Free Traffic Legal Advice

Good Afternoon

I have received a PCN from Lambeth Parking with notice of an alleged contravention of being in a bus lane.

I very rarely drive in London and am unfamiliar with the road layouts, however I am aware of the need to stay out of bus lanes, mainly to avoid the hassle of having to fight them! I was therefore surprised to receive the PCN today.

I vaguely recall turning left at that junction, and remember thinking that "I obviously need to use that lane to turn left" and did not for one moment consider that in doing so I was in breach of the bus lane rule. Being unfamiliar with the road layout, I did not know that I could also turn left by remaining in the middle lane. I was also confused by the arrow drawn in the road that appeared to point to the left lane, and I only noticed the Bus Lane sign drawn on the road after I was already committed to turning left- the bus lane sign was also very close to a pedestrian crossing and it was not clearly distinguished from the crossing markers- and to consider that all of these things happen within the space of a few seconds!

I have no intention to pay this PCN, and would be fairly confident of challenging and winning, however I do not want to give the council any inch in this fight, hence coming here for advice before i make my informal appeal, and later follow up with the inevitable formal challenge after the rejection letter.

is there anything obvious to challenge before the real fight begins?

I look forward to the journey ahead, and the eventual victory :-)

NOTE- I was unable to attach anything, "loader was full" message appeared- i'll try add them below

Still unable to load files, i'll try later on

Read this for guidance on posting images
https://www.ftla.uk/civil-penalty-charge-notices-(councils-tfl-and-so-on)/read-this-first-before-posting-your-case!-this-section-is-for-council-tfl-dartme/

Please to repost all sides of the PCN redacting only yr name & address.(Often mistakes in the 'small print')

https://imgur.com/a/AxNDtkS

The reverse of the PCN

I will advise later in detail.

Here is the video link:

https://imgur.com/a/clJ9s7B

Here is the PCN (Front):

https://imgur.com/a/21hKLzN

Here is the PCN (Back):

https://imgur.com/a/AxNDtkS

Hippocrates- your words fill me with confidence, Οι Έλληνες ξέρουν καλύτερα 

Thank you,informal appeal submitted

I will go ahead and submit an informal appeal, i have some time to prepare it.

The reality of the sitution is that I genuinely did not know that I could turn left from remaining in the middle lane- the signage is not adequate and this is why thousands of others have been caught out at that same junction.

If the council genuinely wanted to deter people from using the left lane (i.e. the bus lane), then a "GET IN LANE" sign is needed, but of couse the council do not want to do that, because they enjoy the revenue from the fines.