Changing lanes across bus lane to a turn left = FINE?

TeaLeaf:

So I turned right at the gas station on Khyber Pass to go left toward Parnell. Now I know there is a bus lane there, but you cannot NOT cross it to turn left, I suppose you could wait until the very last second and do a 2 lane switch and hope you dont hit a bus or anybody else wanting to turn left. Am I wrong?

If Im wrong and you should wait later then so be it, but I just thought it felt safer to be in that lane 10m before I turned left. I may have it all wrong as Im not too familiar with it, but I didnt intentionally drive down a Bus Lane for 100m or something. I had to cross it to turn left I thought.

So its the new sport for the cops to get their monthly telly up. $150

Here is an google streetview link of the tail end of the bus lane in question:

https://goo.gl/maps/1UuE7L5J96LSvKap7

I frequently drive through here, and while the layout is complex, do not find it problematic to navigate. Trickiest time is when traffic is queued into the bus lane (either buses, or more commonly illegal bus lane users), and the only legal way to navigate is to obstruct the Right hand traffic lane, waiting for space to merge into the left lane at the location legally permitted.

The bus lane terminates at the sign (Google maps has blured out the word "Ends" for some reason) and a much narrower cycle lanes commences. At this point traffic in the right hand lane can select either of the lanes marked by right turn arrows (being mindful of traffic in the bus lane of course). Some distance down the road (30M+) an left turn lane is introduced to the left of the cycle lane. Drivers can then (giving way to traffic in the bike lane) move across the bike lane into the left turn lane.

Note that the bus lane terminates in excess of 50m prior to the intersection, hence it is not permitted to be used. (where they can be used they have dotted markings to distinguish the appropriate distance).

Note that enforcement of bus lanes is (typically) undertaken by Auckland transport (although the police do have the power to enforce as well).

This particular bus lane is automated via mounted camera's (nothing sporting at all, just a machine doing as programmed), The camera's are not hiden either, they are mounted on poles overhanging the center of the bus lane. I think the enforcement zone is some distance back from the end of the lane, but am not completly sure on this point.

TeaLeaf:

How do you find the times it operates? Its so BS that you have to do an illegal left hand double lane cross to avoid this fine.

I was about 10am on a Saturday.

https://www.aa.co.nz/cars/ask-an-expert/motoring-rules-and-regulations/show/9114/

Your description of "illegal left hand double lane cross" does match with the road layout.

The operational times are printed on the signs. They are currently 7am - 7pm Mon - Sun (as part of a trial of increased operational hours), note that historically this area was used for parking outside of bus lane operational hours, so was typically not available for general traffic anyway.

https://at.govt.nz/projects-roadworks/newmarket-access-improvements/

TeaLeaf

Scott3