Bus lane PCN

dannyjebb

Hi all,

Wondering if someone can give some advice. I had a PCN today for driving in a bus lane. It was in an area I don't really know (I only drive there rarely) I have checked street view to try and picture where it is and the photo was taken about 5 yards short of a left turn where I park my car on a side street. The bus lane runs right up to this side street and then stops (The solid white line stops at a 90 degree angle to the road if that makes sense) Looking online there seems to be talk of the council having to have proof you drove more than 20m in the bus lane but Manchester council website doesn't say anything about this on their website. I want to appeal this but the website says if you appeal you forfeit being able to pay the reduced £30 fine and have to pay the £60.

Does anyone know if councils have to have some proof you drove for 20m in the bus lane (which I know I didn't even the photo shows my car only just entering the bus lane)

Many thanks

Danny

crixus

Was it only one photo taken? or are there 2? What was the distance you drove in the bus lane?

You forfeit if you lose your appeal. In most areas the bus lane usually breaks few yards before the turn. I think the reason is to stop sudden 90 degree turns across the bus lane which can cause accidents.

I read somewhere that you need to have driven a certain distance. Even today people dont risk even entering at all even if they are being held up by car turning right. Its just not worth the hassle.

shaun_from_Africa

The "20 metre rule" is something that has been adopted by some local authorities but it's not written down in any legislation and it's up to the authority concerned whether or not they wish to allow this 20m distance.

All you can do is to try searching on the internet and see if you can find anything relating to Manchester and bus lane enforcement to see if they allow the 20m leeway.

dannyjebb

crixus wrote: »

Was it only one photo taken? or are there 2? What was the distance you drove in the bus lane?

You forfeit if you lose your appeal. In most areas the bus lane usually breaks few yards before the turn. I think the reason is to stop sudden 90 degree turns across the bus lane which can cause accidents.

Yes one photo of my car, then a photo next to it with my reg number plate... It was probably 5 yards, 10 yards max.

I agree there is normally a break in the white line but on ths occasion the bus lane seems to end at the road, to not drive in the bus lane you would have to do a 90 degree turn to get into the street....

• if we reject your appeal we will explain why with details on how to appeal to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal (TPT). The decision made by the TPT is final and binding;
• however, if you choose to appeal to the TPT, you will no longer be offered the opportunity to pay the reduced PCN of £30.00

This is from the manchestergovt website which seems to suggest you can appeal with them, and pay the reduced fine if you lose, but if you go to the tribunal and lose you can't pay the reduced fine


Thanks

SouthLondonUser

if bus lane signs were not clearly visible, you could try challenging the fine on that basis. That's what this journalist did - and she won: http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/article-5252983/How-photos-helped-beat-councils-520-fine.html

neilmcl

dannyjebb wrote: »

Yes one photo of my car, then a photo next to it with my reg number plate... It was probably 5 yards, 10 yards max.

I agree there is normally a break in the white line but on ths occasion the bus lane seems to end at the road, to not drive in the bus lane you would have to do a 90 degree turn to get into the street....

• if we reject your appeal we will explain why with details on how to appeal to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal (TPT). The decision made by the TPT is final and binding;
• however, if you choose to appeal to the TPT, you will no longer be offered the opportunity to pay the reduced PCN of £30.00

This is from the manchestergovt website which seems to suggest you can appeal with them, and pay the reduced fine if you lose, but if you go to the tribunal and lose you can't pay the reduced fine


Thanks

Can you give us a google street view link or name of the road in question?