Motorists should not be fined for driving in bus lanes, says the AA

Motorists should not be fined for driving in bus lanes, the AA has said.

The organisation says drivers should avoid financial penalty if they veer into a bus lane or get caught on a yellow box.

The AA has written a letter to transport secretary Chris Grayling urging him to do something about what it called the ‘rampant’ entrapment of motorists by cash-hungry councils.

It said drivers should be given a warning for a first offence, rather than a fine.

The AA says drivers are being used as ‘cash cows’ to raise money for councils struggling against budget cuts.

It urged Mr Grayling to stop councils ‘harvesting fines at every opportunity’.

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The AA said motorists were victims of ‘entrapment’ because council rules often change with little notice.

In London, motorists can be fined up to £130 for driving in a bus lane, the AA said.

The AA also wants the government to impose a limit on the number of fines a council can issue at their car parks each month.

It said fines are used to raise money rather than encourage better driving.

Last week, it was reported that Edinburgh City Council made £2.4 million in parking fines during the summer from about 60,000 penalty notices.

Edmund King, president of the AA, told The Sun: ‘It is clear that some councils are enforcing the rules with a sledgehammer.

‘We need to restore that balance between enforcement and deterrence, between the need for targeted fines that direct driver behaviour – and punishing every single little mistake because it’s a nice little earner for councils and private companies

‘We are asking for government intervention to restore fairness.’

Last month, the RAC said councils made £820 million from parking fees and fines in 2016/2017.