement (CCJ) on your credit file
It will negatively impact your ability to get a bank or other loan, credit card or mortgage!
Moreover, you could get a visit from enforcement officers (bailiffs). LINK TO YOUTUBE VIDEO
How can you appeal a Box Junction Penalty Charge?
As mentioned, you must have a good reason to challenge a Box Junction Penalty Charge Notice. But because the offence was caught on camera, it might prove challenging! Plus, you’d have to plead not guilty and go to court!
That said, you could challenge the fine if:
Your vehicle was stolen when the offence was recorded on camera, or
You had no choice but to enter the box junction to avoid an accident
You entered the box junction to let an emergency vehicle pass
You didn’t own the vehicle when the infringement occurred
You’d need to provide evidence to support the reason why you’re challenging the fine. Without sufficient evidence the chances of successfully challenging a PCN are slim.
If you’ve lost the Penalty Charge Notice you received, there are ways to retrieve the reference number which I cover in my other post.
Plus, you must file your appeal against the Penalty Charge Notice within the specified deadline. If you miss the deadline, you lose the right to appeal the fine.
Other things to check before appealing the PCN include:
Read the Notice you got carefully and send your appeal to the right local council
Follow the appeals procedure to the letter and make sure you respect the deadline
Provide evidence and the reason why you’re challenging the PCN
Ask for a copy of the photo evidence of the offence
How to successfully appeal a box junction Penalty Charge Notice?
It’s pretty challenging to make a successful appeal against a box junction Penalty Charge Notice. Why? Because the infringement is typically caught on camera!
However, there are some reasons that a council may consider which include your vehicle being stolen when the offence occurred.
That said, if you do what to challenge the PCN, make sure you can back up your appeal with solid evidence!
If you don’t have a valid reason, you should consider paying the fine within 14 days so you get to pay a discounted amount!
Thanks for taking the time to read this post. I hope you found the information useful and that it saves you time, hassle and money when dealing with a Box Junction PCN.
Need more advice about penalty charge notices?
Check out another of my posts on penalty charge notices and how to deal with them!
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