Pay up or contest?

Blackjack Davy

Blackjack Davy

Blackjack Davy

Soldato
Joined
16 Aug 2009
Posts
7,952
Been issued with a fine via the post from a council for driving in a bus lane apparently, context is that day the bypass was closed that day to moving heavy machinery massive traffic jams everywhere in and out of town spent an hour and half in various jams for a trip thats usually 20mins at most, don't remember intentionally driving in a lane but rather than wait another 10 mins to go another 30 yards I think I took the empty lane to the left to the slip road off and out of that nightmare. They have a photo with a clear shot of the numberplate. What would you do? Plead extenuating circumstances i.e. mahoosive jams or pay up £35/21 days or £70 if contested and rejected? Thoughts?
 
You obviously did the wrong thing but an appeal won't hurt your cause and there's a slight chance they might let you off so I'd appeal. Worst case you delay paying the fine a couple of weeks.
 
Not sure why you appear to think appealing is a no--lose situation. It doubles the fine unless it's revoked, which seems unlikely.
 
Brun said:
Not sure why you appear to think appealing is a no--lose situation. It doubles the fine unless it's revoked, which seems unlikely.
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Ah lol totally missed that in the OP.. in that case yeah don't appeal and just pay up. Although I would check this is actually the case as I thought that they provide an extra couple of weeks to pay the reduced price if it doesn't win the appeal..
 
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whilst it seems cut and dry OP needs to pay up I do have sympathies. years ago (pre sat nav) I took a wrong turn in a heavily congested London. signs were confusing and the other drivers were total nobends when it came to letting me into the correct lane to correct my mistake. I completely accidentally ended up in a bus lane for a v short while got honked by angry bus and got out again

fined £60 with a warning it would go up if I argued my case. I paid up but I did feel some what aggrieved. I have managed to only go near london once since.
 
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Contest the fact that you chose to be in a bus lane to drive passed everyone else waiting patiently in traffic? If you’re a bus or a taxi then fair enough.
 
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I got fined for similar brief incursion into a bus lane once to avoid idling in traffic when i wanted to filter and take the next left. Was barely 10m into the bus lane but got caught. I paid up.
 
CaptainRAVE said:
Contest the fact that you chose to be in a bus lane to drive passed everyone else waiting patiently in traffic? If you’re a bus or a taxi then fair enough.
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'Twasn't intentional its a maze of bus lanes and whatever and I'm unfamiliar with the place wasn't even aware it was a bus lane

Brun said:
Not sure why you appear to think appealing is a no--lose situation. It doubles the fine unless it's revoked, which seems unlikely.
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I didn't, just curious if i had any grounds. Guess I'll be paying up. Damn annoying already wasted a good part of the afternoon and ended up getting slapped with a fine on top just sucks.
 
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