Free Traffic Legal Advice
Live cases legal advice => Civil penalty charge notices (Councils, TFL and so on) => Topic started by: NOMSTER on January 05, 2026, 01:30:11 pm
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Never assume anything with parking - always check the authority's website. There is variation in bank holiday enforcement.
Here's Barnet:
https://www.barnet.gov.uk/parking/parking-and-traffic-enforcement/parking-restrictions#title-1
You would have OK in parking bays or car parks.
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My question: Can I argue that I interpret the Highway Code to mean that restrictions are not in force on Bank Holidays in this case, as there were days shown on the sign? Barnet Council have been deliberately misleading as their sign should read "including Bank Holidays"?
Sorry, but no. A Bank Holiday is also a day of the week, so if that day is within the days shown on the sign, then the council can enforce a contravention against the sign restrictions. This argument has been done to death over the years since decriminalised parking enforcement was introduced in 1991.
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I'd suggest it would depend on the Traffic Regulation order as well. The Highway code is guidance, not the law.
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I received a PCN on New Years Day for "parking in a restricted street during prescribed hours' - I parked on a single yellow believing that Sunday rules would apply on a bank holiday.
The road sign stated that parking restrictions were in place Mon-Sat 8am-6.30pm
The Highway code states that "The times at which the restrictions apply for other road markings are shown on nearby plates or on entry signs to controlled parking zones. If no days are shown on the signs, the restrictions are in force every day including Sundays and Bank Holidays"
(https://www.highwaycodeuk.co.uk/road-markings.html)
My question: Can I argue that I interpret the Highway Code to mean that restrictions are not in force on Bank Holidays in this case, as there were days shown on the sign? Barnet Council have been deliberately misleading as their sign should read "including Bank Holidays"?
Link to google maps:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/9RZ5eumznofJwvF19 (https://maps.app.goo.gl/9RZ5eumznofJwvF19)
Link to images:
https://imgpile.com/p/E6HrJtz#0avIeRW
Many thanks :)