Free Traffic Legal Advice

Hi all,

My wife got a parking ticket, if you could help me with it I'd really appreciate it. Details:

- PCN: AG98070968
- Vehicle Registration Number: VN69 AZP
- Contravention Code: 34j - Being in a bus lane
- Location: East Finchley High Road (Google maps link, from 2012 so out-of-date though)
- Date of the notice: 11/02/2026

I've put a PDF of the letter from Barnet Council and some additional photos here

My wife was driving north up East Finchley High Road. There is a bus lane which starts just before East Finchley Tube Station, so she moved into the right hand lane meant for cars. There are bollards separating the bus lane from the right hand lane, several of these have been knocked down, so my wife took this to mean that the bus lane had ended and moved into the bus lane. It was dark and rainy so she didn't see that the end of bus lane sign was not till further up. She realised her mistake when she saw other cars waiting to move into the left lane further down the road (where the end of bus lane sign is).

I've taken some photographs of the bus lane signs (see evidence here), I noticed a couple of things that might be relevant:
Start of bus lane warning signs - the 'bus lane cameras' sign is facing the wrong way, i.e. it is not visible to oncoming traffic at all (see photos 1a and 1b)
The bus lane warning sign after the bus lane resumes past the tube station is partially obscured by a 'HIGH ROAD EAST FINCHLEY WELCOME' sign from Barnet Council
Thanks again
Kind Regards
Tom

Thanks @Incandsescent, much appreciated.

I'm prepared to take it to London Tribunals, if there is a fighting chance of winning the appeal. So, if you have any more details please let me know.