Bus Lane PCN - is there a grace time period?

Mysterae_ · 13 Jul 2018 at 21:44

The other half has received a PCN for driving in a bus lane at 18:57. The same bus lane is open to all traffic at 19:00. At £60 for those 3 minutes seems a bit tight!

Rules are rules and all that, but what are her chances of contesting it? I'm googling bus lane grace period but not finding anything concrete (no pun intended!).

Havana_UK · 13 Jul 2018 at 22:06

I'm sure if you appealed it based on the grounds that you're 3 minutes on the wrong side and that could just be the clock not being 100% they'd give it to you.

Scrutinize · 13 Jul 2018 at 22:09

Appeal on the basis of your car clock saying 1901 and that you have never received one previously so therefore have presumed the clock is accurate.

bainbridge · 13 Jul 2018 at 22:52

My recent bus lane ticket was reduced from £60 to £30 if paid swiftly.

I've little doubt they can prove the camera was calibrated to the right time so I'd suck it up and pay.

Mysterae_ · 13 Jul 2018 at 23:08

Thanks guys.

I've read that some councils have a 5 minute discretionary period before and after the enforcement times. Can't find if Swindon BC do not, worth a phone call at least, but would like it in writing.

crinkleshoes · 14 Jul 2018 at 08:19

Could argue that the clock in her car stated it was 19:00 and that a 3 minute differential due to a faulty clock that isn't her fault is unfair to fine.

Scrutinize · 14 Jul 2018 at 11:06

@crinkleshoes exactly, this is why I posted 1901 as the time.

@Mysterae_ there is usually a grace period but as I noted you need to be clear on 2 elements, car time at 1901 and no previous fines.

[TW]Fox · 14 Jul 2018 at 11:06

crinkleshoes said:
a faulty clock that isn't her fault is unfair to fine.

Faults on a vehicle are the responsibility of the driver.

'Yea sorry I was doing 85 in a 70, my speedo didnt work so not my fault'

Nasher · 14 Jul 2018 at 11:12

You could still question the time on the camera, unless it's connected to an internet NTP server it's likely to be off slightly.

mattyg · 14 Jul 2018 at 11:13

Tell them you followed the number 73 bus who was due at the previous stop at 19:00 and everyone knows busses are never on time...

Iron-man · 14 Jul 2018 at 13:19

appeal it and use some advice from above and she will get it off from it

Mysterae_ · 14 Jul 2018 at 16:46

Thanks again guys. I've checked the time stamp on the image and she was less than 3 minutes in the enforcement time and then checked the clock in her car and it is at least 3 and a half minutes out.

There's little chance of arguing about their clock as it's apparently sync'd with the Rugby atomic clock. We'll use the incorrect clock in her car as the defence as she didn't purposefully or intentionally contravene the bus lane and didn't gain any advantage as the road was clear, no queuing etc. Plus it's her first offence, she hasn't ever had a parking fine!

Raymond Lin · 14 Jul 2018 at 18:16

Mysterae_ said:
Thanks again guys. I've checked the time stamp on the image and she was less than 3 minutes in the enforcement time and then checked the clock in her car and it is at least 3 and a half minutes out.

There's little chance of arguing about their clock as it's apparently sync'd with the Rugby atomic clock. We'll use the incorrect clock in her car as the defence as she didn't purposefully or intentionally contravene the bus lane and didn't gain any advantage as the road was clear, no queuing etc. Plus it's her first offence, she hasn't ever had a parking fine!

If there is a grace period then fair enough but if not, she was in the wrong so just got to accept it. First offence or not. It’s like speeding, if there’s an offer of a course, great, if not and you are fined 3pts and £100. When you are in the wrong, you are in the wrong.

In the end of the day she was wrong, it’s very black and white. Like in my local car park it’s free parking after 8. I went in at 19:59:49....when I left I still had to pay the £1.30.

The rules are very black and white.

matthab · 14 Jul 2018 at 19:39

I appealed the time when I got as ticket for 3 minutes before the car park went free. They dropped the PCN as they couldn't prove the time was accurate.

snapdragon69 · 14 Jul 2018 at 20:11

Mysterae_ said:
There's little chance of arguing about their clock as it's apparently sync'd with the Rugby atomic clock.

You got 'em!...
"The formal inauguration of the relocated facility took place on 1 April 2007, when the name of the service became "The Time from NPL" and the signal from Rugby was permanently switched off.[10][11]"

crinkleshoes · 14 Jul 2018 at 21:05

Raymond Lin said:
If there is a grace period then fair enough but if not, she was in the wrong so just got to accept it. First offence or not. It’s like speeding, if there’s an offer of a course, great, if not and you are fined 3pts and £100. When you are in the wrong, you are in the wrong.

In the end of the day she was wrong, it’s very black and white. Like in my local car park it’s free parking after 8. I went in at 19:59:49....when I left I still had to pay the £1.30.

The rules are very black and white.

Yeah, but with speeding you get 10%+2mph usually... so a small grace period, especially when you can prove the clock in the car was out by 3.5 minutes is a reasonable defence because that is the only reasonable measure she had to check the time vs checking her phone for time which would be illegal... I’d argue it

Mysterae_ · 25 Jul 2018 at 18:55

Faith in humanity restored - "Notice of Acceptance of Representation - Transport Act 2000", the ticket has been cancelled!

So the system can and does work.

Thanks for all your help guys, the comments (most of them anyway!) convinced the other half of the likelihood of it being cancelled.