"Volker Finke" wrote in message
om...
: I was recently filmed on video by a camera while driving on a bus
: lane. I was sent a ticket two days ago, demanding a fine of £50 which
: will be increased to £100 if I don't pay within 14 days.
: As it happens, I sold the car I used in this incident a few weeks
: back. I was told that if you no are no longer the owner of a car that
: tickets were issued to you don't have to pay them since auhorities
: will eventually give up bothering you. Does the same thing apply to
: driving in bus lanes?
: Does anyone know? Please let me know soon. I have got to 9 October to
: pay before the amount doubles.
: Thanks in advance

Assuming Bus Lane offences are treated the same way as those for parking,
after 28 Days without receiving payment, you will be sent a letter that is
(or at anyrate used to be) called "Notice to Owner", this will advise you of
your rights to appeal if you have grounds (which you admit you do not). The
DVLA will have your details for the date of the offence. If you respond with
an appeal, even if unrealistic, you will probably be able to delay payment
for a further few months at the risk of the total cost to you rising sharply
as admin charges are added. Soon however your case will be referred to debt
collectors who will be empowered to reclaim the fine and all the additional
costs including their own (albeit regulated) fees.

Normally the bailiffs do this by taking the car and auctioning it, although
in cases such as yours or where the car is worth too little, they can take
and sell anything in order to recover amount owed. If you have 'fought all
the way' this amount could be £350 by the end of the process. Of course what
they need to take to recover this amount could cost you far more to replace,
so paying up is best even at that late stage. I once heard that an owners of
a Range Rover came back from three months holiday to find that there £14,000
vehicle had been auctioned for less than £6,000, because their parking
permit had expired. Sure the Range Rover owners got their £5,650 change, but
they had no chance of reclaiming the £8,000 difference between the retail
value and what was raised at auction. If no responses are received, the
stages between offence and bailiffs can take as little as two months.

Thank you for volunteering to subsidise public transport.

Charles