Bloody furious! Given a traffic fine for following a policewoman's order!

[ResponsibleAdult]

I was trying to turn right off a busy road, into a smaller road in order to access a multi storey car park. An incident had occurred at the far end of the road, ie after the entrance to the car park. An ambulance and police transit van were at the scene in the side road. Traffic was being let out out of the road, I presumed traffic was being allowed into the road.

I went to turn right, was stopped by a policewoman who denied me access and insisted I turned my car round. I couldn't reverse backwards into the oncoming traffic on the other side of the road (think that's probably against the Highway Code). I couldn't do a three point turn into the busy road. The policewoman instructed me to go in a bus lane. The bus lane is only for a 50m stretch until another junction.

I did as instructed by the policewoman presuming the bus lane had been suspended (as they do for roadworks etc).

Two weeks later I received a penalty charge notice for £130 for driving in a bus lane. I appealed, stating the reasons above. You can even see the police transit van in the CCTV image of my car stuck at the junction. They've written back saying it was "entirely avoidable". No it bloody wasn't, unless I disobeyed the policewoman, and all her chums sitting in the transit van. I've "14 days discounted period only their italics " to pay £65 otherwise it increases to £130.

I don't think I should pay. What do I do now?

(The lady in the incident was fine, she walked to the ambulance. No, I couldn't walk into town as I was collecting something ordered. This is my first traffic offence in 28yrs driving).

If you appeal, they may waive the increase due to the circumstances, even if you lose.

Happened to my DH when he appealed a parking fine. He had bought a ticket but it was blown off the dashboard (not sticky) and they upheld the council's view that the offence was in not displaying the ticket, but strongly advised that DH should be allowed to pay he original fine.

I did use it during its time of operation. The bus lane was behind me, it's only on one side of the road, so I drove down the road, as allowed, turned right off the main road, as allowed usually. I was stopped by the policewoman after I has turned. I then had to either reverse into oncoming traffic on the wrong side of the road, or do a three point turn, on the wrong side of the road, or drive 50m in a bus lane, leaving immediately at the next junction as instructed by the policewoman, which is what I did.

Kingston upon Thames seems to have a complete ban on cars in the bus lanes at all times, with no exceptions.

Your grounds of appeal can be:

The alleged contravention did not occur (I did not enter the bus lane)

The police have started proceedings about the same contravention (send proof)

I was not the Registered Keeper at the time of the contravention (send proof)

I was the Registered Keeper at the time of the contravention but the car had been taken without my knowledge.

I think I'd appeal using the text I posted earlier anyway. Your battle will be proving that you exited the bus lane at the first available opportunity, but it's worth a try.

I hope this has helped a bit!

I guess I was v lucky and got a sympathetic ear - that really sucks OP. Hope you're successful with the route Infinity suggested

I will use infinity's first suggestion, still bloody furious. Man at the end of the phone at the council was very sympathetic and "Computer says no" at the same time. I bet my taxes have been spent training people to learn that ambiguity. Grrrrrrrr , will let you know the outcome. Thanks for your help

Fingers crossed!

Is the ticket from the council? If so, are they on Twitter? We got a parking fine when the online booking system wasn't working for booking a pass. I moaned on Twitter about it and the council waved it. Might be worth a try! Hashtag in the name of the town and any other local hashtags - it may get others interested.

Ring the police on 101 . Explain to them what has happened to you , and ask for the CAD reference of the incident that was happening when you were redirected . They can give it to you without breaching data protection laws if all you're requesting is the number . Then write to the council , giving the CAD reference , and they should then contact police to confirm what has happened . It might mean that they might cancel the ticket , and if they don't , you can use it to appeal it.

To be fair, only a judge can over rule a computer sentence.

I will do as infinity an plomino suggest. How bloody infuriating, thank you all for your help. Next time I will ask the policewoman to stop the traffic so I can execute a turn safely.