Council Fine CheckWhat Birmingham enforces
- Parking
- Enforces — officers, plus cameras on red routes and school keep-clear markings
- Bus lanes / gates
- Enforces — bus lanes, bus-only streets and bus gates, CCTV enforced
- Moving traffic
- Enforces since 2023-07-22 — powers granted by DfT on 22 July 2023; banned-turn cameras at selected junctions
- Penalty level
- Bus lane and moving traffic PCNs £70, halved if paid within 21 days (Birmingham City Council)
- Appeals
- Traffic Penalty Tribunal (free)
About Birmingham PCNs
Birmingham sorts its PCNs into types, each with its own route: parking tickets left on the vehicle, postal parking PCNs (for example from cameras on red routes or school keep-clear markings), bus lane PCNs, moving traffic PCNs and Clean Air Zone PCNs. The Clean Air Zone is a separate scheme; see roadfinecheck.co.uk for those.
For a ticket left on the car you have 28 days, with a 50% discount if you pay within 14, and an informal challenge is possible; the council says that if you challenged within the discount period and are rejected, you can still pay the reduced amount. For postal, bus lane and moving traffic PCNs there is no informal stage: you make formal representations within 28 days using the method printed on the PCN, and the council has 56 days to reply. It asks for one representation per PCN and warns against sending them to general council email addresses.
Birmingham's bus lanes are for buses and coaches, cyclists, solo motorcycles and black cabs; private hire vehicles are not allowed in any of them. The DfT gave Birmingham moving traffic powers on 22 July 2023, and the council lists banned-turn cameras at Newhall Street / Great Charles Queensway, Bristol Road / Priory Road and Kingsbury Road / Gravelly Hill. Its moving traffic PCNs are £70, halved within 21 days, each with three photographs, and challenges are considered under its published discretion policy.
How to challenge a Birmingham PCN
- Check the deadline. A camera PCN sent by post gets a 50% discount if paid within 21 days; representations are normally due within 28 days of the notice being served.
- Make representations to the council as explained on its PCN page. Quote the PCN number and the grounds that apply.
- If rejected, appeal to Traffic Penalty Tribunal within 28 days of the Notice of Rejection. The adjudicator is independent of Birmingham.
Questions
Can private hire cars use Birmingham bus lanes?
No. Birmingham says private hire vehicles are not permitted in any of its bus lanes. Black cabs, buses and coaches, cyclists and solo motorcycles usually are, but check the signs.
How much is a Birmingham bus lane or moving traffic PCN?
£70, reduced by 50% if paid within 21 days of issue.
Is there an informal challenge for a Birmingham bus lane PCN?
No. For bus lane, moving traffic and postal parking PCNs you make formal representations within 28 days, using the method shown on the PCN.
Where do I appeal a Birmingham PCN if my challenge is rejected?
To Traffic Penalty Tribunal, which is independent of the council. Appeals are free and must normally be made within 28 days of the Notice of Rejection.