MORE than 50,000 bus lane fines have been passed on to debt recovery during a period of just over three years - with Glasgow motorists failing to meet the payment deadline.

Figures obtained exclusively by The Evening Times reveals that thousands of motorists are not paying the penalty on time for entering a bus lane.

Last year, 108, 735 bus lane fines were issued - and 16,148 were passed on debt recovery. In 2016, 119, 886 bus lane fines were issued - and 17, 267 of those were passed on to debt recovery. In 2015, 131, 310 bus lane fines were handed to motorists with 17, 913 passed to debt recovery.

This year alone, 31, 948 bus lane fines have been issued with 1,937 so far passed to debt recovery.

Glasgow City Council issue a £60 charge when a motorist enters a bus lane and accept a reduced charge of £30 if they receive payment within 14 days. Motorists are also given the right to appeal against the charge notice within 28 days.

The council say on their website: “If payment remains outstanding 28 days after a charge notice has been issued or after an appeal or representation has been refused we may issue a charge certificate increasing the penalty by a further 50 per cent of the original charge. Upon the issue of a charge certificate, your right of appeal has been removed. If the notice remains unpaid, it may be passed to our debt recovery agent for further action.”

We reported recently on private ambulance owner Marshall Carr who was forced to pay an inflated bus lane fine after fighting with the city council for two years. He incurred the penalty by entering the bus lane on Cathedral Street to move a body for the police.

His company MGC Reparation Services had to admit defeat over the dispute when sheriff officers turned up at the door demanding a payment of £169.

The AA Caught in the Trap has launched a campaign against bus lane fines and urges local authorities to consider issuing a warning letter to first time bus lane offenders.

Jack Cousens, head of roads policy for the AA , said: “It is disconcerting that more than 50,000 cases have been handed on to debt recovery firms over a three and a half year period.

“A bus lane infringement is often made by mistake, and it could be argued that Glasgow City Council are profiteering from innocent mistakes.

“The overall number of bus lane fines issued is also staggering. The AA’s ‘Caught in a Trap’* campaign calls for local authorities to issue a warning letter for first time offenders rather than ask drivers to hand over their wallets.

“It also calls for councils to stop issuing fines if a bus lane is consistently issuing fines and see if additional signage or a new road layout is required to improve compliance. We hope the Councillors in Glasgow take up this initiative soon.”

A spokesman for Glasgow City Council added: “The onus is upon motorists to follow the roads’ regulations, which includes the payment of any relevant fines.”