Bus Lane Fine

weighty1_2

Hi Guys/Gals,

Just looking for a bit of advice in a time critical fashion.

I've recently received 2 fines from a local council for entering a bus lane at approximately 7:30pm each time. Each fine is £60, with a 50% discount for payment within 14-days.

I'm wondering if I have a case to contest this due to the following:

The area I was in is not very well known to me. I travel along a very specific route 2/3 times a week and necver deviate from this, however, on these particular occasions I reached a roundabout to find that my normal route had been closed off completely. There were no diversion signs and I was therefore left to simply try and navigate to my destination using my general sense of direction.

At no point do I recall seeing any bus lane signs, either as road markings, or as signs, however, this does not mean that they were not present. My main concern was not getting completely lost in an inner city area completely new to me.

Having round a route on the Monday, I was presented with the same situation on the Wednesday. Since I got to where I was going relatively easily I followed the same route again, hence the 2nd fine.

Firstly, do anyone think there are valid grounds to contest the fines?
Secondly, if I do contest them, does this mean if my appeal is declined then I am liable for the full £60 on each fine?

These are the first fines I have ever received therefore any useful advice would be gratefully received.

Outpost

The 'the area wasn't well known to me' defence has never held much truck with me to be honest. In this instance you broke the rules by driving in the bus lane but you could quite easily apply that same defence to any number of mistakes such as speeding for example.

I doubt you'll get far by saying you didn't know the area, the rules of the road are the same wherever you are in the country.

fivetide

Ignorance is no defence I'm afraid.

You might want to have a look round the area when you aren't so stressed and see if there are signs that you simply missed the first time round. The lack of signs etc might be the only grounds for appeal.

Alternatively, get it on Google Earth and have a look on there.

5t.

spiro

In fact 'didnt know the area' means you should be paying more attention than usual to road signs/marking etc so is clearly not so much a defence more an admission of your failure to concentrate on the road.

Strider590

A lot of bus lanes are only bus lanes between certain times of the day. You should go check for signs.

I used to get flashed and honked at quite regularly as I drove down a local bus lane past idiots sitting in traffic gone 7pm, if they just read the signs they'd see it's only a bus lane from 6:30am til 7pm..... AND if they read the highway code they'd see:

"On all roads, undertaking is permitted if the vehicles in the lane to the right are queueing and slow moving"

Check this too
http://www.ticketfighter.co.uk/bus.htm

mikey72

It's a better question for the
parking tickets, fines, and parking forum.

Post it up again in there.

martinthebandit

It wasn't in Bath by any chance?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-13572089

bigdave196

weighty1 wrote: »

Firstly, do anyone think there are valid grounds to contest the fines?

Sorry to say, but no, I don't think you've a leg to stand on

Secondly, if I do contest them, does this mean if my appeal is declined then I am liable for the full £60 on each fine?

I think that as long as you appeal within the 14 day period, then the discount period should be frozen from the day your appeal is received. E.G. you post your appeal and it is received by the council on the 7th day, the appeal process concludes and your appeal is denied you should then have another 7 days for the 50% discount. I should stress that's what I think happens.

s_b

weighty1 no harm in trying
i know exactly what you mean its so easy with signs everywhere and trying to find your destination
my tip is always to follow someone who knows where they are going
i once did this and followed them up their drive though and the car behind me had done exactly the same thing
how we laughed,but we were even more lost:rotfl:

ZenUK

go back and take photos of the bus lane. Look for any signs and markings on road. Check times when bus lane is valid.
Report back here.

pendulum

weighty1 wrote: »

I've recently received 2 fines from a local council for entering a bus lane at approximately 7:30pm each time.

A lot of bus lanes do cease being bus lanes at around 7.30pm. So I'd advise you do go back and check the times of operation of the bus lane just in case. Most likely though, you drove in it without a valid reason so will need to pay. At least there's no points on the licence.