One bus lane camera in south London has so far raised more than £6m in fines (Picture © iStock)
First it was officious parking wardens, then it was hidden speed cameras; now comes a new menace to motorists: bus-lane ‘entrapment’.
Underhand tactics are being blamed for a massive rise in fines handed out to drivers who are caught straying into a bus lane. Five years ago, approximately 321,000 bus lane fines or ‘infringement tickets’ were issued. But last year that figure had climbed to over one million, raising around £30million in revenue for cash-strapped councils.
Critics are pointing the finger of blame at poorly located signs and confusing road layouts. In London, Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester, Cardiff and Bristol, which top the list for complaints from motorists, the most common problem is when a driver wants to turn left and inadvertently merges into or crosses a bus lane before they are allowed to.
The typical penalty for driving in a bus lane is £130 in London and £70 outside the capital. Drivers who pay promptly can have their fine reduced by half.
Many won’t know they’ve made a mistake until a brown paper envelope containing a penalty notice is dropped through their letterbox. Becky Barrow, a writer for The Sunday Times and mother of three children, suffered exactly that fate during the school run. She moved to the left slightly too early in preparation to turn left, near the Westfield shopping centre in West London.
After returning to the scene of her ‘crime’, Barrow found that the bus lane was the same colour as the rest of the road, and the thick white dividing line separating buses from other traffic stopped before arrows tell drivers they may merge left.
The Daily Mail reports that in London’s borough of Lambeth, one camera positioned at a junction has generated more than £6m in fines to date, while in Glasgow another camera has effectively handed out more than £3m worth of penalties.
Unlike money raised from speeding fines, which is handed to the Treasury, revenue from bus lane fines and parking tickets is kept by councils. Ten years ago, bus lane enforcement would have been carried out by the police on location. Today it’s overseen by video camera operators sat in a windowless control room, or in some cases older-style photographic cameras capture the evidence.
How to appeal a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) for driving in a bus lane
Not many drivers realise that it is possible to appeal against a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) for driving in a bus lane.
Motorists must take up the matter with the authority that issued the ticket in the first place, within the specified time limit – typically 28 days. If your appeal is unsuccessful you can turn to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal. This is an independent adjudicator with the authority to cancel a PCN.
Given that the most common complaint among drivers is that they moved to the left slightly too early in order to turn left, the most significant ground for appealing a bus lane fine is that drivers are permitted 20 metres of grace – approximately five car lengths.
So if the supplied photographic and (in some cases) video evidence does not show the car travelling more than 20 metres in the bus lane, there are good grounds for an adjudicator to throw out the PCN.
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Cardiff Bus Lanes PCN Appeals.
The use of bi-lingual traffic signs and road marking is not permissible for the purpose of statutory enforcement of moving traffic offences in bus lanes under the Traffic Management Act 2004. Only those signs described in the Traffic Signs Manual Chapter 3 and Chapter 5 can be used to create a legally enforceable bus lane. The signs must be placed at all the locations prescribed in the Traffic Signs Manual.
This has not yet been tested at Appeal but is almost certainly correct.
Appealed today 1-6-16 two photos sent showing me driving for less than 3 meters in a bus lane,
Appealed on the grounds of not showing more than 20 meters, lets see what happens.
Hi Paul
How did your appeal go? I hope you were successful. I received a PCN recently for travelling in a BL for 10 metres approx at tjhe end of a bus lane. I appealed to Merton who kicked it out. Now I’m considering whether it is worth risking £130 to appeal to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal. Any thoughts. Kind regards GEB
Hey Gary, I am on the same boat. Merton as well. I am resident of this council. The worst I have ever lived in London. Man I hate Merton council. They refused it. Insane!! Half of my car went on the BL for about 4 meters and 2 secs (as per their evidence) as I was going to turn left. I am gonna take the risk and take this to the end. Hopefully I will not have to pay the £130.00. Good Luck!!
Hi Clayton
As I didn’t get any replies to my comment I decided with regret to pay the £65 fine. Today my fine would have increased to £130 and it was a risk I didn’t want to take. However, I do wish you well with your appeal and hope you succeed. Good luck. Gary
Hi Clayton,
I too got a bus lane ticket in Merton in exactly the same circumstances as yours – half a car for about 4 metres. How did you get on with your appeal? I’m considering mine now, but common sense says it’s ridiculous!
Cheers,
I too got a BL ticket from Merton for being in bus lane less than 10m to get in the left hand lane. Appealed to Merton and they rejected it as always. Forgot to pay at discounted rate so it’s now £130. Waiting for the form to come through so I can formally challenge it… Will see what happens
Mia, did you challenge the PCN? How did it go?
Do you have any news on your appeal Mia? I really want to at least hear from someone there is common sense in the system and appeals are actually possible
Wow – this website was apparently written for the disgruntled residents of Merton. I just got one there too. Same thing – entered the bus lane slightly too early for a left hand turn. I have appealed but based on the replies here it seems like I will have to pay anyway. Has anyone had any successful appeals with them?
I wouldn’t, 20m is only guideline. I lost my appeal because they said the law was that you don’t cross the line into a bus lane and they were choosing not to adhere to the guidelines. It was with Lambeth though
Hi Clara and others,
Well I also been driving on bus lane for about 3 meters (4 seconds) in Fullman, also appealed to council and they of course rejected, however I took case to London Tribunals and I won the case.
They (council) also said to me that ‘the law was that you don’t cross the line into a bus lane and 20m is only guideline’ which is totally false. Its misleading wording to make you feel guilty and pay. You can actually search online for this.
What I would say is they will usually reject anything from you and your best bet is take your case to London Tribunals and of course you can search online how to deal with this.
its not law and it’s not in any of the highway code books the council will tell you it is i have two 2020 copies of the highway code a 160 page one and a 191 page one and there’s no mention of bus lanes ask yourself why not because its not legal what the councils are doing its simple don’t pay it and they can’t enforce it because its a county court matter
Cardiff is a nightmare in this regard. This has got to be a money making exercise out of people being human trying to follow the rules. This is not about road safety and it is not about keeping the bus lanes clear either. This is about catching you out on a technicality with the expectation that you will just pay without challenge. It doesn’t take into account real life when there are so many other things we have to consider, like navigating, checking our speed, getting to our meeting or arrangement on time, keeping our kids in order when they are bleating, being considerate to the traffic and other road users, not knowing the area or even daring to make a mistake by being over cautious when turning left!! And then what about the wider things that could be happening in your life like recent bereavements or going through a redundancy consultation process?! Clearly, with all the things that could be going on we should try harder and be more careful. Why can’t we? Turn it in on yourself and go into a depression for a bit for the wrong you have done and think about what you have learned today. You know what, I disagree and I am prepared to make a stand. This is jobs worth gone mad and as such is unfair; worse actually, its an officious rip off. Driving is no longer a pleasure with PCN cameras and speed guns and traps, making big brother proud. I think they should repaint the bus lanes to be more considerate to the general motorist and I think they should turn the cameras off.
See some correspondence my colleague had with a surrey council and was able to use this to Cancel his penalty
http://pariswells.com/blog/random/appeal-of-a-bus-lane-ticket-which-was-cancelled
Looks like they cancelled because they had not followed their proper process, rather than because your colleague had a valid challenge.
What I don’t understand is how can Merton Council throw it out if Green Flags facts are correct? Are Green Flag correct in what they say about the 20m grace?
i was forced to turn right into a bus lane as my intended direction was closed due to construction i would have redirected but before i knew it i was in a one way and itwas not safe to u turn. signage was inadequate on approach. Is this a valid reason to appeal?
There is no actual 20metre rule, it is a guidance only apparently that is part of the guidelines of some councils only!
Look at this.You will see the 20meter rule.
http://content.tfl.gov.uk/eops-schedule2-appendix9-tfl-business-rules.pdf
There isn’t any actual 20 metre rule…..an ombudsman mentioned it once (i cant find the article any more) and everyone went with it!
Hi guys. I received four PCN’s (pretty much consecutive days) from Merton. Can anyone advise if I have any chances appelaing it tochange it into one continuous contravention? Merton of course disregarded my request.
Yes they should make it 1 contravention as per the link above:
5-day rule: The customer has been issued with a 2nd PCN before they have had the
opportunity to receive the 1st PCN . The 1st PCN received is valid, all subsequent PCN’s (issued before the 1st one has been received) are to be cancelled.
Hi my son has just received a PCN bus lane ticket. I viewed the Havering web site too see only the same picture that was sent on the PCN which shows the passenger side wheels on the thick white line but nothing else, he is two car lengths from being able to pull over to the left at end of bus lane. He clearly in these pictures is not inside the bus lane apart from being on white line at a point where a turning on the driverside of the road is and traffice turning out tends to make you steer slightly left hence being on the white line.
Would any other evidence be available and are they allowed to withhold anything before he challenges this.
Hi Paul Williamson, just wondered if you appealed based on the 20 metre grace and, if so, whether you were successful. My husband has received 2 PCNs from Merton Council this month for driving in the bus lane adjacent to the bus stop, so he could turn left?
Hi Hannah. Regarding Merton, they state in their correspondence that there is no 20 metre rule. All my PCN appeals have been rejected by Merton. All they do is send a generic response.
There is no written law on this but I do remember that the argument is that if a driver finds himself inadvertently in a Bus Lane, where it is reasonable that the signs could not be seen clearly, or were confusing – then it takes the driver X number of seconds to realise the error, by which time the driver has travelled X metres of distance before being able to correct his lane. It was an argument that was upheld successfully in a court of law therefore all subsequent appeals should be able to succeed on this point alone.
Hi, Wondering what happens when one enters a bus lane because the online sign was hidden by the bus moving in front of the car. Bust just in front is like a red wall in front of you. once I realised that I was in a bus ONLY lane, i looked to get out but had no other option but to keep moving, until I got a place to exit. Just had no option. Layout around o2 arena is a nightmare to say the least. Some moron designed it. It was raining cats and dogs today, and I was following a bus and took the most logical right turn only to find myself in the bus lane.. right in the middle of it… It sucks to drive in London, really.
Hi I’ve just had two £65 fines of harrow council for going through a bus lane at Four o’clock in the morning.l had just finished a 10 hour shift at Headstone Road on the Railway I didn’t see know signs warning me and to be fear all I was interested in was getting back to Birmingham to bed its a disgrace I understand during peak times but 4 o’clock in the morning the roads are empty Life drives you mad sometimes all was doing was going to work.
I got the same PCN in harrow at 4.56am alexandra road …the bus lane is not even 2 car length long and has a 24 hour restriction …what a money making machine it is
Hi
Should the value of the fine be displayed?
Beware that when you contest and they decide you are wrong they say they send you a letter to let you know and I never received it. It then made me go over the time allowed and they doubled the fine! Arses! Ring every week to see how far the case is going!!!
I need help with this one. I got 3 in the space of two days, my wife was rushed into Edinburgh Royal Infirmary by Ambulance for an emergency operation and i had never been to that hospital or area before as i stay about an hour away.
Anyway i couldnt get parked as the carpark was full everyday so i had to drive down a road and turn to try and get parked again. It turns out the road is a bus lane which i had no idea of and obviously i was in a state of panic with the 3 kids and their mum in hospital.
Anyway a week later i have 3 bus lane fines, 2 on the same day and 1 a day later. When i googled it obviously im not the only one as that camera is responsible for over a quarter of all Edinburgh City Council fines which i find stagering. Do i have any ground for appeal or even paying one as it was an error but to get landed with 3 is unjust imo.
I also hot caught at the Royal hospital. Two bus lane fines 12 seconds apart, i realised turned around and got snapped again
Best to appeal both on the grounds you have given here, and any that you find on
http://forums.pepipoo.com/lofiversion/index.php/t109122.html in particular from “plugmeister” I know that this relates to Manchester, but it is very comprehensive and gives many reasons for an appeal. Worked for me. Scotland appears to allow most appeals. All the best
I just appealed one with Reading council where the road layout is very confusing, and the signage isn’t clear until you are right upon the lane with no safe means to adjust. I entered the lane and turned around when safe to do so (2 way street), but received a fine just this morning. It’s scandalous, and a revenue generation exercise. Fortunately I have lots of contacts in the legal industry so this one is going all the way…. time to make a stand.
Mike I read your msg from last year just wondered how you got on with your appeal. I’ve just picked up a PCN after taking the first left into Reading Station re the North enterance off Vastern Rd, completely inadequate signage and road markings and therefore not giving a driver sufficent information that they are entering into a designated Bus Lane.
I received a pcn for driving in a bus lane for 5 seconds coming up to a pedestrian crossing and turning left into upper Marsh after the crossing on Westminster Bridge Road.
I appealed using the TFL guidelines which states if a person travels less than 20m in a bus lane the appeal can be excepted.
I lost the appeal on the grounds these are guidelines and not the law. The law states you should not cross the thick white lines.
Waste of time appealing but at least they doubled their money!!!!
Hi, I received a bus lane PCN while I was away on holiday with my family. I have all the evidence showing my passport stamped and the tickets which I submitted and Bradford Council rejected it. I’ve asked family members who had access to the house while we were away if anybody drove my car and they all denied it. Am I still liable for the fine as someone took my car without my consent. It feels am having to pay a fine for an offence I didn’t commit. I want to appeal to the adjudicator but would like to know if I have any grounds for appeal first.
Many thanks
Obviously the council made an error misreading a number plate – happens a lot! Ask them to recheck the number.
Does a Council have to have a sign indicating that enforcement cameras are in operation in order for a PCN to be valid?
I have got a letter for driving in a bus lane on 10/02/2017 but the letter was sated 02/03/2017. I was exiting the road so I slightly went into the bus lane to exit. I did exit under mitigating circumstances so I am appealing as my option at the time was either park in the bus lane or fine some where else.
this happen in Merton as well but will keep everyone update with the progress of my appeal.
I was looking for advice and found this site. I entered a bus lane for 10 metres (2 seconds on the photos) on Bank Holiday Monday. There were no buses in any photo and one other car on the road, but that didn’t stop….yes……MERTON COUNCIL!!!
I’m going to appeal and complain to my MP & Councillor through http://www.writetothem.com
Interesting….I complained to my elected Councillor and had this reply.
Dear Simon,
We councillors totally agree with the ‘unfairness’ points you raise in your e mail. We believe the bus lane is primarily about raising money from motorists and it was a previous pledge of the Conservatives to remove it.
However it is just one example of how this Labour council seeks to raise extra money in Wimbledon.
I am copying our complaints department and asking them to respond directly to you on why they are not following recommended guidelines and to copy in al Wimbledon Park councillors.
If you decide to take your case to the Ombudsman please keep us in the information loop.
You might also consider asking a public question at a future council meeting.Details of how to do this are in the Merton website.
The 20 metre rule does apply according to islington council ,but only if you are dropping off or picking someone up ,or loading or unloading which is absolutely crazy they issued me with a pcn for pulling around a vechicle that was blocking the centre lane making me go into a bus lane to get by ,they say I should have waited for said vechicle to move but how long am I expected to wait ? They said there is no set rule for this ! Who would be a motorist in london.
Correct me if i’m wrong, but doesn’t the Highway Code say something along the lines of, you can enter a bus lane in order to pass a vehicle that is waiting to turn right in order to keep the traffic flowing.
Hi,
So I got a bus lane PCN dated 10/8/17, It is addressed to me in my former name. My DL bears my new name and I have also updated DVLA of the changes. I am wondering whether this is a valid reason to appeal? Or is it too trivial?
Still searching the web to see whether I can find anything about incorrect information and impact on validity of PCN. Will be grateful for any direction.
Also got a PCN for going on a bus lane in Harrow. It was pretty dark at the time but I just paid to avoid any hassle. I find it curious that their payment page seems to accept payments outside the range of the fine. You can put £1 or £6500 it still takes you the card details page!
Merton Council strikes again! I was issued a bus lane PCN 29 days after the alleged contravention. I obtained info from DVLA that the Council applied for registered owner details 27 days after the alleged contravention. The Bus Lane Contraventions Regulations 2005 (Part 3 Para 8) state that the council must issue the PCN within 28 days unless they applied to DVLA within 14 days and did not receive info in time. They then have 6 months. This was not the case for me so I appealed against the PCN. TheY have replied saying it was issued according to proper procedures and they are not cancelling. Do I have grounds to take this appeal further?
All councils must wait 29 days before sending out a PCN its not law and it’s not in any of the highway code books I have two 2020 one is a 160 page and the other is a 191 page and there’s no mention of any bus lanes in any of them but the councils say there is its simple don’t pay it they can’t enforce it it’s a county court matter only
Wow. I went into a bus lane on the South side of the Hammersmith bridge yesterday whiles turning right to go to the North side.
Two tfl guards rushed towards my car. And I explained it was a mistake. Awaiting the outcons
What is clearly needed here is not guidelines but a Rule for all councils to follow and written in black and white so that way everybody will know the situation when considering to appeal. Its not science its just common sense and all of us including Green Flag, the AA and RAC should be at the front of the queue demanding for this to happen on behalf of there members. What the guidelines has produced is an existence of complete inconsistency not only within each councils policy but in Adjudicators decision making. There are councils such as Nottingham and Bury who have given reference to the 20 metre concession within there Bus Lane policy and will allow a 20 metre travel observation prior to issuing a PCN….WELL DONE TO YOU GUYS…….TAKE NOT OTHERS INCLUDING THOSE ADJUDICATORS WHO DON’T EVEN CONTEMPLATE UPON USING GOOD OLD COMMON SENSE..
I have just been sent a PCN for contravening a bus lane in Manchester. When I’ve reviewed the footage and looked at the still photo, none of my wheels are on the dashed white line. My front wheel at one point is about an inch onto the red markings that are further into the road than than the white dashed line. I simply can’t believe that this counts as driving in a bus lane! I’ve appealed, which has been ignored – thankfully I got an email reply to show that I did make the appeal, and are now being asked for £90 as I didn’t respond!!!! I will be taking this further and will appeal to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal.
I received a PCN for driving in a bus lane in Manchester, but all I did on a quiet Sunday afternoon when there was no traffic was to drive down Oxford Road (a major road out of central Manchester ) unaware that this major route was closed to all traffic other than buses /taxis etc! Surely this is not a bus lane as the road is not marked as such and to avoid it one has to turn off the main road with no diversion signage and find an alternative route! I have appealed and will be contesting if rejected as I believe this road closure is illegally marked as a bus lane with one confusing sign at the outset and no alternative route offered .
Did you have any success? Same thing happened to us last weekend after visiting someone in MRI. Strangers to the area, and do not remember seeing any signs telling us we could not turn onto this major road, or any alternative route offered. Seems like a great money making scheme for Manchester City Council.
Hello – what a great blog and I hope this is still active – I am also now looking at a photo of my Bluecity electric car rental aexactly one meter within bus lane – the photo actually shows my car with the ‘broken’ line of the left hand lane in shot! So well within the suggested 20 mt. I also suspect I’m in the same part of road as your original example near Westfields. Can anyone quote the article and number of the law about this? So I can blast them with the reference and show them I mean business to knwo my rights? It may help?!
I have just been sent a PCN from Manchester for touching half of the first yellow line ( 2inches may be !!!) and not for driving in the bus lane. Seriously, we are being robbed. I have requested a video footage for this.
Basically guys by law 20meters are allowed for safety reasons, I get it councils try to get you, on some rules they think its above the law and as its named legally rules, not a law… just apply against it to London tribunals or other services like it. Another way to combat this councils money hunger is have full hd dash cam with timing and sound on, and use footage against them in court. Be firm as they are. Dont be afraid, I ain’t paid single penalty for bus line for long time thanks to those both combinations.
From 25th May this year when the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) comes into force, you will be able to submit a Subject Access Request (SAR) to the council levying the PCN. They will then have to provide you with a summary of all data the hold on you as well as provide information on what they do with it an who they share it with. After 25th May they must do this free of charge (right now they will charge you £10).
You don’t have to provide a reason for this request and the council cannot refuse you unless it’s a repeat request or manifestly unreasonable (although I don’t see why a single request ever could be).
A council in Berkshire has just fined me for entering a bus lane at 7pm, with not a bus in sight, in the dark and in driving snow and poor signage. The fine will cost me £30. The SAR I will submit in May will cost them significantly more in admin time and effort. If everyone who got a fine submitted a SAR this money grabbing exercise would soon become less attractive to these councils. By the way you also have the right to have any errors in the information they provide corrected at the council’s cost and you could also request to have the data erased (you might not be successful in this). Make sure you ask them to check all email correspondence too.
This may be a bit petty, but I’m sick of these people ripping off innocent motorists to fund their incompetence.
hi have received a pcn for a bus lane in manchester 26th march 2018 the offence took place in 3rd nov 2017 do i have a case to appeal are they supposed to issue a pcn within so many days of the offence
Lost in Bath on Easter Sunday I went round and around their stoopid one way system and apparently hit a bus lane in the same place, twice. Two fines have arrived. Can I appeal about not knowing the area and can it be reduced to one fine? There were no buses but lots of pedestrians and I was busy avoiding them, so didn’t see any signs. So fed up, no income to speak. If I appeal I will have today twice as much. The bus lane in question was less than 20m.
another one for Harrow Headstone Lane, not familiar with the area, really confusing layout… why don’t they signpost it clearly with lights.. oh yes, cos they wouldn’t make any money
And now to Bradford. Trusted my sat nav and was sent into a bus only road. When I saw the sign it was too late. However I never received the PCN and have now received a fine for 50% + court costs. I would have paid the original promptly had I received it. Is there any point appealing?
I never received the origional penalty you charge notice recently for driving in a bus lane. Subsequently the fine has been doubledl. Did you get any joy with your appeal?
It’s a money making scam , like I intentionally went into a bus lane to ? I never knew there was a bus lane, and not much traffic around, why not send you a warning letter of what you have done, it all seems to be on the council’s side
I have just received a bus line fine from Blackburn Council 3 months after the alleged offence. I have owned the car for 12 months so there should be no reason for any delay from DVLC in notifying them of my details, is this legal anyone ??
During a set to with Luton council over driving in a Bus lane some time ago, I challenged them using their evidence. They lost. Information obtained (not pertinent to my case) at that time is as follows:-
To be deemed to be illegally driving in a Bus lane the following must be true.
1. Your vehicle must have 50% or more of it in the bus lane.
2. If more than 50% is in the bus lane you still must drive in excess of the 20 metres, 4 large car lengths grace distance.
Assuming it is both your n/s wheels that are supposedly in the bus lane then the inner edge must be over the line. Not on it. On it does not count. So you could drive the whole bus lane with the n/s wheels on the line. No offence is committed.
Go ahead and check out my comment in the actual Road Traffic Act. Don’t take my word for it.
The council’s just want to put the frighteners on you. Most people will circum to their threats. Be sure you are in the right before taking them on. Don’t guess the 20 metres or say 4 seconds in the lane. Remember 4 seconds at 20 mph = 8.9m/sec so for 4 seconds =36 Metres. A bit over your 20M grace allowance.
Has anyone had experience with the Warwick Rd, Coventry Bus lane? I was new to the area and went round the island in search of a food supermarket, and the camera caught me. There were no signs coming up to the island that I could not come back down the road. I went road the island, to come back on myself and then realized it was a bus lane. How was I meant to know this until I was on it?
I’ve just had the same experience. New to the area and following the satnav which directed me that way. Didn’t see the signs for the bus lane until it was too late, and would have been dangerous to reverse into the mini-roundabout to avoid going in the bus lane which was only marked for about 4 metres.
I’m absolutely fuming, my hubbys driver has got us 4 bus lane tickets, he only drove in it to get round the corner about 5 meters he is new to the area so he didn’t know, does anyone know if I can psy it in instalments? Its really done my hubbys nut in, hes disabled and his mental health is all over the place, any ideas guys? I’ve just worked out how much and its£280!!!OMG!,
ilive in edinburgh the lene i need to drive on to go a nead half market bus lne other lane markt turn right that it confusing i recieved a charge for using that bus lane to go ahead can i chalemge this charge
[Victim of Manchester Oxford Road near Manchester U and Royal Infirmary]
Is end of a school year and I was helping my friend to move stuff. Guess what?
1 Road in 1 day: I get caught 4 times!
Thanks to the “great” road design and “clear” signages! Well done! We all contribute to highway maintenance!
If you type Wilstead bus lane into Google you will see the one I got done by.
First day at work, diversion I was unsure about nearby so left a little early, but it still took a while, was running late and got done past by work start time. That bus lane is about 5 metres long and designed purely to prevent cut through from the estate and industrial estate (very small but lots of lorries) running past these new build houses to the A6. There is NO other reason for it, admitted by the council, it is a cash cow pure and simple. I was coming at it the wrong way, realised my mistake and was turning around just after, no matter, they got me. Not a leg to stand on as I am in the lane, going through it. Not worth appealing as my only reason is I was late to a first day at work, new road layouts not on Maps, road closure caused confusion as to road, could see my destination but to drive correctly I had to turn around and do an extra 2 miles to get to something that was a quarter mile in front of me. This camera did 1000 people in its first month, so be aware of you are going to Wixams industrial estate, don’t follow sat nav or check routes, you can easily be caught out, this bus lane is about 5 metres long and is purely there to make money and prevent lorries using the estate as a cut through.
They’ve only supplied me with one photograph, of my car halfway over the line. Only other photo is the ANPR reg shot. Right at the end of the lane before a left filter junction. I’ve stated about the 20m evidence. Let’s see what happens.
It is always worth appealing unless you are certain they have you “bang to rights”. I just got a Camden Bus lane PCN cancelled after they rejected my appeal twice and revoked the 50% rebate and added a 50% penalty to try to bully me into paying. The video supposed to show my alleged infringement would not open for me so I only had their photo’s as evidence. I kept appealing and finally they cancelled it as the video shows I moved into the Bus Lane to permit an emergency vehicle to pass. Due to the delay between this happening and the PCN arriving in the post (delayed no doubt due to covid 19) I had forgotten that I had moved over. So in conclusion, if I hadn’t appealed and stood my ground, those greedy jobsworths would have happily taken £195 from me! I plan to claim against Camden and will lodge a complaint with the Traffic Penalty Tribunal so they don’t try to gouge innocent commuters so readily in future.
My PCN has mentioned wrong time on it. I drove on bus lane at about 15.05 while time mentioned on PCN is 15.21. I have confirmed with my friends I had a meeting at 15.05. Can I challenge on this technical error grounds
please can you cite the case name as it will set a precedence for future cases
Thanks
My wife has just been fined for going into the bus lane at the bottom of Wimbledon hill and having seen the picture, it is no wonder why she went in the bus lane because the road markings are so faded that they are grey and blend in with the road. How can they fine you for driving in what looks like a non existent bus lane. All fines should be annulled until they re-paint the lines. It is digesting.