Penalty Charge Notice - help

Smithy · 31 May 2017 at 12:17

Hi, I know there's some PCN gurus on these forums so I'll try my luck here.

I received a PCN, in City of Westminster, for "Failing to drive in the direction shown by the arrow on a blue sign". The charge is because at a crossroads junction there are blue signs indicating that a left and right turn is permissible - the direction straight on is a bus lane only. I'm on my motorbike, and knowing that motorbikes are allowed in bus lanes I proceed going straight on, entering the bus lane.

This will hopefully show the bus lane in question and the direction of travel; https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.5...4!1sbi25zsOHDaO2CrXpmjtKtw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

I'm going west on Shaftesbury.

There is a circular blue sign with a picture of a bus and bicycle. Underneath that there is a white sign with the text "TfL authorised buses only". Before the junction, you can see the two blue signs underneath the left and right traffic lights indicating direction of travel for left and right respectively. I honestly, truly believed I was well within the law to use that bus lane. Are motorbikes allowed in bus lanes in Westminster or not?

Do I have a leg to stand on if I appeal, or should I just pay the fine?

Thanks

Smithy · 31 May 2017 at 13:36

Nasher said:
Ask for a photo first (they are required to supply one), if they can't provide one or it's not clear cut then appeal. If there is ANY doubt they will cancel it as a court would simply throw it out.

Yeah there's a photo of laughable quality, but when I view the images online it clearly shows me using the bus lane.

It looks like this one is a fair cop then. I'll pay up and put it down as something learned. I genuinely believed I was allowed to use all bus lanes in London and didn't even give it a thought. I'll be sure to look out for signage from now on.

Smithy · 31 May 2017 at 14:03

I'm quite worried now as I've used my bike a lot in the last couple of days and have been riding in bus lanes at will (always on the assumption I was allowed). There's a decent chance I've potentially racked up a dozen or so PCNs over the weekend. Is there any dialogue with councils at all about the limit at which they issue PCNs for the same violation? If I haven't had the chance to learn from my first violation then it seems brutal to issue repeated violations over a short time period for the same violation. If they issue a PCN for the number of times I've truly used a bus lane then I could be looking at fines in the thousands.

Smithy · 31 May 2017 at 14:58

LeMson said:
Photo, make sure the sign is on it too, it could have been covered by a sheet or something so you missed it?

The sign is quite clear in the photo and not obscured.

My main concern now is about the potential multiple PCNs I'm about to receive due to my extensive use of bus lanes over the weekend.

Smithy · 31 May 2017 at 16:52

Entai said:
I m afraid each penalty will be a separate incident and if you have racked up several you will have to deal with each individually.

A friend of mine went through 9 speed cams on a stretch of road just 4 miles long and was flashed and caught by all of them , 9 separate fines, 9 separate sets of 3 points, ended with an 18 month ban.

Is there really no provision for dialogue with the issuing council with these things? It's so unreasonable that it makes one entertain the conspiracy of it all be a revenue raising ploy.

It seems I might be in for a painful, and highly disproportionate punishment then. A bitter pill to swallow considering I thought the thing I'm being punished for was perfectly legal until a few hours ago.