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This Driver Was Fined For Driving Into Tesco... Through A Bus Lane

This Driver Was Fined For Driving Into Tesco... Through A Bus Lane

"They are just targeting innocent motorists."

Laura Hamilton

Laura Hamilton

For the most part, driving laws are put in place for a legitimate reason: safety. But when Tony Sherwin was pulling into Tesco's car park in Hull, he unintentionally broke the law.

Automatic driver licence recognition cameras identified his vehicle as he drove into the supermarket's onsite parking and doing his weekly shop. The result? A fine.

Confused?

How did he break the law? See if you can spot the answer in the video below:

Credit: Hull City Council

The Tesco in question recently changed the location of its car park exit and entrance, forcing drivers to enter via the bus lane. The only way to get into the car park in the Tesco branch in Holderness Road, east Hull is through a bus lane, which of course is against the law.

Tony is thought to be one of a number of motorists who have fallen foul of the cameras. The fee is only £30 but as the indignant shopper says, it's not about the money.

"I want to take this further. It's not for my benefit, and it would be easier to pay the £30, but the reason I want to take it to a tribunal is because they need to take notice and do something because it's not fair," he told The Mirror.

"It makes me feel sick. I try to be a law-abiding citizen and I always watch the speed limit, but I feel like they are just targeting innocent motorists as a cash cow."

Understandably, he is not happy.

bus lane
bus lane

So he contacted a celebrity lawyer known as Mr Loophole, real name Nick Freeman, to help him go up against the city's council.

It's unsure how exactly Tesco managed to change its entrance and exits when they are in bus lanes - usually this is tightly regulated.

Mr Freeman, who has a range of famous clients including Jeremy Clarkson and Jimmy Carr, has helped Tony file a complaint with the Traffic Penalty Tribunal. They want the fine scrapped and the bus lane moved. Fair enough!

"Motorists are advised to give clear signals in plenty of time, which are not misleading and do not lead to confusion. The current geographical layout prevents all three aspects of this section of the code being complied with," said Mr Freeman.

Nick Freeman, Mr Loophole
Nick Freeman, Mr Loophole

Credit: PA

He continued: "Moreover, with this existing layout, motorists have to cut from the outside lane across the bus lane to access the Tesco entrance. This is not only dangerous but also forces the motorist into the bus lane during prohibited times.

"In my view, good old-fashioned sense should prevail and the commencement of the bus lane should be moved a few yards further up Holderness Road.

"The current system entraps the motorist to commit an offence and Mr Sherwin is correct in stating that motorists in this particular circumstance are being used as cash cows."

It's a David vs Goliath case. Go Tony!

As reported by the Hull Daily Mail, a spokeswoman for the council said: "Clear signage is in place advising motorists of bus lane enforcement, and in this particular case, the motorist entered the bus lane far too early and contravened regulations.

"We are currently awaiting a decision from the Traffic Penalty Tribunal about the outcome of the appeal."

Meanwhile, a spokesman for Tesco stated: "We have been in touch with the local authority on behalf of our customers to raise their concerns about the fines issued and to see if there is anything further they can do to help explain and resolve the situation."

Featured Image Credit: Hull City Council

Topics: Tesco