Parking ticket for stopping in a bus lane

gabrielf

I received a PCN from Camden for stopping in a bus stop for 30 seconds.

I did not realise that it was a bus stop at the time and video footage I have viewed from them shows that for the complete duration that I stopped, there was a bus parked in front of me greatly affecting visibility of the bus stop sign.

The road markings are also unclear. The text saying "Bus Stop" is worn out and not readable and I thought it was simply stopping in a bus lane out of hours.

The bus stop was in tottenham court road seems to be large enough for two buses. It was 9pm and dark.

Do I have any grounds to appeal based on the restricted visibility of the sign resulting from a bus already being parked?

I have already received a notice of rejection of representations, so I am now risking an increase of £65 to take the matter further.

Would be very grateful for some opinions on the matter!

Coupon-mad

If the lines and signs were very unclear or missing you may have a case - but as always you either pay the discounted penalty or fight on an 'all or nothing' basis which would then apply.

Have a look at the bus stop signs and bus stop roadmarkings links here:

http://www.ticketfighter.co.uk/signs.htm

...you have to scroll up as one of the links takes you too far down the page.

And have a read of this Report excerpt which shows some grounds of appeal against CCTV enforcement of parking contraventions:

http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?showtopic=62696

Tottenham Court Road does not strike me as somewhere that it would be difficult/sensitive for a team of CEOs to enforce parking regs on foot. I wonder how much consideration was given to the CCTV enforcement guidelines mentioned in that link, when deciding to use CCTV rather than CEOs alone?

If you think you have a case then post a new topic on pepipoo and they can help you appeal. No-one can say if you will win for sure because it's down to an adjudicator at the end of the day. But pepipoo could help you give it your best shot if you decide to formally appeal:

http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?showforum=30

Good luck.

gabrielf

Thank you - have now posted on Pepipoo !