Driving down bus lanes

Littlemiss-lotsofdebt

Does anyone know whether you can be fined for driving down a bus lane? I've just veru stupidly :doh: done this, and as I came round the corner a police car was in front of me and turned into the same road as me. It didn't indicate for me to pull over so I carried on down the road - cursing myself as I went. Am I likely to receive a fixed penalty notice through the post for this now? I think the policewoman was alone if that makes any difference.

highguyuk

I wouldnt worry about it.

I found myself in a bus lane in Halesowen at the weekend. I think some lanes have cameras to detect non public transport vehicles and they are the cameras that issue the fines.

The police car didnt stop you ... I think ulll be fine ;-)

Flashfly

I think you are fine. They would have pulled you over if they were going to fine you. I think you only get a notice through the post when you get snapped by a camera (fixed or maybe on a bus).

I'd check the timings of the bus lane too. One near us only operates during certain hours yet everyone (except me !) avoids it all the time. It really winds me up when people look at you like you are a prat for being in the bus lane.

balsingh

The only thing to beware of in bus lanes is buses themselves. They have cameras on board (front and back) and the first you knwo that you have been caught is when the fine arrives in the post. Most bus lanes are only in operation at certain times. There is one thing though ... using bus lanes when you shoudlnt does annoy other drivers who watch you wizzing by!!!

waster_2

It depends where you live on who enforces Bus Lanes. In many areas this is now decriminalised and enforced by the local authority (same as parking enforcement). See here for some general info and links. They do not need to physically stop you to issue a ticket, but do need to issue you with a PCN within 14 days of the offence. The observation of the “offence” could be just by one of their Parking Attendants or any other designated “official” noting the offence and making a record of your Reg number. They can also observe you on any of their CCTV or other cameras!

As has been said above, check the operational hours very carefully as many Bus Lanes only operate during peak periods. Once the 14 days has expired from the date of the “offence” and you've heard nothing you're in the clear.

burbs_2

The police woman probably didnt pull you over because she couldnt be bothered or didnt fancy it on her own.
It is an offence to drive down a bus lane and if it was operational at the time then she could have stopped you. I think the fact that she didnt indicates that you wont be hearing anymore but count yourself lucky

waster_2

burbs wrote:

The police woman probably didnt pull you over because she couldnt be bothered or didnt fancy it on her own.
It is an offence to drive down a bus lane and if it was operational at the time then she could have stopped you. I think the fact that she didnt indicates that you wont be hearing anymore but count yourself lucky

As I said above, most (probably all, but cannot be ar*ed to check the schedule to the Regs to see if it is 100% coverage) Bus Lane enforcement has now been decriminalised and is not of any interest to the police unless you are also commiting another offence that does warrant their intervention.

You need to worry about whether you have been spotted by one of the local authority means of capturing your Registration number. Some of the ways of doing this I have mentioned above. And someone else mentioned cameras onboard the buses themselves! The first anyone (you) are likely to know about it is when the registered keeper of the vehicle gets the PCN through their letter box. They can then either pay it, appeal against it or inform the issuer of the PCN who the driver of the vehicle was at the time of the offence if it was not them. The PCN must be issued within 14 days of the offence.

Unfortunately many of these offences, including parking, do not now a ticket to be physically affixed to the vehicle and/or the vehicle stopped and the driver cautioned at the time the offence i being committed. So realistically all you can now do is wait for the 14 days to expire to see if you are in the clear. However, check the times when the Bas Lane is in operation as you may not have technically been in a Bus Lane if it was not operational.

Good Luck.

ageandjo

My other half got caught in a bus lane by cameras £150 fine All cameras were hidden so be careful

*!*HIBS*!*

Doesn't the cameras have to be visible like those speed cameras on the roads? They use to be hidden or carefully located in/near large trees/bushes, signposts, lamposts etc.. Now they are more visible (in many cases) as they were causing accidents. When people spotted the cameras they would brake hard and it causes drivers behind them to (take evasive action) braking hard in time without causing a collision.

waster_2

*!*HIBS*!* wrote:

Doesn't the cameras have to be visible like those speed cameras on the roads? They use to be hidden or carefully located in/near large trees/bushes, signposts, lamposts etc.. Now they are more visible (in many cases) as they were causing accidents. When people spotted the cameras they would brake hard and it causes drivers behind them to (take evasive action) braking hard in time without causing a collision.

These cameras do not have to be visible such as speed trap cameras. They can be plain old CCTV cameras mounted on poles or buildings that your local authority use for any number of reasons. However, I do belive that if any sort of camera is being used fore traffic enforcement purposes then there should be signs up to indicate this.

rdwarr

One of my friends reckons he drives in bus lanes every day and has never had a problem.

Mind you, he's a bus driver.