Free Traffic Legal Advice

Yes i see it now! Should have gone to specsavers!! lol

Based on that technicality alone i guess it could go in my favour - does it depend on the day or would you say there is a good chance that it would work?

I am thinking to challenge it based on the following:


I am writing to formally challenge the above Penalty Charge Notice issued to my vehicle. After a thorough review of the circumstances and the local signage, I believe the PCN was wrongly issued for the following reasons:

Adequacy of Signage: The signage indicating the bus gate on Camrose Avenue is inadequate, particularly during nighttime conditions when visibility is reduced. The lack of sufficient illumination and clarity on the signage did not provide the necessary alert to the approaching bus gate restriction. This inadequacy is heightened by the fact that the only advanced warning signs visible were related to a width restriction, not a bus gate.

Late Disclosure of Restriction: The positioning and timing of the bus gate signage did not afford adequate time to safely maneuver out of the bus gate lane. Due to the flow of traffic and for the safety of all road users, I was compelled to proceed through the bus gate to avoid a potential traffic incident. This decision was made in the interest of safety, given the immediate traffic conditions and the sudden appearance of the restriction.

Faded Road Markings: The road markings indicating the bus gate were noticeably faded and not observable during the night. The bus gate's red road surface did not offer a sufficient approach distance to safely realign the vehicle, contributing to the confusion and the eventual contravention.

Inconsistent Road Treatments: The absence of standard double yellow, red lines, solid white line, which are typically consistent with bus gates and bus lines, contributed to the confusion. Additionally, the bus gate's unconventional placement compared to standard practices in London further misled me as a driver.

Lack of Pre-warning Signs: The presence of a pre-warning sign before the crossroad or near the central island would have provided crucial additional time to adjust vehicle positioning. The sudden appearance of the bus gate restriction, without adequate pre-warning, significantly increased the risk of a traffic incident.


The Traffic Signs Manual and the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions (TSRGD) 2016 set clear standards for signage and road markings, which I believe were not adequately met in this instance. Given these points, I respectfully request that the Penalty Charge Notice be cancelled.

I trust that you will find these points sufficient to warrant a revocation of the PCN. Should you require any further information or photographic evidence, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Yours sincerely,


If someone can help add a bit more or revise this to add more weight would be great!

I have added pics that evening from there CCTV stills and also you can see from GSV how confusing and cramped the area is on approach albeit photo taken back in 2008, i will be back there tomorrow to get some better snaps to add to the case!!



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CAMROSE AVENUE 04 Feb 2024 @17:34  x2!!

Little did i know how famous this money trap is, has nothing done to address it over the years?

Hi Guys/Girls, 

I decieded to help one of my student tennants move her things back home in Harrow from Hatfield as she was moving out and i was headed in that direction so why not - now this letter x 2 landed on my doorstep !

I have asked for cctv footage by email and by using the website link i saw on here, about a week ago and yet to receive anything - keep checking like a paranoid fool my junk emails ! 

So i recevied actually 2 PCN's both recorded at the same time - so firstly this is not allowable im sure, both have different PCN numbers. Why did it decide to send me two??

I was unfamiliar with the road and was from memory surrounded by other cars, checking my GPS route which said straight on! and only saw the Bus Gate at the last moment, im sure somone infront also when through!

As it seemed very narrow and lots of cars to the back and side of me moving into the right hand side lane for cars seemed more dangerous than driving straight, me thinking that its a sunday and after 7pm there should not be any kind of bus lane penalty associated with this place.

The road layout and the fact that there is short amount of time to make an informed decision meant that i took the safer route of driving straight through - if i had prior warning with decent signage eg if it said AT ANYTIME or something similar i would have not done it, but lets face it its a money making scheme to trap us!
1)
https://i.imgur.com/DzbPk9U.jpg

2)
https://imgur.com/B2jaV0X

only signs i found before the approach of the pcn location
https://maps.app.goo.gl/wrNvct3HYM7q76QG9

https://maps.app.goo.gl/sGbVN7xBLH3otzk67

https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZysRbNSYPtRSHG8Y9

from the other side

https://maps.app.goo.gl/iRzukfEmdtvDP1ft7

https://maps.app.goo.gl/Z7efNFeW9XMhFkJL8



I'm not sure if the google images show the current signage - i may 'carefully' pass by there again to take my own photos.

I will be sending the challenge soon - i have been waiting for the video footage first to get a better idea of what happened but my time to pay within 14 days at £65 expires on the 21st Feb 2024.

Given the history of this place what are my chances of winning an appeal? 

Appreciate all help offered!!