Bus lane fine: how to fight it
Bus lane fines are Penalty Charge Notices issued by the council, or TfL in London, from camera footage. They can be challenged on precise grounds: the signs or road markings were unclear or missing, you were allowed to enter at that point, or the council got its own process wrong. Ask to see the footage before you pay. You are entitled to see the evidence against you.
Private companies issued a record 14.4 million tickets last year. Roughly half of the appeals that reach the independent stage win. Most people never appeal. Be the exception for £4.99.
1 Who issued the ticket?
2 Why should it be cancelled? Tick everything true for you
3 Details for the letter
Questions
Is it really worth appealing?
Yes. Industry figures show around half of the appeals that reach the independent stage succeed, and many more are cancelled by the operator at the first stage. The worst case is that you pay what they were demanding anyway; most operators must re-offer the discount if your first appeal fails.
What do I get for £4.99?
A full appeal letter built around your specific grounds, the stage 2 independent appeal letter for POPLA or the IAS ready for if they reject you, and an evidence checklist telling you exactly what to attach.
Will appealing make things worse?
No. Appealing within 28 days puts the charge on hold, and under the Appeals Charter operators must not escalate while an appeal is open. Ignoring the ticket is the thing that makes it worse.
Is this legal advice?
No. It is a letter-writing tool built on the published rules: the Single Code of Practice, POFA 2012 and the statutory council process. For court claims or anything unusual, speak to a solicitor.