Lawyers have declared that more than 18,000 bus lane fines handed to Manchester motorists by the city council are illegal.
The drivers were caught on camera using Manchester bus lanes between October 2006 and May 2007, BBC News reported .
However, the cameras were only approved for use by the Department for Transport (DfT) in December 2008.
Lawyers have now ruled out retrospective certification, meaning that Manchester City Council may have to pay out more than £544,000 in refunds.
Motorists who think they were fined for the offence during the period are advised to contact the council, which says it will consider each case on its own merits.
Council chief executive Vicky Rosin admitted there had been "a deeply regrettable administrative oversight", though reminded drivers that all bus lane cameras in the city now enjoy DfT approval.
"We have taken steps to notify the public as soon as this technicality came to our attention. We apologise for this mix-up," she added.
"However, we want to remind people that all of our current bus lane enforcement cameras have full approval and we remain determined to ensure that bus lanes stay free-flowing for the benefit of public transport users and to help prevent congestion."
Source: 18000 Manchester driving fines voided | News Centre | Admiral Car ...