Free Traffic Legal Advice

Thanks for your suggestions.

I do think the weather may have contributed to this. Making road markings harder to see against bright lights.

I'm a little uncomfortable about the signage point as I can see it in streetview, and the post is visible in the video so I can only assume it is there. I assume the intention here is to just put the onus on the council to prove it.

I have received a PCN from Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames for contravention 33c using a route restricted to certain vehicles (buses and cycles only).

I was driving in the area at the time recorded, and the photos are clear so the contravention did take place, I just didn't notice I had driven through the bus gate.

PCN
https://imgur.com/a/GSoZhrB

This is the bus lane in question (streetview):

https://www.google.com/maps/@51.3691035,-0.296539,3a,61.9y,95.13h,69.53t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sgdnmAeP9OkytoPFD3NI0cQ!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fcb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26pitch%3D20.474092275219917%26panoid%3DgdnmAeP9OkytoPFD3NI0cQ%26yaw%3D95.13189674228494!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDMwNC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

(Ariel image)

https://www.google.com/maps/@51.3690742,-0.2963653,68a,35y,95.13h/data=!3m1!1e3?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDMwNC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

Address: Cox Lane (between the junction with oakcroft road and sanger avenue), Chessington.

I would normally just put this down to an honest mistake and pay up, however:

It's a fairly large fine: £130 reduced to £65.
The bus Lane is only 13m long (could de minimis be relevant?).
There is no benefit whatsoever for a car to drive in the bus lane as there is a give way at the end of it (see streetview link). Taking the correct turn for cars would be to my benefit.
It took place at 11pm where there were no cars or busses around. Evident in the photos.
The bus lane only exists to allow large busses through, but prevent large trucks getting through. Cars are not the reason for the existence of this bus gate.

My payment deadline is 13th March, and thought I best get some alternative views before I just begrudgingly pay.
Many thanks