Mmmmmm - not that simple - you can make them work for it but you’ll go crazy sorting out, passed around every time you call etc etc. The trouble is that you’re not bothering one individual but a whole company, basically the only one who cares is you - trust me, you’re nowt to them. Go ahead and throw your toys out the pram, it wont wash.If you say it wasnt you then you’ll have to produce a police crime reference number to prove that it was stolen and the date will either have to be before or on the day of the contravention. It a headbust! The easiest way is to educate yourself with the rules THEY have to abide by NOT YOU!
As I was saying in my previous post. Bus lanes have to have certain standards, if not, in the eyes of the law they are NOT bus lanes, they simply DO NOT EXIST. For example, there’s a little known book called the Traffic Signs & Regulation General Directions (or something similar) which goes through all road sign and their dimensions, colour and positioning. It says that you cant have red route without a sign, it says that motorway signs have to be blue and it says tha speed signs have to be round etc etc. (You can get a copy from the library!)
It goes into much more detail and you can be sure that not everything in your bus lane is EXACTLY right.
1st.) Is there an advanced warning sign? It has to by law and it must be positioned at the beginning of the bus lane where the line is dotted - there must also be one at the end and a few dotted throughout (depending on its length)
2nd.) If you joined the bus lane via a side road then the side road also has to have a sign advising you of the bus lanes presence.
3rd.) There must be a solid UNBROKEN thick white line designating the bus lane (The only place this line is allowed to break is near a junction with a side road etc etc
4th.) Are all the signs pointed towards you? are they visible? or covered with stickers.
5th.) Contrary to popular belief bus lanes do not have to be red - the red is anti skid.
6th.) There must be a bus lane legend on it somewhere.
7th.) The council must also be in posession of a VALID traffic management order - this is an official document stating exactly where the bus lane stops and starts and what the hours of operation are - you’ll be amazed how many are out of date and thus unenforceable!
8th.) CCTV camera operators have to be trained and BTEC qualified now - its the law - you could ask for proof that your camera operator is fully qualified - this is unlikely to be shown to you due to data protection but if you took your case further then it can be asked for.
If I were you I would check out the side roads and see if they’re missing a sign (this isthe most likely scenario) if one is missing then just say you went in the bus lane at that point - as long as you didnt pass any other signs before the CCTV capture point then yu’re home and scott free! but you’ll have to fight for it nonetheless.
Let me know how it goes.
