How to challenge a yellow box or banned turn penalty

What is a yellow box or banned turn penalty?

Councils with moving traffic powers use cameras to issue penalties for stopping in a yellow box junction, making a banned turn, driving through a no-entry or a restricted street, and similar. The notice is posted to the registered keeper with images from the footage.

What is the yellow box rule?

You must not enter the box unless your exit is clear. There is one exception: you may enter and wait when you are turning right and are only stopped by oncoming traffic or by other vehicles waiting to turn right.

So what matters is whether your exit was clear when you entered the box, and whether you stopped because of stationary traffic. Footage often shows a car that rolled through slowly, or stopped for a pedestrian, which is not the contravention.

Which grounds work?

• Your exit was clear when you entered and something unexpected stopped you.
• You were turning right and were held only by oncoming traffic.
• You were stationary for a moment only. Adjudicators regularly cancel penalties for very brief stops.
• The box is larger than the junction needs, or its markings are worn.
• For a banned turn or restricted street: the signs were hidden, missing or only visible once you were committed.
• You were not the owner at the time, or the vehicle was on hire.

Not sure which of these fit your notice? Check it free. You see the verdict and the deadline before you pay.

What should I do first?

Watch the footage. Note the moment you entered the box, what the traffic ahead was doing, and how long you were stopped. Those three facts decide most of these cases.