AN OUTRAGED driver was slapped with a £60 fine for
pulling into a bus lane to let an ambulance get past her.
The
50-year-old Good Samaritan slammed the notice as "ludicrous" and said
it was instinct to pull into the bus lane to let the ambulance go by.
She
said: "I've always pulled over to allow emergency vehicles through and on
this occasion I pulled into the bus lane to let the ambulance get by.
"It
was a natural instinct to pull over into the inside lane and, to be honest, I
had forgotten all about it until the fixed penalty notice arrived in the post.
"A
couple of drivers behind me did the same thing so I can only assume they have
got the same warning notice as me."
The
newly-installed cameras are equipped with automatic number plate recognition
technology, meaning the council can trace owners immediately.
Only
blue light vehicles, motorcycles, pedal cycles and taxis can use the bus lanes
during enforcement periods.
Plaxton
said she wants to warn other drivers that puling into the lane - even for a
good deed - could end with a punishment.
She
said: "I think it's ludicrous that someone doing exactly what I did could
end up facing a £60 fine.
"I
called the council about it but they just said if it had been a normal notice I
could have submitted an appeal.
"I
want to warn other drivers that pulling into a bus lane to let an ambulance
through could get them into trouble."
The
council released a statement stating "where a motorist has taken evasive
action to get out of the way of an emergency vehicle this would clearly
constitute mitigating circumstances for consideration.
"However,
as no details of the incident were provided we were not able to look at the
specific circumstances.
"If
a motorist would like to appeal a bus lane ticket they need to appeal by
completing the notice sent to them and posting it to the address on the notice.
"All
appeals will be assessed on a case by case basis.
"Bus
lane cameras were installed to help improve the bus system around the city and
reduce traffic congestion.
"Warnings
will be issued to those vehicles caught in the bus lane until August 1, from
then on they may be subject to a penalty charge notice."
The
incident is not the first time authorities have trivially handed out a fine to
a driver.
Elsa
Harris, 45, had begun peeling it when she stopped in traffic on her way to
work.
But
an officer in an unmarked car stopped in front of her and made her get out on a
busy dual carriageway.
Miss
Harris, a carer, was shocked when she was accused of momentarily not being in
control of her vehicle by taking both hands off the wheel.
The
single mother was given the fine and the option of three penalty points on her
licence or paying for a driver awareness course.
Miss
Harris, from Christchurch, Dorset, said: “I was dumbfounded. It’s the most
expensive banana I’ve ever had in my life.