The driver has been fined £195 after he pulled into the bus lane to let the police van pass

A motorist has been fined nearly £200 for pulling into a bus lane to allow a police car to pass.

Stephen James, 37, was driving down Forest Road in Walthamstow, east London, when the patrol car pulled in and out of traffic to get past him and other cars on September 13 last year.

CCTV stills show the van unable to get past it while an oncoming driver slows to make a turn.

To give the police car room to overtake, Stephen pulled into the bus lane. He was shocked when he was later fined £195 by the council.

Stephen missed the first letter that was sent to him and therefore only found out about the fine when he received another.

He said: “When I got the second one I looked at the evidence and I thought it was bullshit that I haven’t seen the first one but should be fine to appeal this one when I look at the evidence.”

Speaking of the moment he pulled into the bus lane, he said, “Look [the police van] come and you know that you have to do something to help in this situation.

“They wouldn’t be able to rush past, so some action was needed.”

He added: “I tried to do the right thing and I got punished for that.”

Stephen said he was surprised his appeal failed, having read of a similar case where the council insisted drivers should not be fined for dodging an emergency vehicle with flashing lights or a siren.

However, a spokesman for Waltham Forest Council said: “The rules in London are very clear about entering bus lanes and it is the responsibility of drivers to know and follow them.

“The driver can be seen pulling into the bus lane to allow the emergency vehicle to pass before driving the length of the bus lane, although having an opportunity to re-enter the lane.”

The council said drivers will not be fined if they dodge for an ambulance vehicle that responds to a call and displays emergency lights and sirens.

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