PCN code 16: parked in a permit space
What this contravention code means, and how to appeal it · On-Street
Code 16 means the council or TfL recorded your vehicle as parked in a permit space or zone without a valid virtual permit or clearly displaying a valid physical permit where required. A valid permit or payment that simply didn't show, or signage that wasn't clear at the time, is a real basis to challenge this rather than pay it.
Full description on the ticket: “Parked in a permit space or zone without a valid virtual permit or clearly displaying a valid physical permit where required.”
Letter after the code, like 16a?
A letter after the number narrows down the exact circumstances: a means permit holder only electric vehicle charging bay, b means business bay, d means doctor's bay, e means car club bay, h means hospital bay, q means market traders' bay, s means shared use bay, t means voucher/pay & display ticket used in a permit bay, w means wrong parking zone, x means incorrect VRM, y means obscured/illegible permit, z means out of date permit, 4 means virtual permit, 5 means dedicated disabled bay, 6 means hotel bay, 9 means electric vehicle car club bay. We factor the exact suffix into your letter automatically.
Can I appeal this?
Yes. This is a statutory Penalty Charge Notice from a council or TfL, not a private charge, so you have a formal right to challenge it before it escalates into a Charge Certificate.