Entered bus lane to turn, access premises, or follow Garda direction
You are allowed to enter a bus lane — but only for the shortest distance needed — if you were turning at a junction, entering or leaving a premises or driveway, passing a stationary obstruction, dealing with an emergency, or following a direction from a Garda. If any of these applied to you, no offence took place.
Legal basis
Road Traffic (Traffic and Parking) Regulations 1997 (S.I. No. 182/1997) — permitted entry for turning/access/obstruction/emergency and compliance with Garda direction.
How to identify this in your case
Ask yourself: did you enter the bus lane only because you were turning, pulling into or out of a premises, getting past something blocking the road, responding to an emergency, or obeying a Garda's instruction? And did you use only as much of the bus lane as you absolutely had to? If yes, this ground may apply. Gather any evidence you have — photos of the junction or entrance you used, details of what was blocking the road, or the name or badge number of the Garda who directed 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.
I entered the bus lane [SPECIFY WHETHER TO TURN/ACCESS OR LEAVE A PREMISES/PASS A STATIONARY OBSTRUCTION/IN RESPONSE TO GARDA DIRECTION], which constitutes a permitted entry under the Road Traffic (Traffic and Parking) Regulations 1997 (S.I. No. 182/1997). [SPECIFY THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND MINIMUM DISTANCE INVOLVED]. I was not in contravention of the bus lane restrictions and request that the Fixed Charge Notice be cancelled and withdrawn.
Beat It writes this argument automatically
Scan your PCN — our AI checks if this ground applies to your specific ticket, drafts a properly-cited appeal letter, and sends it for you where the council takes email — guiding you through their own online form where they use one, so you press submit. The win fee is only charged if you win.
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