Advice Please

[kat1]

Just got a 'Bus Lane ' penalty charge for driving in bus lane 23 seconds too early!!
I know the bus lane well & remembering looking at my car clock reading 9.31am.
Yes my clock might have been a minute or so fast but surly theres some leeway?
I don;t want to challenge it if I have no argument?
Thanks

[198kHz]

I'd be inclined to firstly ask the ticket issuer what they're using as a time reference.

[bhg481]

Do you have a dashcam? The clocks on those are accurate because they take the time from the satellites so will define the time you entered the bus lane.

[kat1]

bhg, No I don't have a dashcam & I understand that their clock would be accurate but still think 23 seconds is a bit tight! Yes if it was 2 or 3 minutes I agree.

[barry1010]

I was going to advise you to appeal but of course if you lose you will almost definitely have to pay the full amount and not the reduced amount for paying within a certain number of days.
Difficult decision.

[barry1010]

I have looked in to it further and there are very few grounds for appeal - being 23 seconds too early isn't one of them. I think you'd best pay up

https://www.trafficpenaltytribunal.gov.uk/bus-lane-england-grounds-of-appeal/

[nescio]

Wasn't there a case a few years ago, when someone pulled into the bus lane for a few seconds, to allow an ambulance to pass and they had to pay the fine?

[Milo2]

A friend had a similar problem and he had to pay up.

[jno]

I suspect you're out of luck. They have to set some time frame, and if they didn't set it 23 seconds earlier then you've missed out. Your only way out is to somehow demonstrate that your own clock is perfect and theirs isn't, but I'd be surprised if that was doable.

[New Judge]

//Wasn't there a case a few years ago, when someone pulled into the bus lane for a few seconds, to allow an ambulance to pass and they had to pay the fine?//

Yes there was. There was also a case where a driver who was stopped at traffic lights crossed the stop line to make room for a fire engine to pass. He too received a penalty. The answer is, I'm afraid as far as I'm concerned, the emergency vehicles will just have to find a way round me. That's completely counter-intuitive to my nature but if the authorities want to start fining drivers for such actions then so be it. I just hope it's not me or mine that the emergency vehicle is on its way to when such an event happens.

However, we digress.

[bhg481]

Yes, we mere mortals are not allowed to break the law to expedite th progress of an emergency vehicle so, if you go into a bus lane or move just past the line at traffic lights to let an ambulance pass, you're at fault. Daft, isn't it?

[kat1]

Thanks everyone, I will pay up now.

[andy-hughes]

It may seem unfair, given the short time-lapse, but the argument would be that the line has to be drawn, and adhered to, and if they start allowing for seconds here and there, the system becomes unworkable.

That is why a rigid timeframe is in place, and that is what they use, so as advised, the shortness of the time breach is unlikely to secure an overturn.

You may have to pay and smile ... well, pay up anyway.

[kat1]

Well, well, well, I paid the fine early & also sent a letter saying how I thought it was unfair for 23 seconds & I've been refunded!!!!! Result!

[gingejbee]

Well done, you! Treat yourself to something nice.

[bednobs]

woo hoo!

[Paigntonian]

Been caught myself. Advice: Pay up, promptly, put it down to experience and don't get caught again.

[Paigntonian]

Blimey. Well done you!