Drivers in London win over half of appeals against bus lane fines, analysis shows

Drivers successful London who entreaty against bus lane fines triumph much than fractional of them, according to a caller report.

The AA analysed statistic from London Councils, which represents the capital’s 32 borough councils and the City of London, and they showed 56% of appeals made by motorists against autobus lane fines successful the metropolis were either upheld oregon not contested successful the 2023/24 fiscal year.

For moving postulation offences specified arsenic stopping successful a yellowish container erstwhile not allowed, the fig was 35%.

Combined, the palmy appeals correspond astir 7,300 cases.

The AA raised concerns astir wherefore drivers were forced to walk clip and wealth going done the appeals process, erstwhile the fines could person been cancelled aft they archetypal contacted councils to complain.

It besides recovered that, successful the 3 weeks to January 4, six councils were incapable to proviso London Tribunals’ postulation adjudicators with paperwork to validate the fines they had issued.

They were the boroughs of Lambeth, Croydon, Harrow, Redbridge and Greenwich, and the City of London.

Adjudicators cancelled these fines, but the AA believes they are “the extremity of the iceberg”.

For each palmy appeal, “perhaps hundreds more” drivers who person invalid fines wage up wrong 14 days to unafraid the 50% discount for aboriginal payment, the AA said.

Fines for autobus lane infringements and moving postulation offences should lone beryllium issued erstwhile Traffic Management Orders are valid.

Adjudicators person ruled successful drivers’ favour due to the fact that councils failed to supply existent certification for enforcement cameras.

Thousands of drivers each twelvemonth are paying postulation fines which should not person been issued, according to the caller analysis.

The AA said caller rulings by London Tribunals’ postulation adjudicators amusement astatine slightest six councils successful the superior person engaged successful the “outrageous” signifier of handing retired £130 fines based connected restrictions and enforcement cameras which deficiency up-to-date paperwork.

Luke Bosdet, from the AA’s motoring argumentation unit, said: “Dishing retired fines for immoderate regularisation that has expired is outrageous.

“While a fistful of drivers person fought backmost against fines that shouldn’t person been issued successful the archetypal place, thousands of drivers each twelvemonth volition person paid the half-rate wrong 14 days.”

It emerged successful October that Southwark Council did not person a valid TMO for its astir lucrative autobus lane.

Weekly paper Southwark News reported that drivers received 4,478 fines worthy a full of much than fractional a cardinal pounds for entering the autobus lane successful Lower Road, Rotherhithe, implicit the erstwhile year.

A DfT spokesperson said: “Local authorities are liable for section postulation measures and they should marque definite penalties for the usage of autobus lanes are just and proportionate.”

A London Councils spokesperson said: “London Councils encourages immoderate motorist who does not judge that the PCN (penalty complaint notice) should person been issued to marque representations to the section authority, and past entreaty immoderate rejected determination with London Tribunals.”