Stopped on a restricted bus stop or standThe official national descriptor for code 47, as published in the Department for Transport statutory guidance list.
The letter after the number on your ticket
Codes are often written with a suffix — 47j rather than just 47. The letter narrows the allegation, and it tells you what the council actually says went wrong. These are the suffixes code 47 can carry:
| j | camera enforcement |
| n | red route |
What the council has to be able to show
An appeal is not an apology, it is a challenge to the council’s case. For code 47 that case rests on:
- A complete, compliant bus stop clearway marking.
- A sign giving the hours of operation.
- Footage of the vehicle stopped inside it.
Where code 47 tickets go wrong
The cage has to be a proper closed marking. Faded ends and missing sections are a genuine point.
Not every bus stop is restricted around the clock.
Held in traffic, or letting an emergency vehicle through. Ask for the whole clip.
The still can be ambiguous. The footage shows where the wheels actually were.
What to gather before you write
- The full CCTV footage, requested in writing.
- Photos of the markings along the whole cage.
Code 47 questions, answered
I only stopped for a few seconds. Does that still count?
It can, because the restriction is on stopping rather than on waiting. What helps is the reason. If you were held by traffic, letting an emergency vehicle past, or setting down a passenger where that is permitted, ask for the complete footage rather than the still, because the surrounding seconds usually tell that story.
What does contravention code 47 mean?
Stopped on a restricted bus stop or stand. In plain terms: The bus stop clearway — the wide cage markings with BUS STOP written inside. Stopping in one during its hours is a contravention, and it is usually camera-enforced.
How much is a code 47 penalty?
Code 47 sits in the higher band, so it carries the more expensive of the two rates that council uses. Outside London that is commonly around £70; in London it is £160 in Band A or £140 in Band B. Half is normally taken off if you pay within 14 days, and your notice states the actual figures.
Your notice is definitive. This page explains the national code. Councils use extra codes and local suffixes, and the wording printed on your own notice always takes precedence. Check the deadline on the notice before you do anything else — the discount usually runs out after 14 days.
Other codes
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