Code 34Standard Penalty (£130 - £160)

Contravention Code 34: Being in a Bus Lane

How to appeal bus lane camera PCNs using the 20-metre rule, emergency vehicle avoidance, and turning exemptions.

Understanding Contravention Code 34 (Bus Lane)

Bus lane contraventions are enforced by static camera networks. A PCN is issued if a non-authorised vehicle travels inside a bus lane during its operational hours.

Key Appeal Grounds

  1. The 20-Metre Rule: Under established adjudicator precedents, driving in a bus lane for a distance of less than 20 metres (such as turning left into a side road or entering a private driveway) is deemed de minimis and should not be penalised.
  2. Avoiding an Emergency Vehicle or Obstruction: Moving into a bus lane to yield to an ambulance/police car or to safely pass a broken-down vehicle or road obstacle.
  3. Inadequate Advance Warning Signs: Councils must install advance warning signs (Diagram 958/959 TSRGD 2016) with clear operational times before the bus lane begins.