4.—(1) The enforcement authority may disregard any representations under regulation 3 which are received by it after the end of the period of 28 days beginning with the date on which the person making them is informed under regulation 3(2) of his or her right to make representations.
(2) Subject to paragraph (1), if representations are made to it in accordance with regulation 3(4), it will be the duty of the enforcement authority, before the end of the period of 56 days beginning with the date on which it receives the representations—
(a)to consider them and any supporting evidence which the person making them provides; and
(b)to serve on that person notice of its decision as to whether it accepts that—
(i)a ground specified in regulation 3(5) applies; or
(ii)there are compelling reasons of the kind referred to in regulation 3(4)(b).
(3) Where an authority serves notice under paragraph (2)(b)(i) that it accepts that a ground specified in regulation 3(5) applies it must (when serving that notice) —
(a)refund any sums that —
(i)the person to whom the vehicle was released was required to pay under section 101A(1) of the 1984 Act; or
(ii)were deducted from the proceeds of sale of the vehicle in accordance with section 101A(2) of that Act,
except to the extent (if any) to which those sums were properly paid or deducted; and
(b)inform the person making representations that it has waived the right to recover any sum which might otherwise have been due to it by way of a penalty charge or on account of the removal, storage or disposal of the vehicle.
(4) Where an authority serves notice under paragraph (2)(b)(ii) that it accepts that there are such compelling reasons, it must (when serving that notice)—
(a)refund the sums referred to in paragraph (3)(a) or such of them as it considers appropriate in the circumstances of the case; and
(b)inform the person making representations that it has waived the right to recover any sum which might otherwise have been due to it by way of a penalty charge or on account of the removal, storage or disposal of the vehicle.
(5) An authority which has waived its right to recover a sum loses its right to do so.
(6) Where an authority serves notice under paragraph (2)(b) that it does not accept that paragraph (2)(b)(i) or (ii) is fulfilled, that notice must—
(a)inform the person on whom it is served of his or her right to appeal to an adjudicator under regulation 5;
(b)indicate the nature of an adjudicator’s power to award costs; and
(c)describe in general terms the form and manner in which such an appeal is required to be made.
(7) Where an authority fails to comply with paragraph (2) before the end of the period of 56 days mentioned there it will be treated as having accepted the representations and to have served notice to that effect under paragraph (2)(b) and paragraph (3) will apply accordingly.