Fined for Bus Lane infringement!
- Thread starter Geezah
- Start date
Geezah said:
I agree with you... I was fined £60 in Northampton for illegally parking "out with a marked bay", they had photos and everything...
pity then that they had made the bays physically too small for my car (Audi S8).
I fought the fine, proved their mistake and it was dropped.
need to play these people that their own game sometimes...
jampudding
Member
I have managed to avoid a few parking fines by disputing the process or any of the physical aspects of the fine (signage/lines etc).
Not sure how it will work with regards to bus lanes but I should imagine not to dissimilar. First thing to say, if you are disputing it, is can they freeze the fine to the initial amount until after your appeal is heard - thus extending your time at the lower amount. Then just read into the process of the fine and check all dimensions of the bus lane check, that there was adequate signage etc detail all the anomolies and use them in an appeal.
Two of my most recent cases:
1. Parked on Tolworth High Street at 6.45pm - to use the only phamacy that could get my daughters medicine. I thought you could park after 6.30pm but alas it had changed to 7pm. Got photographed by a mobile camera car. Disputed this by saying that there were no signs saying that mobile cameras were in use & also that the sign for parking was so complicated to read that it took me the time to read the sign to get the fine. Rejected on the first point up held on the second.
2. Parked in Waterloo on evening out. I parked in a residents only bay but it was not clearly marked. Disputed this one too by saying that there was no signage. The first step rejected that as there was a sign about 50m from where I had parked. I still disputed it saying that it was not adequate. Then I moved house - and sent the council an email telling them so. I hadn't heard anything so chased it up. They told me a final demand had been sent to my old address. Then I went back and forth to the council telling them to send me the demand to my new address, which they said they would but I never got it. After I made a formal complaint saying I hadn't recieved my fine it transpired they can only send the fine to your DVLA registered address at the time of the fine - even if the DVLA update your records the council do not check it again. I told them that I would be claiming compensation as I had been told that the fine would be sent to my new address - thus wasting my time. As a gesture of good will they cancelled the fine.
So it's always worth checking if fines are adminstered correctly.
Not sure how it will work with regards to bus lanes but I should imagine not to dissimilar. First thing to say, if you are disputing it, is can they freeze the fine to the initial amount until after your appeal is heard - thus extending your time at the lower amount. Then just read into the process of the fine and check all dimensions of the bus lane check, that there was adequate signage etc detail all the anomolies and use them in an appeal.
Two of my most recent cases:
1. Parked on Tolworth High Street at 6.45pm - to use the only phamacy that could get my daughters medicine. I thought you could park after 6.30pm but alas it had changed to 7pm. Got photographed by a mobile camera car. Disputed this by saying that there were no signs saying that mobile cameras were in use & also that the sign for parking was so complicated to read that it took me the time to read the sign to get the fine. Rejected on the first point up held on the second.
2. Parked in Waterloo on evening out. I parked in a residents only bay but it was not clearly marked. Disputed this one too by saying that there was no signage. The first step rejected that as there was a sign about 50m from where I had parked. I still disputed it saying that it was not adequate. Then I moved house - and sent the council an email telling them so. I hadn't heard anything so chased it up. They told me a final demand had been sent to my old address. Then I went back and forth to the council telling them to send me the demand to my new address, which they said they would but I never got it. After I made a formal complaint saying I hadn't recieved my fine it transpired they can only send the fine to your DVLA registered address at the time of the fine - even if the DVLA update your records the council do not check it again. I told them that I would be claiming compensation as I had been told that the fine would be sent to my new address - thus wasting my time. As a gesture of good will they cancelled the fine.
So it's always worth checking if fines are adminstered correctly.
this is the same point I made earlier, if the signage is not in line with the guidelines, or they do not follow the correct procedure then you can get the fine cancelled on that basis. However, nothing you have said in any post says this is the case in your circumstance. You need to find the incorrect sign or the procedure not followed then appeal on that basis. If everything is in order on thier side, at the end of the day you did it so pay up.
You can't blame Councils, all they are doing is trying to generate income by any means they can, all Councils are cash strapped, slowly being bled dry by Westminster. When people are fined for traffic infringements, think of it this way, your Local Council can put the money towards social car, elderly care homes etc which are being closed up and down the country as Councils simply don't have the resources. Same with highway budgets, deteriorating roads etc, it all costs to keep going, money Councils simply don't have. Makes me angry when people sl*g off Councils all the time when they don't fully understand what goes on in the background.
Tim.
Tim.
Post your stuff on the forum here:
http://www.pepipoo.com/
People will help you, I've always appealed every fine I've had and for a technicality or another I've managed to avoid around 50% of them.
http://www.pepipoo.com/
People will help you, I've always appealed every fine I've had and for a technicality or another I've managed to avoid around 50% of them.
Good point Tim, I agree with the sentiment and the principle. However, I don't agree with the disproportionate amounts of the fine and the ways in which they are imposed and central government are in agreement with me it would seem. I also believe, though I stand to be corrected, that many motoring organisations are also of the same opinion.
Thanks bluestreak, I'm on it!
Thanks bluestreak, I'm on it!
I have an attitude which I picked up whilst living in Holland .....
How many times a year do you actually (be honest) break the speed limit, nip down a bus lane, etc etc etc .....
How many times a year do you actually get nicked ......
Simples really ...... Not really that expensive .......
How many times a year do you actually (be honest) break the speed limit, nip down a bus lane, etc etc etc .....
How many times a year do you actually get nicked ......
Simples really ...... Not really that expensive .......
I do love to here a few good moans. 
I drove through a set of lights, in the Bus lane, by accident, a few months back. Stopped on the other side of the lights, let all the traffic past and got straight out of the lane, back to where I should have been. I was expecting a letter.as there are cameras at that junction. Nothing heard. Few!!!
I drove through a set of lights, in the Bus lane, by accident, a few months back. Stopped on the other side of the lights, let all the traffic past and got straight out of the lane, back to where I should have been. I was expecting a letter.as there are cameras at that junction. Nothing heard. Few!!!
In Reading, the Labour council enjoys a healthy surplus from confusing signage in bus lanes. Apparently we're second to London in the amount of revenue generated at the expense of the motorist.
The signs are confusing such that you're already caught in the bus lane by the time you decipher the sign. But as people know there are times of day when it is possible to drive down them, they get caught.
http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/local-news/councils-13-million-cash-boost-6323032
The signs are confusing such that you're already caught in the bus lane by the time you decipher the sign. But as people know there are times of day when it is possible to drive down them, they get caught.
http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/local-news/councils-13-million-cash-boost-6323032
teamemmenracing said:I have an attitude which I picked up whilst living in Holland .....
How many times a year do you actually (be honest) break the speed limit, nip down a bus lane, etc etc etc .....
How many times a year do you actually get nicked ......
Simples really ...... Not really that expensive .......
Yes- that's the right attitude. Divide any fine up by the number of times you've really offended. Speed, parking, traffic signs, etc.
I cut the end off so many bus lanes as the lane ends and opens to normal traffic for a junction or island. If I don't a dozen cars pile past on the inside. One day I'll get a fine and just pay up.
Life's too short to get all hung up with a £60 fine