13Charge certificates relating to unpaid charges
(1)Where any charge allegedly incurred is not paid before the end of the relevant period, the participating council concerned may serve on the relevant person who removed it or secured its release a statement (hereinafter referred to as a “charge certificate”) to the effect that any penalty charge in question is increased by 50 per cent and informing the person on whom the charge certificate is served of subsection (4) below.
(2)The relevant period is the period of 28 days beginning—
(a)where no representations are made under subsection (1) of section 11 (Representations relating to unpaid charges) of this Act, with the date on which the vehicle is released or removed from the custody of the council concerned;
(b)where—
(i)such representations are made;
(ii)the council serve notice under subsection (3)(b) of the said section 11 of this Act that they do not accept that a ground has been established (hereinafter referred to as “a notice of rejection”); and
(iii)no appeal against the notice of rejection is made under section 12 (Appeals relating to unpaid charges) of this Act with the date on which the notice of rejection is served; or
(c)where there has been an unsuccessful appeal against a notice of rejection, with the date on which notice of the adjudicator’s decision is served on the appellant.
(3)Where an appeal against a notice of rejection is made but is withdrawn before the adjudicator gives notice of his decision, the relevant period is the period of 14 days beginning with the date on which the appeal is withdrawn.
(4)Where a charge certificate has been served on any person and any increased penalty charge or any other charge provided for in the certificate is not paid before the end of the period of 14 days beginning with the date on which the certificate is served, the council concerned may, if a county court so orders, recover the increased penalty charge or other charge as if it were payable under a county court order.
(5)Subject to section 8 (Service of notices) of this Act, any charge certificate under this section—
(a)may be served by post; and
(b)where the person on whom it is to be served is a body corporate, is duly served if it is sent by post to the secretary or clerk of that body.