Free Traffic Legal Advice

Hey guys and @cp8759.

So yesterday I received a windshield ticket after the car had been parked for a few days on the street. Apparently there is a parking suspension in place in order to replace a street light. However there is only one sign put up as far as I can see and I've walked up and down the street. The sign is on a pole in front of number 12 (not sure when it was put up but that is not even the direction I walked after parking the car some days ago). There is a tree right next to where the car was parked and there is also no sign up on that tree either. Apparently the restriction is for 2 days (March 3-4) and is enforced in front of number 4 to number 12 on that road. I have attached the photos of the windshield ticket, as well as photos of the only sign I was able to locate once I had found the ticket. I have also taken a video walking in the in both directions from the vehicle showing that there is only that single sign despite multiple trees on the street where signs could have been erected. As I get out of the car I walked backwards from where the car is facing, and it had been parked there for a few days prior and had not been moved.













This is the video of the walk up and down the street in both directions of where I was parked.

This one begins next to the tree next to where I parked the car (in front of number 8 ) and there is no sign as far down as number 3, nor is there any sign on any of the trees between number 3 and number 12.

This is walking past the car and the tree in the opposite direction towards where the only sign is (opposite to where I walked after exiting the vehicle)

This is the location where the car is parked. It is in the space where the green car is parked under the tree (there are no leaves or big branches now).

https://maps.app.goo.gl/gJtdSgk9TTDAdZ2bA

From there you can see there are multiple trees between where the sign was placed and where the restrictions started and the sign was placed only in front of number 12 (despite the restrictions including number 3-12). Pictures below using google maps:





Thanks in advance everyone.

PCN please, all sides.

There are no parking bays on the street, or any signs for off-carriageway parking, although it is clearly tolereated or allowed as GSV shows lots of vehicles partly on the footway.

If parking is to be suspended in a street with no parking bays, hence no TRO,  a Temporary Traffic Regulation Order would be necessary.

Thanks @Incandescent. I have added the back to the original post.

But yes, you are correct, that road does not have specific bays, or parking on kerbs explecitly mentioned however for more than 20 years everyone has just parked on the kerb and it has always been fine. No one gets tickets for parking on there. In fact if people parked off the kerb then there would issues with traffic on that road being difficult because it is a busy road and has buses going in both directions.

So you now need to submit some representations based on the fact that the contravention did not occur. Something like: -

Dear Sirs

Re PCN AG47997185 served on 3rd March 2025 at Lichfield Road

I deny responsibility for payment of the above PCN on the grounds that the alleged contravention did not occur. Lichfield Street has no parking restrictions where the car was parked. I therefore request that the PCN be cancelled forthwith.

Yours faithfully

Post up their response when you get it.

Is this because they do not have a temporary TRO.

I have found this on the works site regarding what they've been permitted to do

https://one.network/?GB141529026

It also looks like though the sign said 3-4 March, it now looks like it may be delayed and the site mentions 6 March.

Nothing to do with parking on the pavement. The alleged contravention is 'parked in a restricted street...'

So, first of all where were you parked relative to the numbered lamp columns and was this within 10m as it says on the sign? Nothing to do with house numbers, just column numbers.

Then we can look at whether the TTRO (assuming there is one and it's not a 14(1) notice restriction) and the placing of signs hold water.

You know what, you're absolutely right. I just realised now after reading your message and looking at the sign again that it does not mean numbers 4 to 12 as the house numbers but rather the lamp numbers 4 to 12. Just checked on GSV and that first one with the sign is number 4, the one next to it is too blurry to see but the one after is number 6 so it seems like the lamps in that direction, away from where I parked and the opposite direction to where I walked, are the ones being worked on. Makes sense why they didn't put a sign on the tree next to where I was parked and further back in the other direction.

Looking at the pictures on GSV, that lamp number 4 is well over 10m away. Its actually more than 20m away at the minimum as each house on that road is 5m wide (3 of then from the lamp post). Add to that the space between the two semi detatched houses (the 3rd and 4th houses from the lamp post) and part of the 4th house which I was parked in front of and it seems like a nonsense ticket.

Hey guys, so great news. Barnet just sent a letter stating they were cancelling the PCN "due to a Civil Enforcement Officer (CEO) error" but that "this does not form an acceptance of your specific representation"  yeah, right, but I'm too happy to get into it.

Thanks @Incandescent , @cp8759 , and @H_C_Andersen.

Edit: Damn I don't know how to @ H C Anderson. Tried @HCAndersen, tried @H C Andersen also tried @H_C_Andersen but none work. Anyways thanks also to you mate.

@H C Andersen

Thanks man. Much appreciated. Thank you to everyone that helped.