Got a bus lane fine

msmhw on 14/05/2014 - 18:31
Last edited 14/05/2014 - 20:20 by 1 other user

another bad day for an ozbargainer.
I just got a fine for driving in the bus lane. which I didn't mean to! I was looking to turn left. the fine detected by the cameras.

story: I was driving to go to Sydney uni where I study. the stupid thing there is no right turn to go into uni. I have to go left then turn around into the traffic light to go ahead to uni.
here is a draw how it happened

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/70675530/Capture1.PNG

the first camera took a photo when I just moved into the bust line
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/70675530/1.png
then the second camera took the second photos
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/70675530/2.png

the problem was I wasn't able to see how far the left turn because of the car front of me (the BMW)
when I saw it far away I went back to my line then when I got close to the left turn I moved to the bus line

any help? is it possible to waive the fine? what is my options and chances? dont ask about my history I already had two fines
PLEASE HELP

Automotive

closed Comments

  • Pandabargain on 14/05/2014 - 18:54
    +5

    Don't drive in the bus lane next time // AND DON"T TAILGATE DRIVERS AND YOU WOULDN"T HAVE THIS PROBLEM

  • tinx on 14/05/2014 - 19:38
    +11

    well you are on bus lane like 1 km from the traffic light lol. and i assumed that since you study there, you should know that the intersection is still far away from camera 1 ?

    and did you noticed that there's a straight line between the lane ? It means do not cross (not until 100m from the intersection when you're allowed to use the bus lane to turn left)

    • msmhw on 14/05/2014 - 20:52

      I usually go by trains but that day I decided to stay late in uni to finish my work so its easier to use the car because this i dont really know the intersection

    • pyramid on 15/05/2014 - 09:05

      correct. If BMW was blocking your view, i guess you should have easy make out approx 100m to enter in bus lane from looking at the overhead traffic light. I guess we can see overhead signal at least from 300-400m.

  • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 14/05/2014 - 19:55
    +11

    http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/usingroads/buses/buslanes/index.ht…

    Is it not a bus lane, it is a bus ONLY lane. you are not permitted to enter it. Not to look ahead, nor to turn. You entered it ~450m before the intersection and then again before the intersection. The BMW is missing in the second photo so obvious you overtook a bunch of cars to turn.

    Cough up $304 bucks and don't do it again, cause they won't let you off.

    • [Deactivated] on 14/05/2014 - 20:01
      +3

      Agree with ch4rgd. You will have to pay the fine. There's no way that they will waive it when you're so obviously in the wrong.

    • msmhw on 14/05/2014 - 20:49
      +4

      Its NOT bus only lane. its bus lane

      Sydney’s first major bus lane was introduced in 1992 on the Sydney Harbour Bridge. More than 90 kilometres of bus lanes are now in place throughout the metropolitan area.
      Bus lanes are specially marked lanes that can only be used by buses, taxis, hire cars, emergency vehicles, motorcycles and bicycles. They are located on roads which have high frequency bus services.
      Bus only lanes are a special form of bus lane restricted to buses. Examples of bus only lanes include the Liverpool to Parramatta T-way route in south western Sydney and the North-West T-way that operates between Parramatta and Rouse Hill.
      Sydney metropolitan bus lane locations
      Major metropolitan bus lanes include:
      Parramatta Road from Leichhardt to Broadway
      Warringah Freeway, North Sydney and Military Road, Neutral Bay

      • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 14/05/2014 - 21:29
        +17

        You're clutching at straws, weird this bus line has a white line distinguishing it (generally reserved for bus only lanes)

        So… we are left with;

        1) you pulled most of your car, like more than 50% of it into the bus lane to "look ahead". there's your fine right there. end of story.

        2) 2nd picture none of the cars from the first picture are in it, which leads you to believe you zoomed ahead of them all :)

        3) you admit you have a history of fines, no chance of getting it withdrawn for an official warning

        4) if you take it to court and lose, and those other 2 offences were within the last 5 years, you may be classed as a "habitual traffic offender"

        5) you have an obstruction on your rear parcel shelf. this could stop your view to your rear left…the exact spot a bus could be coming from when you merged into the bus lane.

        Pay the fine, live and learn.

  • Almost Banned on 14/05/2014 - 19:55

    Looks like if you aren't within 100m of an intersection you are stuffed.
    And its WAIVE the fine.

    • msmhw on 14/05/2014 - 20:54

      Sorry for misspelling.

  • blitz on 14/05/2014 - 20:54
    +6

    Is that Legolas walking home in that first pic?

  • [Deactivated] on 14/05/2014 - 21:41
    +4

    IMO, you were in the wrong so you should really pay the fine and learn from the mistake.

    However, we all make mistakes and bus lanes are a real bitch sometimes (especially when you're unfamiliar with the area, or unfamiliar with driving in the area, and you know you need to make a turn soon).

    If you haven't been fined for traffic offences before, you might as well write to them and plead for a warning instead. If you opt for this, it's imperative that you do NOT make excuses for the offence in the letter. Do NOT in any way try to defend your actions. Explain what you were trying to do, that you knew you needed to turn soon, but you were unfamiliar with driving in that area. Emphasise how sorry you are and how it has taught you to be far more careful next time. If your driving record is clean, also make a gentle point about that.

    They still might knock you back and tell you to pay the fine, but it's worth a shot I guess.

    If they agree to waive it, count your lucky stars and remember that next time.. if there's a bus lane with no clear indication of how far the turning is that you need - do a lap of the block to check things out first to familiarise yourself first. Beats risking another expensive fine by guessing and jumping in a bus lane too soon.

    • msmhw on 15/05/2014 - 10:50

      Great advice thanks for that. This exactly what happened, i wasnt familiar with the area. And was afraid to miss the left turn. I will write a letter and i hope they waive it.

  • yasui on 14/05/2014 - 22:04

    If you come from Western side, you can enter Sydney uni from Carillon Ave. From Parramatta rd, turn into Missenden Rd. Then, turn into Carillon Ave and you can enter uni.

    • msmhw on 15/05/2014 - 10:44

      Its look easy way to go to uni, but because I usually take trains i dont know which is the best road. I will take this one next time. Thanks for that

  • Cheeper on 15/05/2014 - 02:51
    +2

    The OP has explained that he is not familiar with driving in that area as he normally takes the train.

    I sympathise with him because I got trapped in one a couple of years ago and had to cough up the $$$'s… The fine system never differentiates between a deliberate or accidental infringement of the road rules…. It is just a case of stiff shit… pay up… this is Sydney.

    Not being a every day driver in Sydney leaves you open for all the revenue traps that are hidden around the abortion of a road system they have. (im not from Sydney btw)
    Best to avoid driving in Sydney if you can.

  • FutureTech on 15/05/2014 - 08:36

    As your fellow student at USYD who drives to class every day I completely sympathize with you. Next time try to be careful when crossing a continuous line for whatever reason.

    • [Deactivated] on 15/05/2014 - 08:38
      +1

      Cumberland campus > city campus. Driving to uni was a breeze lol.

  • AntMan76 on 15/05/2014 - 09:23
    +2

    So according to you "the stupid thing there is no right turn to go into uni. I have to go left then turn around into the traffic light to go ahead to uni."

    Derwent St is the street you say you had to turn around on (and drew it that way) to go straight at the lights and into uni? You do realise there are double lines along Derwent St at least up to Catherine St?

    Seems like maybe you disregard the road rules = no sympathy from me.

    • msmhw on 15/05/2014 - 10:42

      I drove up to catherine st to turn around where i am allow to turn around. Sorry i dont really know the street names so missd to drew it. In reality the streets distance look shorter than on the map. Where i thought Arundel st is the Catherine st.

      And while looking in the map just found better way to go to uni that i dont know about it before. There is a left turn before the traffic light which i will be in Arundel st then i can drive to Catherine st which look much easier.

      Seems like maybe you disregard the road rules = no sympathy from me.

      I care about the road rules. They are there for a reason, to keep everyone save

      • AntMan76 on 15/05/2014 - 11:42

        Ok no problem. My conclusions were based on the details provided.

        Maybe that better way is your best option. Good to see you are trying to do the right thing.

  • Moderatorscotty on 15/05/2014 - 18:44

    I think OP has got his answers and would surely be more careful next time. RTA also published that the revoke rate is 3% so getting penalty waived might be difficult here.

    Thread closed.

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