Puzzle 8 of 10

How long is the discount on a camera PCN sent by post?

Spot the mistake in 3 seconds: a camera ticket that shortchanges your half-price window.

SPECIMEN. A fictional council bus lane Penalty Charge Notice sent by post on 5 October 2026, offering a discount for 14 days. — SPECIMEN. Fictional notice made for a puzzle. Not a real charge, operator or council. The notice is shortened to the lines that matter. The mistake is in a line you can see, or is missing from one of them.

Read the notice as text

Heading: PENALTY CHARGE NOTICE (CAMERA, SENT BY POST)
From: Anytown Council (fictional)
Date of notice: Mon 5 Oct 2026 (date posted)
Vehicle: AB12 IDE
Contravention: Bus lane: vehicle entered a bus lane during its hours of operation
Recorded: 08:47, Thu 1 Oct 2026, Station Approach, Anytown, approved camera
Penalty charge: £70
Discount: Pay £35 if paid within 14 days of the date of this notice (by Sun 18 Oct 2026)
Why posted: Served by post on the basis of a record produced by an approved device

What is wrong with it?

Tap the one you think is the mistake.

It was sent more than 28 days after the camera saw it
Not this one. Try another.
The discount window
Yes, that is the mistake.
The £70 charge for a bus lane
Not this one. Try another.

Show the answer

The mistake: The discount window

Outside London, a camera ticket that arrives in the post gets a longer discount than one stuck on a windscreen, because the driver only finds out once the letter lands. The regulations set the discount date for a camera notice at the end of 21 days counted from the day of service, and service by first class post counts as the second working day after posting. Posted Monday 5 October, served Wednesday 7 October, the half-price window should run to Tuesday 27 October. This notice cut it to 18 October. The half-price window runs to 27 October; a challenge can cite the discount rule.

The rule it breaks

in the case of a penalty charge notice served by virtue of regulation 10(2)(a), the last day of the period of 21 days beginning with the date on which the notice is served;

The Civil Enforcement of Road Traffic Contraventions (Approved Devices, Charging Guidelines and General Provisions) (England) Regulations 2022 (SI 2022/71), Regulation 2, definition of “the applicable date”, para (a), read 19 October 2026; quoted word for word.

Also in the text

Service of such a notice or charge certificate contained in a letter sent by first class post which has been properly addressed, pre-paid and posted is to be taken to have been effected on the second working day after the day of posting.

Regulation 3(3), read 19 October 2026; quoted word for word.

The dates, worked out

Camera record	Thu 1 Oct 2026
Posted	Mon 5 Oct 2026, within 28 days of the contravention (deadline Wed 28 Oct 2026)
Served (2nd working day after posting)	Wed 7 Oct 2026
Discount should run to	21 days beginning Wed 7 Oct 2026: Tue 27 Oct 2026
Discount the notice gave	Sun 18 Oct 2026, 9 days short