Bus Lane PCN

Ruby6996

Hi,
I'm a taxi driver and had my PCO license this March. I started driving taxi since April. Its now June and I have received 8 PCN regarding driving on a lane for the 1st week I've started this job. I thought it was OK for me to drive on the bus lane because I am driving a taxi, however I was unaware that it only applies to black cabs. I'm not a black cab user, I hire a car that is suitable for taxiing.

I have challenged a few on the basis that I was unaware of this, I am waiting response from them. However more and more keep coming and it is becoming very depressing to see them. I haven't even earnt that much to pay them off. I'm now attaching on my challenge every single PCN I've received so the councils don't think I'm lying.

Is there anything I can do? is there any point of me taking all these tickets further to an independent juristic appeal? What's frustrating is that the incidents started in April and it took the 2 months to send a penalty. Normally, in the past when I've had PCN issued within 7 days of an incident.

Any advice would be appreciated. I think from memory I have been driving for 5 weeks on the bus lane while taxiing. and so far for 1st week i've had 8 PCN and now PCN for week 2 have started to come in.

Also one of the PCN that came in was for 3.20am by Harrow Council. From the pictures sent I the roads are clear and no bus at sight. Can I challenge this on these basis as well?

Many thanks

AdrianC

Uber, by any chance...?

No, you cannot challenge a bus lane fine on the basis that you didn't know you weren't meant to be using it.

https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/red-routes/exemptions

In most cases, taxis are permitted to use bus lanes but licensed PHVs are not.

No, you cannot challenge a bus lane fine on the basis that the road wasn't busy.
If it's in operation 24x7, it's in operation 24x7.

No, you cannot challenge a bus lane fine on the basis that your taxi-driving isn't very profitable.
That's entirely your own problem.

The delay in you receiving the penalties was because they would have been sent to the registered keeper. They may well have taken time to reply with your name and address as the most likely user of the vehicle. If there was another layer in the middle (perhaps the car is registered to a finance company, who lease it to the people you rent from), then that would also add to the delay.

Ruby6996

Thanks for you response.
No it's not uber. I'm registered with a local cab company.
So you think I can't do anything? Even to come up with some kind of payment agreement or installment plans? To pay them off at once is impossible for me. So far I'm dealing with 4 councils

AdrianC

You can certainly ask the councils involved about payment terms. What's the worst that can happen? They say no.

rich13348

Did you not think to ask someone at the taxi company if you can use bus lanes?

The reason they have taken so long to come in is because you have hired a vehicle and the fine first goes to the registered keeper who supplies your name and details.

I don't think you can challenge on the fact that you didn't know. Not knowing is never an excuse in law.
If they put all the tickets together for each council they may look favourably on you and allow you to pay in installments, but I don't think they will allow you to defer payment while you pay the other tickets from other councils, so you will have to try and set up 4 plans.

bigjl

Ruby6996 wrote: »

Hi,
I'm a taxi driver and had my PCO license this March. I started driving taxi since April. Its now June and I have received 8 PCN regarding driving on a lane for the 1st week I've started this job. I thought it was OK for me to drive on the bus lane because I am driving a taxi, however I was unaware that it only applies to black cabs. I'm not a black cab user, I hire a car that is suitable for taxiing.

I have challenged a few on the basis that I was unaware of this, I am waiting response from them. However more and more keep coming and it is becoming very depressing to see them. I haven't even earnt that much to pay them off. I'm now attaching on my challenge every single PCN I've received so the councils don't think I'm lying.

Is there anything I can do? is there any point of me taking all these tickets further to an independent juristic appeal? What's frustrating is that the incidents started in April and it took the 2 months to send a penalty. Normally, in the past when I've had PCN issued within 7 days of an incident.

Any advice would be appreciated. I think from memory I have been driving for 5 weeks on the bus lane while taxiing. and so far for 1st week i've had 8 PCN and now PCN for week 2 have started to come in.

Also one of the PCN that came in was for 3.20am by Harrow Council. From the pictures sent I the roads are clear and no bus at sight. Can I challenge this on these basis as well?

Many thanks

You don't and never will drive a Taxi in London unless you do the KoL.

The differences are made obvious for a Private Hire driver.

And why are you using the term "PCO"?

The PCO has not existed for years. Which means you likely know the difference between Taxis and PH.

You are a Private Hire driver and your licensing authority is TFL.

Ignorance is no defence in law.

That's if this isn't a wind up.....especially since you stated it took 2 months for the tickets to arrive but you have been driving in the bus lanes for 5 weeks.

[Deleted User]

Why didn't you stop taxiing in the bus lanes after you got your first ticket? That would have been enough to stop me rather than carrying on assuming I was allowed in bus lanes while the tickets kept coming in.

Ant555

Deleted_User wrote: »

Why didn't you stop taxiing in the bus lanes after you got your first ticket?

He has.

The OP says in his opening lines "I started driving taxi since April. Its now June and I have received 8 PCN regarding driving on a lane for the 1st week I've started this job"

[Deleted User]

Ant555 wrote: »

He has.

The OP says in his opening lines "I started driving taxi since April. Its now June and I have received 8 PCN regarding driving on a lane for the 1st week I've started this job"

It's hard to tell really, he says he's been getting tickets for 2 months but only driving for 5 weeks.

shaun_from_Africa

Deleted_User wrote: »

It's hard to tell really, he says he's been getting tickets for 2 months but only driving for 5 weeks.

They said that they have been driving a taxi since April. The 5 week period is the time that they think they were infringing on the bus lanes.

Ruby6996 wrote: »

Hi,
I'm a taxi driver and had my PCO license this March. I started driving taxi since April...
....
I think from memory I have been driving for 5 weeks on the bus lane while taxiing

bigjl

Deleted_User wrote: »

Why didn't you stop taxiing in the bus lanes after you got your first ticket? That would have been enough to stop me rather than carrying on assuming I was allowed in bus lanes while the tickets kept coming in.

I think those not living in London are at a slight disadvantage in this thread.

As Private Hire don't use the same vehicles in London and PH can't have a meter.

And all PH drivers are clearly informed of the differences during the Licencing process.

The only reason Taxis are allowed in Bus Lanes in London is due to the need to ply for hire.

Which PH are not allowed to do.

The OP has already stated they are not Uber which shows they have some knowledge of the PH trade in London.

I smell BS I'm afraid.