Caught on CCTV

[PAT COBRA]

I just received penalty charge notice from Harrow council for using a Bus lane and they have supplied a photo. The road in question has a barrier for cars to go through a 6'6" or a Bus lane for L.T. buses. At the time a car had stalled or broken down half way through the 6'6" and a queue of about six car had already built up when I arrived. After a few minutes of waiting cars from behind me started to pull out and go through the Bus lane. After about half a dozen cars had passed me I also pulled out of the stationary traffic and passed through the bus lane and was followed by more cars.

How do I stand with this , Pay or Not ??? Any advice please. THANKS, PAT

[carrotchomper]

Not. It's a civil notice and I would fight it tooth and nail. Presumably other drivers did the same which would significantly strengthen your case?

A well-worded pleasant letter would be a good start.

[Peter Ward]

I'm sure you'll find that the stalled car was actually planted by the authorities to tempt wicked motorists like yourself to go into the bus lane. Clearly it worked. Look out for much more of the same in a street near you.....

[PAT COBRA]

How do I stand then? I not happy but shall I pay my £50 and keep driving !!

[7db]

Write and protest it. You were using the bus lane to avoid a stationary obstruction.
Tricky thing about bus lanes is that they don't have uniform TROs so they all mean different things according to what the LA asked for at the time. Bloody shambles, but there it is.

Is the obstruction visible in the photos provided?

[andy_s]

Is this civil offence like supermarkets where sect 127 (?) doesn't apply, you tell them you weren't driving and they have noone to fine?

(Little off topic as this isn't the point of what the OP is saying but I was just thinking....)

[tigger1]

andy_s said:

Is this civil offence like supermarkets where sect 127 (?) doesn't apply, you tell them you weren't driving and they have noone to fine?

(Little off topic as this isn't the point of what the OP is saying but I was just thinking....)

Think you mean s.172

Anyway, I would write back and explain the obstruction in the road that had to be negotiated. You might end up contacting them more than once, as I doubt they'll roll straight over...but you have a bloody good reason to have strayed into the bus-lane.

[Zod]

There are several of these in Islington and I always go through the wide bus gate to avoid having to do a 1mph crawl in order not to kerb a wheel. Fortunately they don't yet have CCTV on them.