A motorist has successfully overturned a £160 fine for stopping in a yellow box junction on Plumstead High Street, after an independent tribunal ruled the box is larger than legally permitted. Greenwich Council has issued fines totalling £741,461 at the junction since enforcement began.
Tribunal Ruling on Box Compliance
The driver, who stopped in the box for three seconds, appealed to London Tribunals, an independent body handling yellow box Penalty Charge Notices. The tribunal determined that video footage showed the box extends beyond the junction, the car had stopped in the section past the far end of the junction, and "the box junction is not substantially compliant with the legislative procedures".
The regulations governing yellow box junctions fall under the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions (TSRGD) 2016. These rules stipulate that box junctions may be positioned "at a junction between two or more roads", as well as at roundabouts and on stretches of road adjoining emergency service entrances.
Revenue and Enforcement Data
Sam Wright, a traffic campaigner known as the 'Yellow Box Guru', guided the woman through a six-month appeals process. He criticised the South London authority for putting motorists through "such stress for minor victimless nonsense".
Following the ruling, Wright submitted a Freedom of Information request to Greenwich Council. The council disclosed that between September 7, 2021 and September 30, 2026, 11,950 Penalty Charge Notices were issued, amounting to a total value of £741,461.
Council Response and Safety Justification
Greenwich Council rejected claims that revenue was a consideration, stating the junction is there to keep the carriageway clear to help emergency services respond to incidents more swiftly. There is both a police and fire station close to the Garibaldi Street junction.
Coun Calum O'Byrne Mulligan, Greenwich's Cabinet Member for Transport, Climate Change, Waste and Streets, said: "Keeping this area clear is essential to helping emergency services get out quickly and respond to incidents without unnecessary delays."
He added: "Enforcement is about ensuring traffic flows safely and effectively for the benefit of all road users, including the emergency services, and revenue is not a consideration."
Regarding the overturned case, O'Byrne Mulligan stated the council "did not agree" with the reasoning of London Tribunal's ruling but chose not to challenge the appeal. He said: "The yellow box at this location has been upheld by many adjudicators. We take feedback and concerns about the design and operation of yellow box junctions seriously, and will review locations where there is evidence that changes may be needed."
