Bus lane was not operating when you drove in it
Many bus lanes in Ireland are part-time and only apply during the hours shown on the nearby information plate. Outside those hours, all traffic is allowed to use the lane. If you drove in the lane outside the posted hours, no offence took place.
Legal basis
Road Traffic (Traffic and Parking) Regulations 1997 (S.I. No. 182/1997), as amended — with-flow bus lane restrictions apply only during the hours indicated on the accompanying information plate.
How to identify this in your case
Look at the information plate on or near the bus lane — it shows the hours the restriction applies. Then check the date and time on your Fixed Charge Notice. If the time on your notice falls outside the hours on that plate, this ground applies to you.
Sample appeal wording
Sample wording to adapt and send yourself — it may not fit your notice or the stage you are at. Replace the bracketed prompts with your own details; leave any case citation as it is.
The bus lane was not in operation at the time of the alleged contravention, as it is a with-flow bus lane that operates only during the hours specified on the information plate in accordance with the Road Traffic (Traffic and Parking) Regulations 1997 (S.I. No. 182/1997). [SPECIFY THE TIME YOU RECEIVED THE NOTICE AND THE OPERATING HOURS SHOWN ON THE INFORMATION PLATE]. General traffic was entitled to use the lane outside those posted hours, and therefore no offence arose. I request that the Fixed Charge Notice be cancelled and withdrawn.
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