Fine for driving in a bus lane
Fine for driving in a dedicated lane in 2019
The need to streamline traffic intensity and ensure the unhindered movement of minibuses and public transport has led to the allocation of special lanes for these types of vehicles. This is especially true in densely populated cities, where the presence of a large number of cars leads to congestion and disruption of the schedule of city buses, trolleybuses, etc.
Punishment for driving in a dedicated bus lane in Moscow, St. Petersburg and the regions
Driving in the bus lane for ordinary motorists is allowed only in special cases. If there is no such exception, and the driver ends up on the described section of the road, he will be subject to penalties.
The fine for driving in a bus lane is imposed in accordance with Chapter 12 of the Administrative Code “Administrative violations in the field of traffic rules.” Movement through this area, provided there are no grounds for such action, is considered in Article 12.17 of the specified document. It deals with determining the punishment for those participants in traffic control who did not give priority to a route vehicle or a car with a special sound or light signal on.
Part 1.1. Considers a violation that consists of driving (or stopping) a car in a lane intended for route vehicles. The penalty that will be applied to the violator is to pay a fine of 1,500 rubles.
Part 1.2. Considers the same traffic violation, but committed in certain regions, which include Moscow and St. Petersburg. In such a situation, the amount of the penalty will be higher, the fine will be 3 thousand rubles.
It is worth noting that in parallel with the described punishment, in a certain situation, another article of the Code of Administrative Offenses can be used.
If a motorist has entered a dedicated lane that defines traffic in the opposite direction, the penalty is imposed based on Article 12.15 of the Code of Administrative Offenses (if the violation did not involve crossing a solid line). The fine will range from 1 to 1.5 thousand rubles.
Collection in the specified amount will take place only if there was a need to go around the obstacle. If it was not, then the punishment is determined by part 4 of the same article and consists of imposing a fine of 5 thousand rubles or deprivation of the right to drive a vehicle for 4 to 6 months. Both the traffic police inspector and the camera can record the fact of a violation.
Other fines that a driver may face when driving in a bus lane:
failure to give priority to public transport – 500 rubles. (Article 12.17 Part 1 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation);
obstruction to traffic when stopping at the edge of the lane (violation of stopping rules) – 2000 rubles. (Article 12.19 part 4), in St. Petersburg and Moscow - 3000 rubles. (Article 12.19, part 6).
Who can drive in a bus lane: permissible exceptions to general traffic rules
According to the current version of the traffic rules, the following vehicles have the right to drive in the public transport lane:
route vehicles of a commercial type;
Taxi. It is worth considering that having a license alone for this type of activity will not be enough. The vehicle must have a special paint job approved in the region where the vehicle is used, a roof light, and be equipped with a taximeter. Provided that the taxi operates within Moscow, the license plates must be yellow;
cyclists. It should be understood that travel is allowed only if such a bus lane is on the far right.
For those motorists who drive ordinary vehicles, it is allowed to enter the dedicated lane only if such action is caused by the need to turn right. This maneuver on the part of the driver will not be considered a violation if a broken line separates the regular lane and the bus lane.
And this is how the fine will be.
A motorist also has the right to enter the bus lane in the following cases:
when leaving the area from the local area;
if necessary, stop at the edge of the roadway. In such a situation, you need to ensure that the car does not interfere with vehicles that have the right to move along the bus lane. Also, at the entry point (as in the case of a turn), there should be intermittent road markings.
The bus lane is intended for the movement of certain types of transport, including route vehicles, buses carrying schoolchildren, taxis and cyclists. An ordinary motorist must understand and know the exceptions under which he can drive onto such a section of the road. Otherwise, he will be brought to administrative responsibility and pay the amount of the fine established by the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation.
Is it possible to drive onto the highway lane and what is the fine for it?
In cities, especially large ones, there are special dedicated bus lanes. In this article we will look at the fine for driving into a bus lane and other nuances.
The fine for driving in a bus lane
A bus lane is a strip (or several lanes) of a road intended exclusively for public transport (buses, trolleybuses, minibuses).
In 2019, according to the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation, the fine for traveling on a dedicated lane is equal to the amount of 1,500 rubles . For St. Petersburg and Moscow, this amount is exactly 2 times more - 3000 rubles . This is due to heavy traffic congestion in both capitals, which is why the traffic police is taking such measures.
It is necessary to distinguish between entering the bus lane of direct and oncoming traffic. In the latter case, it does not matter whether there is a dedicated lane for buses or not - the driver faces a fine under the clause “driving into the oncoming lane” in the amount of 5,000 rubles . In case of relapse, the punishment will be even more severe - deprivation of rights for one year.
When can you use a dedicated lane?
Many drivers are concerned about the question of whether a fine will be issued for a public transport lane if traffic in the other lanes is difficult (a traffic jam has formed). The rules give a clear answer - this maneuver is prohibited, since the resulting traffic jam actually acts as an obstacle to traffic, legally it is not such and drivers will be required to pay a fine in this case.
Despite such strict rules, there are exceptions. The rules establish that entering the bus lane is permitted if the latter is separated by a broken line and not a solid one. Most often, intermittent markings are applied before intersections when it is necessary to make a right turn.
In such cases, there is even a fine if the driver makes a right turn without first changing into the bus lane - 500 rubles. This fine exists due to the fact that the driver of a passenger car, when turning to the right from outside the outer lane, can create a danger for public transport.
According to the traffic rules, it is also permitted to use the bus lane in the following cases:
- To disembark or board passengers on the right side.
- For going out onto the road (for example, from the yard of a house).
In these cases, it is necessary to ensure that the maneuver will not interfere with the movement of public transport.
Also, traffic on the bus lane may be completely permitted on certain days (most often weekends), if there is a special sign requiring this permission.
Passenger taxis on the bus lane
Many will be interested in the question of whether passenger taxis are allowed to drive on a dedicated lane. More recently, since 2012, traffic regulations have established that passenger taxis are allowed to use the bus lane.
But at the same time, the car must have a special coloring - checkered, a light signal on the roof and be equipped with a taximeter . That is, “bombs” are fined in the same way as cars.
The situation in the capital is slightly different - here taxi drivers have been allowed to use bus lanes since 2013, and in addition to all the above conditions, taxis must have special yellow license plates, which were issued on the initiative of the city mayor's office.
Despite the fact that the legislation seems to have covered all the nuances of driving in a bus lane, it nevertheless contains several gaps.
The most famous violations by government agencies were recorded in Kazan. On one of the streets, a video camera for recording violations was installed in such a way that it recorded all motorists who made a right turn from the bus lane, while outside the camera’s visibility range, the lane was separated by a broken line. After this, an even more serious violation was revealed - the city authorities signed a document containing a list of streets with dedicated lanes, but did not publish it properly. Thus, there were virtually no bus lanes in the city, despite the markings and signs.
In such and similar cases, the fine can be easily appealed and removed. On your own or with the help of a car lawyer.
As J. Clarkson of Top Gear said: “I don't understand why dedicated lanes were invented. Why do people poorer than me drive faster than me?” But we recommend not to violate traffic rules, so as not to once again become poorer by a couple of thousand rubles.
Fine for driving on a dedicated public transport lane in 2019
In cities, especially large ones, there are special dedicated bus lanes. In this article we will look at the fine for driving into a bus lane and other nuances.
The fine for driving in a bus lane
A bus lane is a strip (or several lanes) of a road intended exclusively for public transport (buses, trolleybuses, minibuses). In 2019, according to the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation, the fine for traveling in a dedicated lane is equal to 1,500 rubles. For St. Petersburg and Moscow, this amount is exactly 2 times more - 3,000 rubles. This is due to heavy traffic congestion in both capitals, which is why the traffic police are taking such measures. It is necessary to distinguish between entering the bus lane of direct and oncoming traffic. In the latter case, it does not matter whether there is a dedicated lane for buses or not - the driver faces a fine under the clause “driving into the oncoming lane” in the amount of 5,000 rubles.
In case of relapse, the punishment will be even more severe - deprivation of rights for one year. When can you use a dedicated lane? Many drivers are concerned about the question of whether a fine will be issued for the public transport lane in the event that traffic in the other lanes is difficult (a traffic jam has formed). The rules give a clear answer - this maneuver is prohibited, since the resulting traffic jam actually acts as an obstacle to traffic, legally it is not such and drivers will be required to pay a fine in this case.
Driving in a dedicated lane, exceptions to the rules 2019
Despite such strict rules, there are exceptions. The rules establish that entering the bus lane is permitted if the latter is separated by a broken line and not a solid one. Most often, intermittent markings are applied before intersections when it is necessary to make a right turn. In such cases, there is even a fine if the driver makes a right turn without first changing into the bus lane - 500 rubles.
This fine exists due to the fact that the driver of a passenger car, when turning to the right from outside the outer lane, can create a danger for public transport. According to the traffic rules, it is also permitted to use the bus lane in the following cases:
- To disembark or board passengers on the right side.
- For going out onto the road (for example, from the yard of a house).
In these cases, it is necessary to ensure that the maneuver will not interfere with the movement of public transport. Also, traffic on the bus lane may be completely permitted on certain days (most often weekends), if there is a special sign requiring this permission.
Driving on dedicated lanes on weekends in Moscow, is it allowed or not?
Starting April 14, Moscow will ban driving on dedicated lanes on weekends, the press service of the Moscow Department of Transport said. Daily operation is introduced on five dedicated lanes passing through areas where there is no alternative mainline transport.
Let us note that the “Working Days” information signs (indicating the lanes are open only on weekdays) have already been dismantled in sections of Leninsky, Nakhimovsky and Lomonosovsky Avenues, the Blue Buckets society drew attention to this.
Motorists will not be fined for driving on five dedicated lanes until April 14.
Who can move around the dedicated area
A dedicated bus lane is a part of a road intended for public transport. This includes buses, trolleybuses and minibuses (including commercial ones). For the movement of these vehicles, one or two lanes are allocated, depending on the width and congestion of the route in specific sections.
The public transport lane is indicated by signs 5.11.1 and 5.12.1. Sign 5.14 indicates the beginning and end of the lane, and signs 5.13.1 and 5.13.2 indicate the intersection of another road with it. The road surface is additionally marked with the letter “A”.
School buses have a special status. Despite the fact that they are not public transport, they are legally allowed to drive in a dedicated lane. Cyclists are also allowed to ride on the allocated lane. But only if it is on the far left.
Important. Previously, passenger taxis were not recognized as public transport, so they were not allowed to travel on dedicated roads. Since 2012, yellow taxis with checkered roofs, if they are equipped with appropriate lighting devices and taximeters, are allowed to move along the allocated lane. But only officially registered cars with yellow license plates received such permission. Moreover, all of the listed identification marks must be present in the taxi. If any of them is missing, traffic on the dedicated taxi lane in 2018 is prohibited.
Grounds and amounts of the fine
The regulations for imposing fines for the bus lane are contained in clause 18.2 of the Traffic Regulations.
According to it, violations are divided into the following:
- Enter the designated oncoming lane. If the maneuver was performed to avoid an obstacle, the fine for leaving will be from 1 to 1.5 thousand rubles. Departure without necessity – 5 thousand rubles. Deprivation of rights for up to 12 months for repeated violation. If a repeat offense is automatically detected, a fine will be imposed.
- Driving on a dedicated lane in the same direction. The fine for driving in a bus lane in these circumstances is from 1.5 to 3 thousand rubles. At the same time, in cities of federal significance the fine for this violation is imposed at the maximum rate.
- Creating obstacles or an emergency situation on a dedicated lane. The penalty for driving on the lane in this case is 500 rubles.
- Interfering with the movement of public transport along a dedicated lane - a fine of 2 to 3 thousand rubles. In Moscow and St. Petersburg, a fine of 3 thousand rubles is imposed for this violation.
- Turn right without changing lanes into the far left lane for public transport. The driver must change lanes into the indicated lane in the area where the broken line begins. If the turn is made through a dedicated lane without changing lanes, the violation carries a fine of 500 rubles.
Parking on the bus lane. The fine is 1,500 rubles for the regions, 3,000 rubles for Moscow and St. Petersburg. In these circumstances, the car is immediately sent to the impound lot, so the fine is added to 5,000 rubles for evacuation and 1,000 rubles per day for the car being in the impound lot.
Important. This type of traffic violation is not serious, so the amount of the fine can be halved by paying it within 20 days.
Fine for driving in a dedicated lane
Good afternoon, dear reader.
This article will talk about fines that can be imposed for driving into a designated lane for public transport.
Lanes for route vehicles are designed to speed up the movement of buses and trolleybuses in populated areas. And every year the number of dedicated lanes in cities increases.
However, some car drivers try to use the free space to their own advantage and drive into bus lanes in violation of traffic rules. They are the ones who risk receiving a fine or deprivation of their rights.
Entering the passing lane for public transport
In this case we are talking about all cases when the car is moving in the same direction as public transport (orange in the figure):
1 1 . Movement of vehicles along the lane for fixed-route vehicles or stopping on the said lane in violation of the Traffic Rules, except for the cases provided for in parts 3 - 5 of Article 12.15 of this Code, and the case provided for in Part 1 2 of this article -
shall entail the imposition of an administrative fine in the amount of one thousand five hundred rubles.
1 2 . The violation provided for in Part 1 1 of this article, committed in the federal city of Moscow or St. Petersburg, -
shall entail the imposition of an administrative fine in the amount of three thousand rubles.
Please note that the driver will receive the same penalty for both driving in a dedicated lane and stopping in it (except for permitted cases). In Moscow or St. Petersburg the fine will be 3,000 rubles , in other regions - 1,500 rubles .
Driving into the oncoming lane for buses
We are talking about a situation where a car is moving in the opposite direction to public transport (orange in the picture):
3. Driving, in violation of the Traffic Rules, into a lane intended for oncoming traffic when going around an obstacle, or onto tram tracks in the opposite direction when going around an obstacle -
shall entail the imposition of an administrative fine in the amount of one thousand to one thousand five hundred rubles.
4. Driving, in violation of the Traffic Rules, onto a lane intended for oncoming traffic, or onto tram tracks in the opposite direction, except for the cases provided for in Part 3 of this article -
shall entail the imposition of an administrative fine in the amount of five thousand rubles or deprivation of the right to drive vehicles for a period of four to six months.
5. Repeated commission of an administrative offense provided for in Part 4 of this article -
entails deprivation of the right to drive vehicles for a period of one year, and in the event of an administrative offense being recorded by special technical means operating in automatic mode, having the functions of photography, filming, video recording, or means of photography, filming, video recording - the imposition of an administrative fine in the amount of five thousand rubles
The fine for driving into the oncoming lane for buses does not depend on the region in which the violation was committed. In this case, the reason for departure is important, as well as the repetition of the violation:
- 1,000 - 1,500 rubles when going around an obstacle;
- 5,000 rubles or deprivation of rights for 4 - 6 months in all cases except for avoiding an obstacle.
- deprivation of rights for 1 year or 5,000 rubles (if cameras are available) in case of repeated entry into the oncoming lane.
Driving in public transport lanes - rules and nuances
We have collected for you all the information about using the public transport lane in 2018. Let's talk about what a bus lane is and who is allowed to use it. Is it allowed to drive on this lane on weekends and holidays? Features of traffic in the public transport lane for taxi vehicles. Let's consider all the fines that can be received for “separate work”. We will also answer the most frequently asked questions regarding appealing fines.
What is a public transport lane
According to traffic rules, buses, trolleybuses, cyclists, as well as school buses and passenger taxis can use the lane for fixed-route vehicles.
The presence of a public transport lane is indicated by sign 5.14:
The effect of the sign extends to the lane of the road over which it is placed. The sign is valid until the nearest intersection or until canceled (sign 5.14.1). If the allocated lane continues after the intersection, the sign is re-installed.
If a lane is separated from the rest of the roadway by a broken marking line, then when turning, cars must change lanes onto it. In such places, it is also permitted to enter this lane to pick up and unload passengers at the right sidewalk. A prerequisite in this case is that there is no interference on your part with route vehicles.
Additionally, the “separate line” is designated by the letter “A” on the road surface. Stopping areas for route vehicles are marked with a yellow zigzag.
The presence of a bus lane is also indicated by the following signs.
Sign 5.11.1 - Road with a lane for route vehicles. Along such a lane, route vehicles move towards the general flow of cars.
Signs 5.13.1 and 5.13.2 - Entering a road with a lane for route vehicles.
Who can drive in the “bus” lane
According to the law, the following can move in a dedicated lane:
- Shuttle Buses,
- trolleybuses,
- minibuses,
- passenger taxis.
The driver of a regular car is allowed to temporarily drive in a dedicated lane in the following cases:
- turn, before which you need to change lanes to the right. If you forget to do this, you will receive a fine of 500 rubles for creating a threat to other road users (Article 12.14 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation).
- entering the bus lane from a secondary road or adjacent area.
- boarding and disembarking passengers at the edge of the roadway.
General requirements for such maneuvers:
- the presence of a broken marking line;
- no interference with public transport on your part.
Driving in a dedicated lane on weekends
There is a myth among drivers that on weekends in Moscow and St. Petersburg everyone, without exception, is allowed to drive on a dedicated lane. Fines then become a surprise and a heavy burden for the family budget.
According to the rules, only public transport can travel in the bus lane. Exceptions are cases when the effect of the “Public Transport Lane” sign is limited in time by additional information signs.
Information plate 8.5.2 indicates that the “bus lane” sign is valid only on weekdays. On weekends, dedicated parking is available to all drivers.
8.5.3. "Days of the week". Indicates the days of the week during which the sign is valid. Only public transport is allowed to use the bus lane on these days. The rest of the time the band is available to everyone.
8.5.4 “Validity time” . Indicates the time of day during which the sign is valid.
In addition to those listed, signs 8.5.5-8.5.7 “Validity time” . Indicate the days of the week and time of day during which the sign is valid.
Amount of fine for a public transport lane
A violation when entering a bus lane can be recorded by an inspector or a camera. Traffic police officers issue a fine on the spot. If the violation was recorded by a camera, the decision will be sent by mail.
For driving in the lane for fixed-route vehicles or stopping in the specified lane, you face a fine of 1,500 rubles.
If such a violation is committed in Moscow or St. Petersburg, the fine will be 3,000 rubles (Article 12.17 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation).
When entering a bus lane along which vehicles are moving in the opposite direction, in accordance with clause 4 of Art. 12.15 of the Administrative Code, faces a fine of 5,000 rubles or deprivation of the right to drive for 4 to 6 months.
If you drive into the oncoming lane again, your license will be revoked for 12 months. However, if the violation is recorded by a camera, you will get off with a fine of 5,000 rubles.
If you stop at a designated lot and leave your car, it may end up in an impound lot.
The fine for “bus lane” will not be canceled even if:
- you went around the traffic jam,
- let another car pass,
- We stood on the emergency lights in the bus lane instead of our own.
You can avoid a fine or appeal it only in two cases:
- Departure to a “dedicated area” due to extreme necessity (Article 2.7 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation). For example, you drove into the bus lane to avoid an accident when a car flew towards you from around a turn.
- You were driving in the bus lane at the time allowed for regular drivers.
Is it possible for a taxi to drive in a dedicated lane?
Although passenger taxis have been allowed to move along the bus lane since 2012 (Section 5.14 of the Traffic Regulations), some taxi drivers are afraid to use it. The reason for this is fines. Let's figure it out.
The right to use the bus lane applies to taxis, provided that they operate legally. To do this, you need to obtain a license (permit for taxi transportation) and equip the car in accordance with the law.
You can drive on a bus lane in Moscow with a Moscow region license - it’s completely legal.
A taxi is distinguished from an ordinary car on the road by:
- orange lantern on the roof,
- tape in the form of black squares in a checkerboard pattern on the sides of the body (popularly “checker belt”),
- taximeter.
From July 1, 2018, in Moscow, licenses will be issued only for cars with a yellow body (according to the Moscow Law “On Passenger Taxi”; the last licenses issued before Article 2.1 came into force will expire at that time). For drivers from the Moscow region, this law does not apply; the car can be of any color and legally move in a dedicated lane.
If you are working illegally or your car does not meet all the requirements, you will face a fine for going to a designated area.
There are cases when a taxi, equipped according to all the rules, receives a fine. The reason may be hidden in the registry. If your license is not included there, you are illegal.
Taxi drivers with a Moscow region license often encounter this. To avoid getting into such situations, immediately after obtaining a permit, check whether it is in the registry.
It's easy to do:
- go to the website of the mayor of Moscow;
- Enter in the search form: vehicle number or license number, carrier name or several parameters at once.
The results can be printed and added to your travel documents just in case.
Conclusion. If you are a licensed taxi driver and your car meets the requirements listed in the law, you can use public transport. If you receive a fine, appeal it.
In any controversial case, contact the traffic police at the location of the violation to appeal. In Moscow, this is the TsAFAP traffic police department of the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for Moscow, located at st. Sadovaya-Samotechnaya, 1. We discussed appeal issues in detail in a separate article.
Have additional questions about traffic rules or appealing a fine for a bus lane? Ask them to a car lawyer. It's free.
Date of article publication: April 13, 2018
Last modified: June 27, 2018