New Private Hire Taxi driver issued with bus lane fines

[Ftgab19]

Hi everyone 

I’ve only been a private hire driver for 5 weeks and I’ve today just had 5 pcn come for driving in a bus lane in Warrington. I only drove in the lane as I believed I was allowed too being a taxi. But after googling a bit it seems to be a gray area for private hire drivers. 
 

I am hoping to appeal because I’ve seen countless private hire drivers drive in bus lanes, was told when I got my license that I can. And don’t think it’s a fair outcome because I obviously wouldn’t have driven in them if I had known I couldn’t. 
 

Any advice would be much appreciated 

 

Thanks 

Andrew

Edited September 30, 2023 by Ftgab19

[dx100uk]

ring up the issuing authority and ask, it's some times only hackney carriage plated taxis that can stop as they are allowed to as they can pick up non booked clients - 'hail a taxi' . 

you are private hire, so can't do that.?

dx

[Ftgab19]

I didn’t think there was a difference in who could drive in a bus lane. I see private hire and blackcaps drive in bus lanes all over and was told when I got my license I could drive in them. 
 

I’m assuming claiming ignorance and the idea it’s common knowledge that taxis can drive in a bus lane wouldn’t be a good defense in an Appeal? I would have obviously not accumulated so many if I had known that I’m not allowed to drive in them. But now I’ve been hit with 5 over a two day period. I’m hoping I could at least get rid of the ones after the first offense because I obviously wouldn’t have driven in them again if I had known. 
 

It says there £35 each if I pay within 21 days but that’s still £175.00 fee for doing something I was told when I got my license I could do. Obviously that information was wrong but surly it would be put down to an honest mistake. I’m not just some careless driver not caring about the rules I genuinely was under the assumption I could drive in them. 

[BankFodder]

I think you're right. Simply pleading that you didn't know is not been a cut any ice.

Not five times.

I'm afraid that I suggest you cut your losses and pay up and put it down to experience. The risk of having an increased penalty fee each one is really just too great

[Ftgab19]

Should I not even try and Appeal? If anything to give me some time to get the money. It says on the pcn you can appeal and still pay the £35 even if they don’t agree. 

I’ve only had 5 pcn’s because I didn’t know I wasn’t allowed to drive in them even if I’m a private hire.

I’ve never had one when in a private vehicle because I knew I’m not allowed.

They all literally came this morning at once.

What I was getting at was if I had got the first sooner I would have stopped using them straight away with having the information corrected about if I’m allowed or not. 

[BankFodder]

Are they all issued in respect of the same stretch of bus lane or are they different bus lanes?

[Ftgab19]

4 for one bus lane and 1 was a different one. All at different times on the 22nd and 23rd of this month. Most at night but I wasn’t looking out for signage because I was under the impression I’m allowed to drive in them. One of them was in the day 

[BankFodder]

What I'm getting at is that if multiple PCN's were issued for the same stretch of bus lane – but on one journey so that you entered the bus lane and continued along it and were flashed several times resulting in several PCN's then I think you might have a basis for appealing the penalty charge after the initial one.

However I'm getting the impression that all of these five PCN's were very clearly different incidents.

In that case if I were you I would put my hands up and take the slap.

 

[Ftgab19]

No I’m not disputing that they were not all separate incidents, I’m saying it was an honest mistake because of bad advice from the council I was licensed with.

I’m going to call up on Monday and see if they might be nice or worst maybe give me a payment plan. Because for all I know there might be more coming.  I’ve only been made aware today that I wasn’t allowed to drive in them.

Worst case if I appeal they might be lenient when they understand the circumstances or maybe that’s just wishful thinking. Either way it can at least give me time to get the money together. 

[dx100uk]

3 hours ago, Ftgab19 said:

I see private hire and blackcabs drive in bus lanes all over and was told when I got my license I could drive in them. 

WHO told you the above?

there are councils whereby ALL private hire drivers must attain a hackney carriage plate, which allows the use of bus lanes.

there are very few councils that allow pre booked only private hire drivers to drive or stop in bus lanes if they have no plate which states hackney carriage.