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Council says sorry to 'bad' driver

LONDON, England – A British driver slapped with a penalty equivalent to R430 for driving in a bus lane appealed his case - and won.

He had been giving way to two emergency vehicles and the camera-checkers had been too lazy to notice and lose the ticket.

According to the London Daily Mail, driver Ian Pemble paid the charge after receiving photographic evidence of him apparently breaking the law.

Watch the video

The 67-year-old knew his rights and requested further proof. The council obliged and sent him video which showed two fire trucks racing past his car seconds after he moved into the bus lane. The original photos sent by council officers only showed Pemble’s vehicle apparently breaking the law.

The Mail said the city admitted the penalty was issued without fully considering the circumstances on a main road in Bristol , western England, in April 2013.

Not only will Pemble get his money back but the city will apologise. "I knew I was in the area but I wasn’t sure whether I had just nipped into the lane at the last moment. The pictures got me thinking about where they put the cameras and whether they were at the end to catch people out.

GOOD SURPRISE

"I nearly fell off my chair when I saw the video. I was delighted to find I was squeaky clean and a good boy. You can't have a better excuse than that."

A Bristol City Council spokesperson said: “The council is to refund Mr Pemble’s penalty charge. It is clear that he moved into the bus lane for a fire truck. We will write to apologise."

The Daily Mail reports that drivers who believe they have received a penalty in error should always appeal.

Have YOU ever received an infringement notice for driving unlawfully in the BRT lane in Gauteng or in Cape Town during morning peak hours? Email us and we'll publish your thoughts or use the Readers' Comments section below...
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