Code 04 PCN from Barnet: Parked in a meter bay when penalty time is indicated

Contravention code 04 on a Barnet PCN means: Parked in a meter bay when penalty time is indicated. This is a parking contravention enforced by civil enforcement officers within the London Borough of Barnet area.

You can make formal representations to Barnet within 28 days of receiving the notice to owner. If Barnet rejects your representations, you have 28 days to appeal to London Tribunals. Upload your PCN and Parking Mate AI identifies the grounds specific to code 04.

Common defences for a Barnet code 04 PCN include inadequate or missing signage, a defective traffic regulation order, failure to follow the observation procedure, incorrect contravention code, and procedural failures in serving the notice.

Yes. If Barnet has issued your PCN with contravention code 04 but the code does not accurately describe what happened, this is a valid ground for challenge. The contravention code must match the restriction actually in force at the location and time stated.

You typically have 28 days to pay at the discounted rate or make an informal challenge. After a notice to owner, you have 28 days for formal representations. If Barnet rejects those, you have 28 days to appeal to London Tribunals. Check your code 04 PCN promptly.

For a Barnet code 04 challenge, gather the PCN itself, photos of signage and road markings at the location, any payment receipts, dashcam footage if available, and a written note of why you believe code 04 was incorrectly applied.

No. A Barnet code 04 PCN may be incorrectly issued for several reasons: the signage may not comply with regulations, the observation period may not have been followed correctly, the TRO may be defective, or the code may not match what actually happened.

Ignoring a Barnet code 04 PCN leads to escalation: notice to owner, then a charge certificate (increasing the penalty by 50%), then registration at the Traffic Enforcement Centre, and eventually bailiff enforcement. Responding early preserves the most options.

Each council has its own enforcement patterns and approach. Barnet has specific local factors, including extensive controlled parking zones across Finchley, Hendon, and Golders Green with camera enforcement on bus routes. Parking Mate AI applies Barnet-specific checks when analysing your code 04 PCN.

Upload your Barnet code 04 PCN and Parking Mate AI reads the details automatically. It checks whether code 04 was correctly applied, whether the signage and procedure meet the required standards, and whether the notice was properly served. If defects are found, you receive a professional challenge letter for London Tribunals.