Commentary on Sections Specific provision for Wales and for London Section 80: Representations and appeals
211.Section 80 enables regulations to be made entitling a person liable for payment of a penalty charge or who secures the release of a vehicle from an immobilisation device to make representations to the enforcement authority and to appeal to an independent adjudicator if his representations are not accepted. The regulations may require these rights to be notified to the appropriate person when a penalty charge is issued or when the vehicle concerned is released from an immobilisation device. The regulations may make provision in relation to representations and appeals, including as to the circumstances in which there is a right of appeal to an adjudicator. By virtue of subsection (3), regulations may provide grounds for appeal in respect of which an adjudicator’s function will be to consider whether to direct an enforcement authority to consider or reconsider representations.
212.The regulations may make it an offence not to attend a hearing before an adjudicator or to fail to provide certain documents, and these offences will be punishable by a fine not exceeding level 2 on the standard scale (i.e. a maximum of £500). Similarly, the regulations may make it an offence to deliberately or recklessly make false representations in respect of penalty charges, which offence will be punishable by a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale (i.e. a maximum of £5,000). Regulations may authorise an adjudicator to award costs against a party to an adjudication in such circumstances as may be specified. Regulations under this section require approval by a resolution of each House of Parliament, further to subsection (5) of section 89.