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Live cases legal advice => Civil penalty charge notices (Councils, TFL and so on) => Topic started by: tom1000 on February 15, 2026, 05:55:30 pm

Title: Re: Barnet Council - code 34j Being in a bus lane - East Finchley High Road, London
Post by: tom1000 on February 17, 2026, 08:32:34 am
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.
Title: Re: Barnet Council - code 34j Being in a bus lane - East Finchley High Road, London
Post by: Incandescent on February 15, 2026, 07:25:24 pm
The blue bus lane signs are mandatory, but not the camera signs. I think you may have to take this one on the chin, sorry to have to say it, unless you are prepared to take them to London Tribunals where you could win based on a little-known clause in the Act governing London bus lane enforcement.

Title: Barnet Council - code 34j Being in a bus lane - East Finchley High Road, London
Post by: tom1000 on February 15, 2026, 05:55:30 pm
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 (https://www.google.com/maps/@51.5876302,-0.1642109,3a,75y,353.82h,90.59t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sajtkCSI0izokUJ0EHxeI-g!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fcb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26pitch%3D-0.5948315879099653%26panoid%3DajtkCSI0izokUJ0EHxeI-g%26yaw%3D353.8235559522429!7i13312!8i6656?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDIxMS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D), from 2012 so out-of-date though)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 (https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/xhanr255fii2mr9fw9h9v/AOuYHsPd-aORJ9dPfDGNrQs?rlkey=jzsl91s99adoegxo3irgdgqe5&st=ijl2kl2p&dl=0)

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 (https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/xhanr255fii2mr9fw9h9v/AOuYHsPd-aORJ9dPfDGNrQs?rlkey=jzsl91s99adoegxo3irgdgqe5&st=o1ujly6o&dl=0)), 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