Traffic warden slaps street of cars with parking tickets on Boxing Day

A traffic warden slapped 12 cars with parking tickets after drivers mistakenly thought they could park on the street for free on Boxing Day.

Video posted to TikTok shows an entire row of parked cars in Watford were plastered with penalty charge notices the day after Christmas.

The drivers presumably thought they could park on the street for free on Monday because of it being a bank holiday. 

Many communities in the UK relax parking restrictions on bank and public holidays, but in Watford parking restrictions apply as usual on bank holidays.

A traffic warden slapped 12 cars with parking tickets after drivers mistakenly thought they could park on the street for free on Boxing Day

Video posted to TikTok shows an entire row of parked cars on Lady’s Close in Watford were plastered with penalty charge notices the day after Christmas

Twelve tickets were issued to drivers parked along Lady’s Close on Monday, Watford Borough Council confirmed to MailOnline.

The cars were parked along a single yellow line despite ‘visible signage’ indicated parking restrictions are in effect Monday through Saturday from 8am to 6.30pm.

The council said restrictions apply on bank holidays and that cars that were ‘parked dangerously’ were ticketed.

‘It is always important that emergency service vehicles can gain access to streets,’ Peter Taylor, Elected Mayor of Watford, explained.

‘We were operating our bank holiday parking service, which means that cars parked dangerously, for example on double or single yellow lines, were given tickets.’

The mayor also noted that Watford operates controlled parking in designated areas, which means residents pay for parking permits and pay an extra hourly rate for guest permits. 

He added: ‘Our enforcement officers patrol on bank holidays, including Boxing Day to make sure that residents in those streets get the service they pay for all year round.’ 

The mayor said anyone can appeal the citation if ‘they feel unfairly treated.’

Watford Borough Council’s website indicates that there are no parking restrictions int he community on Christmas Day or Easter Sunday, but controlled parking zone parking restrictions apply as usual on bank holidays.

Despite council rules, several TikTokers have rushed to the drivers’ defence, alleging they should challenge the citations. 

The cars were parked along a single yellow line despite ‘visible signage’ indicated parking restrictions are in effect Monday through Saturday from 8am to 6.30pm. The council said restrictions apply on bank holidays and that cars that were ‘parked dangerously’ were ticketed

TikTok users issued mixed response to the video with some alleging all those who received citations should appeal. Others argued that drivers should be responsible for double checking parking rules and cannot assume any holidays are exempt

‘Challenge each and every one of those tickets. They were wrongly issued,’ one user commented on the video.

‘It is a bank holiday so everyone will appeal and win,’ echoed another.

Another user added: ‘Boxing Day is a bank holiday though. Every single one of those should be appealed.’

However, other social media users argued that drivers should be responsible for double checking parking rules and cannot assume any holidays are exempt.

One user commented: ‘It is a bank holiday but sadly that doesn’t mean free parking, baffles me how people don’t check.’

‘It is a bank holiday, but bank holiday does not mean free parking. Depends on what the terms are in the area,’ another said.

‘It’s because the traffic wardens were upset that they had to work on the bank holiday,’ joked another. 

‘I heard that traffic warden has just bought a yacht,’ another TikTok user mocked.