PCN code 34 (34J): meaning and how to appeal

Moving trafficMoving traffic / bus laneCan be camera-enforced

Official description: “Being in a bus lane”

What it means

You drove in a bus lane during its hours of operation. 34J means it was caught on camera.

In London, bus lane PCNs are made under the London Local Authorities Act 1996, which has its own (shorter) list of grounds and, unusually, no hire-firm ground.

How much is a code 34 PCN?

Bus lane and moving traffic contraventions have a single penalty level.

Area	Penalty	Paid early (50%)	After charge certificate (+50%)
London boroughs and TfL	£160	£80	£240
Outside London (band 2)	£70	£35	£105
Outside London (band 1 areas)	£60	£30	£90

Outside London, only councils that have been given moving traffic enforcement powers under Part 6 of the Traffic Management Act 2004 can issue these PCNs, and most of them use £70.

Sources: London Councils (London amounts from 7 April 2025) and SI 2022/71 Schedule 3 (outside London). Full fines guide.

Deadlines

London: the PCN comes by post. There's a 50% discount within 14 days, and you have 28 days to pay or make representations.
Outside London: the PCN comes by post. There's a 50% discount within 21 days, and you have 28 days to pay or make representations. The council must decide within 56 days. For the first six months at a new camera site, a warning notice should be sent for a first contravention.
Notice of Rejection: 28 days to appeal to the tribunal (free).
Charge certificate: the penalty rises by 50%. Order for recovery: 21 days to pay or file a witness statement.

Common grounds to appeal a code 34 PCN

You only entered the bus lane where the line is broken, to turn left or to access premises, as allowed.
The bus lane was outside its hours of operation, or the signs were missing or unclear.
You moved into the lane to let an emergency vehicle pass or to avoid an obstruction or accident.
Your vehicle was exempt (for example a taxi where the sign permits taxis).
London only: the police are taking action against the driver for the same incident.

Also check the PCN itself: are the date, time, location, vehicle and code correct, and was it served on time? Errors can support the statutory grounds, such as procedural impropriety or 'the contravention did not occur'.

Evidence to gather

Ask to view the camera footage or for still images - you are entitled to this for camera PCNs (in England outside London, regulation 3(3) of SI 2022/576).
Dash-cam footage of the approach and the signs.
Photos of the signs and road markings from the driver's view on approach.

Code 34 suffixes

The letter after the code shows the type of bay, vehicle or enforcement. Suffixes that apply to code 34:

Suffix	Meaning
34J	camera (CCTV) enforcement
340	local buses / trams only

How to appeal

Formal representations within 28 days of the Notice to Owner or postal PCN.
If rejected, appeal to the tribunal within 28 days.

Write your code 34 appeal letter for free. Pick your grounds, add your facts, then copy, download or print.

Generate a letter

Hire or lease company? See how to transfer liability to the hirer (note: not possible for London bus lane PCNs).

Related codes

Code 33
Bus gate / restricted route

Frequently asked questions

What does PCN code 34 mean?

Code 34 is “Being in a bus lane”. In plain English: You drove in a bus lane during its hours of operation. 34J means it was caught on camera.

How much is a code 34 PCN?

Moving traffic and bus lane PCNs are £160 in London (£80 if paid within 14 days) and usually £70 outside London (£35 if paid early).

Can I appeal a code 34 PCN?

Yes. Common grounds include: You only entered the bus lane where the line is broken, to turn left or to access premises, as allowed. The bus lane was outside its hours of operation, or the signs were missing or unclear. You moved into the lane to let an emergency vehicle pass or to avoid an obstruction or accident.

How long do I have to challenge a code 34 PCN?

Challenge within 14 days to protect the discount where possible. Formal representations must be made within 28 days of the Notice to Owner or postal PCN, and a tribunal appeal within 28 days of a Notice of Rejection.

Official sources

Not legal advice. This site gives general information about council PCNs in England, based on official sources (last reviewed 21 October 2026). Rules and amounts change and every case is different. Always check the notice you received, your council's website and the official sources, and consider independent advice for complex cases. PCN Codes is not connected to any council, TfL, London Tribunals or the Traffic Penalty Tribunal.