Free Traffic Legal Advice

Hi guys,

if anyone has a similar experience, would be great to share thank you

What do you think of the below i got from google

Send it back to it!

You passed the signs, that's it. Whether you 'only' went a little further and reversed out is mitigation, NOT a statutory defence, sorry. 

Let's hope a technical defence emerges.

i don't know if these help, my case is 20m total entry, started breaking at 11m reason - i had to check mirrors first before breaking

Case 1: Avis Rent A Car v London Borough of Camden (Case Ref: 2120038831)The Focus: Minimal penetration and immediate correction.The Facts: The vehicle turned into a restricted bus lane, immediately braked, and safely reversed out within 3 seconds. The council argued that crossing the threshold line completed the contravention.

The Adjudicator's Ruling: Appeal Allowed. The adjudicator formally recorded:"The CCTV footage shows the vehicle crossed the threshold line but immediately stopped and reversed out of the restriction. The entire episode lasted no more than a few seconds. I am satisfied that this was a momentary error, immediately corrected, and did not constitute 'using' the bus lane. The matter falls within the principle of de minimis non curat lex."

Case 2: Dr. S v London Borough of Hackney (Case Ref: 219036728A)The Focus: Distance penetrated vs. intent to comply.

The Facts: A motorist crossed into a Code 33 pedestrian zone by roughly half a car length before spotting the signs, stopping, and immediately reversing straight back onto the main road.

The Adjudicator's Ruling: Appeal Allowed.
The adjudicator noted that the absolute nature of moving traffic offenses must be balanced against reality:"While the council's camera technically records a crossing of the restriction line, the footage shows the driver stopped almost immediately upon passing the signs and reversed out safely. Enforcing a financial penalty where a driver actively takes instant, safe corrective action to comply with a restriction would be wholly disproportionate. The contravention did not occur in any meaningful sense."

Case 3: M v Transport for London (Case Ref: 2210041275)The Focus: The definition of "entering" a restricted route.

The Facts: The appellant’s car entered a restricted route junction due to a sudden lane merge. The driver immediately realized they could not legally proceed down the street, halted, and backed up 3 metres to exit the mouth of the junction.

The Adjudicator's Ruling: Appeal Allowed.
The tribunal ruled:"To satisfy the requirement of 'entering' or 'using' a restricted route, there must be a element of passage along it. A vehicle that penetrates the zone by a nominal margin and is immediately reversed out has not used the route for traffic purposes. The appeal is allowed under de minimis."

I haven't had a reply, i didn't know he was the Guru

i have already appealed and i went with the below


- I admited i entered the junction (i think this is obvious)

- i went along the lines of the contravention didn't occur as i didn't proceed along the route. 

- i requested the full CCTV footage including showing me reversing out (break lights come on
11m in, full stop at 20m). i reversed out the way i came no vehicles or people were around me.

- Di minimis

33H says - Using a route restricted to certain vehicles. Contravention Code 33These contraventions relate to using routes restricted to certain vehicles like cycles. The restrictions are shown on signs with white diagrams on blue backgrounds.

Suffixes:
33b) buses only
33c) buses and cycles only
33e) buses, cycles and taxis only
33f) buses and taxis only
33g) local buses only
33h) local buses and cycles only
33i) local buses, cycles and taxis only
33k) local buses and taxis only
33s) tramcars and buses only
33q) tramcars and local buses only

What do you think of the below i got from google

Yes, you can absolutely appeal this, and you have strong legal grounds to do so.

Since you acknowledge the signage was clear, your appeal will rely on a legal argument called ***de minimis non curat lex*** (the law does not care about trivial matters), combined with **lack of full video evidence**.

Here is how you structure your representation to Tower Hamlets Council:

### 1. The "De Minimis" Argument (Trivial Breach)

Crossing the line by only 20 meters before immediately stopping means no actual contravention occurred in a meaningful sense. You did not use the restricted route to gain an unfair advantage, bypass traffic, or compromise safety.

### 2. Failure to Show the Full Incident / incompelte evidence

A Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) for a moving traffic restriction must show a complete action. If the council's footage cuts off while your brake lights are on and fails to show you reversing, **their evidence is incomplete**. They cannot prove you proceeded down the restricted route.

request the full video footage from them, if they fail to provide you have a strong case to have the PCN dismissed

i think thats how the "yellow box guru" started out, as a hobbyiest and then built himself up

https://www.youtube.com/@YellowBoxGuru

just to update, they have cancelled the ticket, thanks for your help. How can I donate to the forum ? thank you

Hi all the

issue date 24/04/2024 (24th April 2024)
incident date 18/03/2024 (18th March 2024)


Front
https://ibb.co/5j9tkxf
Back
https://ibb.co/Wg19bGt

sorry the keeper doesn't have a copy of the signage, the keeper believes they allow 90 mins and then a further 90 mins if the keeper registers the number plate on the store


the keeper noted that the more than 14 days between incident and issue date, would this still be a reliable appeal ?

thanks

great work , to the driver you literally dropped them off for a couple of seconds and no buses or traffic at all nearby! glad you got off it, just be careful at Heathway there are literally hunting for any excuse around their to give you a ticket,

check the Lidl you can't right turn into their car park between 8am and 10am and 4pm and 6.30pm on a week day , small details but they have caught nearly £1m worth of fines