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Drove into bus lane by mistake


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Old 27-12-2016, 12:30
Ovalteenie
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Don't you want to know if he was smoking? 🤡


@Ovalteenie - Definitely appeal it on Compassionate and Goodwill to All Men grounds if you get a ticket.

I'm all for reducing congestion (and improving safety for Speed cameras), but Revenue Raising is immoral
Thank you. I think when it's the Christmas public holiday and there are hardly any buses running if at all, it's more about raising revenue rather than improve traffic flow. That said I don't want to make excuses and will take the hit. As long as there are no penalty points or a criminal record then it's just a question of money.

I wonder what they do with foreign-plate cars that offend? Do they get away with it as it's more difficult to pursue them?
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Old 27-12-2016, 12:33
Ovalteenie
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...

Note that your mitigation doesn't really cut the mustard, but your honesty is refreshing.
Try to pay attention when driving!

We all make mistakes though. I beat myself up when I do.
I think the satnav was confused as in the city centre it kept changing its mind

I know you're suppose to use your own judgement but when a 'voice of God' is prompting you it's hard not to obey. I'm used to doing as I'm told
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Old 27-12-2016, 12:42
RobinOfLoxley
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I think foreign cars mostly get away with it, although if a convenient database is available the enforcer may fire off a penalty letter to the registered keeper's address.

Foreign Embassies have been notorious for abusing their Diplomatic Immunity in this way (also accruing many thousands of pounds in unpaid Parking fines)

Occasionally there will be a Blitz on them and the rogue Embassies given a severe ticking off and forced to pay the backlog. It's a bit hit and miss though.

Some pay and discipline their miscreants, others just ignore the problem.
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Old 27-12-2016, 12:49
MarellaK
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Ealing Council fined me £130 for driving in a bus lane which I did by accident when coming out of Ealing Hospital (visiting my uncle). The weather was awful, torrential rain, dark and I wasn't sure of my route. I paid £65 for prompt payment. The previous time I accidentally went into a bus lane was on a Christmas Eve a few years ago delivering presents to family members. It was a road I knew really well but hadn't been on for over a year - the bus lane was new and I just wasn't paying attention. That fine was £60 but £30 for early payment. I think that was also Ealing Council so I don't know why there was such a difference in the fines (however, a few years apart)

I'm someone who rarely breaks any traffic or parking laws but, whenever I do (always by accident) I always get a fine. I must have paid hundreds of pounds in parking fines - admittedly some from the private car parking companies in the hospitals where I have worked when staff spaces are completely full and I've had to go into another ''zone''.

Councils must make a lot of money from the fines they issue.
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Old 27-12-2016, 12:52
Evo102
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I wonder what they do with foreign-plate cars that offend? Do they get away with it as it's more difficult to pursue them?
Yes, because the government in its wisdom decided to opt out of a reciprocal agreement with other EU nations to allow access to vehicle keeper details.
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Old 27-12-2016, 13:05
razorback Tony
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Bus lanes have signs telling you when in operation, ie 7-10am 4-7 pm Monday to Friday. A Bank holiday usually has the same operating hours at a Sunday so you'll more than likely be fine.

If you don't know what hours the bus lane was operating try finding it on Google maps to have a look.
I'd like to think that you're right Croc, but I work on the basis that the cameras are set for Monday to Friday, and if there's software available to take Good Fridays and Easter Mondays out of the equation, they don't use it, or more likely don't know how to use it.

Seeing as this is a thread in general discussion and not advice I'll say this, why do a lot of people seem incapable of reading the road and road signage anymore and just rely so heavily on their sat navs especially in places where you don't know the roads and don't know the rules of those of those roads.

There's a bus lane near me that is only in operation from something like 06.30 - 09.00 and then 16.30 -18.00 and despite the lane having been like that for at least two years people still clog up the right side lane even if they are turning left blocking all the ones going straight ahead outside of those hours. Read the bloody road signs!
I make you right, I drove along the West bound bus lane in Lower Rd. Deptford once, and went carefully past a stream of traffic in the right hand lane until it all came to one lane, to make the left into Bestwood St.
A berk to my right sounded his horn, I looked over and he shouted "Can't you XXXXX read, you blank, you're in the bus lane!"
I calmly replied, "Maybe it's you who can't read, it's operative from 07.00 to 10.00, Monday to Friday, it's 11.45 now, and it's Saturday."
Naturally his riposte was a word that rhymed with hunt.
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Old 27-12-2016, 13:39
Migster
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As has already been suggested, look on Google street view to check the signs to see what the hours of operation are. 3pm is outside peak times, so you might get lucky.
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Old 27-12-2016, 15:57
swaydog
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No doubt there was signage and a different coloured road surface.
As to whether there are exemptions, it would depend on the legislation enacted for that authority.
There are different rules for London to the rest of the country.
Starting points
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2...ulation/8/made

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukla/1...art/II/enacted

https://www.londoncouncils.gov.uk/do.../file/fid/4033
A different coloured road surface has no legal significance. Bus lanes must have signs AND road markings located the correct places that not all councils follow.
Might be worth the OP checking the bus lane is legit.
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Old 27-12-2016, 16:00
Pitman
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you are not allowed to make honest mistakes on our roads, any error results in you having to work a day to pay the council (or two days if you are low paid)
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Old 27-12-2016, 16:21
SaturnV
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Liverpool has got rid of all but two short bus lanes (good move) but cba removing the solid white lines or red tarmac. You have to be really in the ball when driving out into neighbouring boroughs as you get used to ignoring the road markings.
Council f*ckwittery at its best.
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Old 27-12-2016, 16:25
Ovalteenie
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A different coloured road surface has no legal significance. Bus lanes must have signs AND road markings located the correct places that not all councils follow.
Might be worth the OP checking the bus lane is legit.
There is signage and road markings. In mitigation the weather was foul yesterday with lashing rain and I wasn't sure where I was going as I don't have local knowledge I was concentrating more on my general direction and other traffic rather than the signage.

I hope there's a Christmas & Boxing Day amnesty, or the camera not working, but I'll pay the fine. Just a bit annoyed at myself. I'm also sorry for the BMW driver who was presumably following me as well.

On my way back I also saw another vehicle in the bus lane. So there were at least 2 other drivers who made the same mistake as I did yesterday... I'm staying at a hotel in that area - in fact there are about 3 hotels in that area - so I imagine they might have been visitors for Christmas like myself. I'd wager that locals are less likely to make the mistake and it's more likely that visitors are more caught out... I wonder what happens if you're driving a hire car... does the fine get sent to the car hire company and would they pass it on to you?
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Old 27-12-2016, 16:29
Ovalteenie
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Liverpool has got rid of all but two short bus lanes (good move) but cba removing the solid white lines or red tarmac. You have to be really in the ball when driving out into neighbouring boroughs as you get used to ignoring the road markings.
Council f*ckwittery at its best.
Edit sorry I misread.

On a general note I'm sure local authorities are more interested in the revenue stream.
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Old 27-12-2016, 17:15
Croctacus
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There is signage and road markings. In mitigation the weather was foul yesterday with lashing rain and I wasn't sure where I was going as I don't have local knowledge I was concentrating more on my general direction and other traffic rather than the signage.

I hope there's a Christmas & Boxing Day amnesty, or the camera not working, but I'll pay the fine. Just a bit annoyed at myself. I'm also sorry for the BMW driver who was presumably following me as well.

On my way back I also saw another vehicle in the bus lane. So there were at least 2 other drivers who made the same mistake as I did yesterday... I'm staying at a hotel in that area - in fact there are about 3 hotels in that area - so I imagine they might have been visitors for Christmas like myself. I'd wager that locals are less likely to make the mistake and it's more likely that visitors are more caught out... I wonder what happens if you're driving a hire car... does the fine get sent to the car hire company and would they pass it on to you?
You keep saying you've made a mistake. Have you actually checked the operational hours of the bus lane? As you've been told again and again it may well not have been in force when you were in it.
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Old 27-12-2016, 17:26
Ancient IDTV
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I dunno.

I once drove onto the tram line at Blackpool by mistake. I had to reverse a couple of hundred yards to get back on the road. Fortunately, it was early morning, so not much traffic.
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Old 27-12-2016, 17:37
tealady
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A different coloured road surface has no legal significance.
I didnt suggest there is.
Bus lanes must have signs AND road markings located the correct places that not all councils follow.
Might be worth the OP checking the bus lane is legit.
How do you suggest they go about this?
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Old 27-12-2016, 18:24
SaturnV
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Edit sorry I misread.

On a general note I'm sure local authorities are more interested in the revenue stream.
One of the lanes they have kept is only around the corner of a junction that prevents cars driving from one side of the city to the other so is a massive inconvenience having to drive miles around. A simple buses only sign would have sufficed but a bus lane and camera must be so much more profitable.
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Old 27-12-2016, 18:50
tealady
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One of the lanes they have kept is only around the corner of a junction that prevents cars driving from one side of the city to the other so is a massive inconvenience having to drive miles around. A simple buses only sign would have sufficed but a bus lane and camera must be so much more profitable.
It's only profitable if people ignore the signs. A bit like speeding.
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Old 27-12-2016, 21:41
SaturnV
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It's only profitable if people ignore the signs. A bit like speeding.
Easy mistake to make as well conveniently enough.
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Old 27-12-2016, 21:57
tealady
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Easy mistake to make as well conveniently enough.
I guess our standards on driving are a little different.
Do you feel the same about red lights, no left turn, no right turn, no entry?
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Old 27-12-2016, 22:00
Ænima
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I'm almost disappointed by the lack of self righteous posts.

I feel your pain OP.
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Old 27-12-2016, 22:05
gomezz
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How about if temporary bus lanes were signed with flashing amber lights when the restrictions were in place?
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Old 27-12-2016, 22:14
tealady
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How about if temporary bus lanes were signed with flashing amber lights when the restrictions were in place?
Useful at night, but would be very expensive.
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Old 27-12-2016, 22:16
Ænima
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Useful at night, but would be very expensive.
They could pay for it using the fine money
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Old 27-12-2016, 22:39
SaturnV
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I guess our standards on driving are a little different.
Do you feel the same about red lights, no left turn, no right turn, no entry?
Nice strawman there, admitting you can't you tackle my argument?
We're all human and some road designs are better than others and some are easy to get wrong if driving in an unfamiliar town, at night, in the rain etc
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Old 27-12-2016, 22:56
tealady
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Nice strawman there, admitting you can't you tackle my argument?
We're all human and some road designs are better than others and some are easy to get wrong if driving in an unfamiliar town, at night, in the rain etc
Claiming something as a mistake hardly constitutes an argument.
And if that is your argument, where do you draw the line as to which offences you feel are mitigated.
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