Free Traffic Legal Advice

Hello and happy new year to all,


I've just received a bus lane automated PCN. I was not driving.
These are usually hard to dispute but the setup looks like trap.

Bath Road (A4) has 2 lanes entering Bristol. There's a Park and Ride on the outskirts.

300m before the turn to the park and Ride entrance, it is advertised: First sign

230m before the turn, "PARK AND RIDE" followed by an arrow to the left is painted on the pavement, followed by a clean air zone sign and a bus stop: 230m before

Immediately after, 150m before the turn, a 2nd "PARK AND RIDE" followed by an arrow to the left is painted on the pavement: 150m before

Then, about 100m before the turn, there's signage showing that the left lane will become a bus lane ahead with enforcement cameras: Only sign

Then, 80m before the turn, a 3rd "PARK AND RIDE" followed by an arrow to the left is painted on the pavement, followed by a large illuminated sign indicating available spaces: 80m before

Then, 25m before the left turn, a 4th "PARK AND RIDE" followed by an arrow to the left is painted on the pavement: 25m before

Finally, upon reaching the park and ride entrance, there are traffic lights with a straight ahead arrow followed by "BUS TAXI cycles (symbol) ONLY" painted on the pavement: traffic lights


On the face of it, this seems like a lot of early warning BUT, it was a rainy night so I'm pretty sure the paint on the ground was invisible so the only real warning was the (unilluminated) sign 100m ahead. The PCN photos give a good idea of the prevailing visibility. PCN photo


Has anyone had any success disputing this kind of PCN?

Regards

Has anyone had any success disputing this kind of PCN?

It's difficult to tell, because the Traffic Penalty Tribunal statutory register of cases is not on-line and searchable like the one at London Tribunals. Quite why TPT persist with this only they know. I would say you have a reasonable case, despite the sign giving the bus lane ahead notice. However, the bus lane itself is signed so this would count against you as well as the presence of the advance sign.

Is there a video online on their website ? The PCN photos will be frames from this.

There is no bus lane signage in place. The only signs placed are signs conveying park & ride and lastly, a sign conveying a route restricted to certain vehicles. In this case the signs convey that the route is restricted for use by buses, pedal cycles and taxis only. Contravening this sign is, according to Govt guidance, a moving traffic contravention and not a bus lane contravention. Therefore the appropriate contravention description is Code 33 - Using a route restricted to certain vehicles. You can use the text below in your formal reps but also wait to see if others offer other angles of attack.

The Council’s website states that a bus lane is formed of a solid thick white line with the legend “Bus Lane” marked on the carriageway. None of these defining features were present and so I was not in a bus lane. Your website address stating this is provided below.

https://www.bristol.gov.uk/residents/parking/parking-fines-bus-lane-fines-and-towed-away/bus-gates

The Statutory Guidance for Local Authorities Outside London on Civil Enforcement of Bus Lane and Moving Traffic Contraventions issued by the Secretary by State for Transport does under Annex A, advise that the round blue sign is a traffic sign conveying a moving traffic contravention. The Council has wrongly accused me of a bus lane contravention. The correct description for contravening the sign is code 33 "using a route restricted to certain vehicles". As demonstrated by the aforementioned Annex A, a procedural impropriety has occurred as the wrong contravention description is stated on the PCN and for this it should be cancelled.

I think you need to read this, which the TPT seems to think means councils can do what they damn well like provided no prejudice is caused: -
chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.trafficpenaltytribunal.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/TPT-Annual-Report-2024-25_2507254.pdf

Please post all sides of the PCN (only redact yr name & address - leave all else in).

"Leave all else in" includes your VRM and PCN reference number

"Leave all else in" includes your VRM and PCN reference number

Updated
(but it's the 1st time I see such a request on this forum).

Thanks,

This is my first council case and I've now read this section's instructions. My mistake!

I had only been on the private parking ticket section where instructions are "remove personal details (name/address, PCN reference number, Vehicle Registration Mark)"