PCN contravention code 34: being in a bus lane
Updated 20 September 2026 · By the AppealGo team
Short answer
Contravention code 34 on a council PCN means "being in a bus lane". Moving-traffic contravention: £160 in London (boroughs and TfL), and £70 in most of the rest of England (£60 in a few areas). Halved if paid within the discount period. The challenges that most often succeed are: signs or markings were inadequate; the lane was not in operation; you entered to turn left at a junction where broken white lines permit it.
| Code | 34 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | Being in a bus lane |
| Penalty | Moving-traffic contravention: £160 in London (boroughs and TfL), and £70 in most of the rest of England (£60 in a few areas). Halved if paid within the discount period. |
| Challenge route | Informal challenge (windscreen PCNs), formal representations within 28 days of the Notice to Owner, then a free tribunal appeal within 28 days of a rejection |
Code 34 is used for driving in a bus lane during its hours of operation. It is a moving traffic contravention rather than a parking one, so the PCN comes by post with footage, there is no informal stage, and the amount is set differently: £160 in London, on borough and TfL roads alike, and £70 in most of the rest of England (£60 in a few areas), halved within the discount period.
Moving-traffic contravention: £160 in London (boroughs and TfL), and £70 in most of the rest of England (£60 in a few areas). Halved if paid within the discount period.
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Check my noticeGrounds for challenging a code 34 PCN
- Signs or markings were inadequate: no start sign with hours, no repeater signs, an obscured sign, or a lane that did not have the required solid white line.
- The lane was not in operation at the time on the PCN.
- You entered to turn left at a junction where broken white lines permit it, or to access premises.
- You were avoiding an obstruction, a broken-down vehicle, or following a police officer's direction.
- Your vehicle is permitted by the sign: licensed taxi, motorcycle, cycle, or a bus.
- The footage shows only a brief incursion of part of the vehicle.
- Cloned or misread plate.
Read the bus lane guide
Our bus lane PCN guide covers the process, the amounts and the evidence in more detail.
How to challenge it
Council PCNs follow the statutory process: an informal challenge within the 14-day discount period for windscreen and hand-served notices, formal representations within 28 days of the Notice to Owner, and a free appeal to London Tribunals or the Traffic Penalty Tribunal within 28 days of any rejection. The full route is in our council PCN guide.
Whatever the ground, photographs of the location, the signs and the road markings taken from the driver's viewpoint are the evidence that wins. AppealGo reads the PCN, checks the code against the details, and drafts and files the challenge for you.
Common questions
Can I use a bus lane outside its hours?
Yes. When the sign shows hours, the lane is open to all traffic outside them. If the sign shows no hours, it operates at all times. A PCN issued outside the operating hours is invalid.
Does a code 34 PCN affect my insurance?
No. It is a civil penalty with no points, and insurers do not ask about PCNs.
Sources
- London Councils: parking and traffic PCN levels from 7 April 2025
- SI 2022/71 Schedule 3: penalty charge levels outside London
- Civil Enforcement of Road Traffic Contraventions (Representations and Appeals) (England) Regulations 2022, SI 2022/576
- London Tribunals (Environment and Traffic Adjudicators)
- Traffic Penalty Tribunal
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Check my noticeRelated guides
This guide is general information about UK motoring penalties, not legal advice. Deadlines, amounts and procedures are set by the issuer and the regulations in force, and the notice you were sent is always the authoritative source for your own dates. See our disclaimer.
