Driver annoyed after being fined for using bus lane to let fire engines pass

A motorist was fined for driving in a bus lane – after he moved into it to let two fire engines on an emergency call go past. Ian Pemble, of St Anne's, Bristol, was sent pictures of himself driving in the bus lane on Bristol Hill in April by the city council. He paid the £30 fine but also requested further evidence as he could not remember using the bus lane. Mr Pemble was sent a video by traffic services showing a fire engine passing him, seconds after he moved into the lane.



Music journalist Mr Pemble, 67, said he was at first suspicious about the fine as he believed that, at worst, he might have entered the A4 bus lane metres from where it finishes at the bottom of Bristol Hill. He said: "I knew I was in the area but I wasn't sure whether I had just nipped in at the last moment. The pictures got me thinking about where they put the cameras and whether they are at the end purposefully to catch people out."

Mr Pemble said there was no dispute that the images clearly showed his car in the bus lane. He said: "I paid my fine. But I was so annoyed with them, and I know my rights, so I asked for more evidence. And it was lucky I did because when they sent through the video, it clearly shows me moving out of the way of two fire engines." He said he was shocked when he saw the video for the first time. "It came as quite a surprise - I nearly fell off my chair," he said.


YouTube link.

"I was absolutely delighted to find I was squeaky clean and a good boy. You can't have a better excuse than that." The city council has since reviewed the video and admitted officers made an error issuing the penalty. Council spokeswoman Kate Hartas said: "The council is to refund Mr Pemble's penalty charge. The team have reviewed the footage, and it is clear that he had moved into the bus lane for a fire engine."