Transport for London (TfL) has announced that it is tripling the number of people in its Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) investigations team to crack down on drivers who persistently evade penalty charge notices (PCNs).
According to TfL, a cohort of people who refuse to pay multiple PCNs means that a significant amount of debt remains outstanding, which could be reinvested into improving the transport network for the benefit of all Londoners.
The expanded investigations team will boost the work with enforcement agents to target those in polluting vehicles that refuse to pay the daily charges. Boosting its intelligence-led approach will be used in tandem with other enforcement actions including the ability of bailiffs to visit an evader’s address, clamp a vehicle, remove a vehicle and sell it at auction.
This is in addition to the further fees that evaders accrue when they do not pay the fine within the statutory time limit.
On August 29, 2023, the ULEZ expanded London-wide to help tackle the triple challenges of air pollution, the climate emergency and traffic congestion. In London, around 4,000 premature deaths are attributed to toxic air each year, as well as increased risks of asthma, cancer and dementia.
Any income generated from the scheme is being reinvested back into public transport, including improving bus routes in outer London. The scheme is not designed to generate revenue, as TfL wants all cars to be compliant.
The latest data shows that more than 96% of vehicles seen driving in the zone comply with the emissions standards, meaning most drivers do not need to pay the daily charge. TfL’s cameras check the number plates of vehicles driving in the zone, and if no charge is paid for a non-compliant vehicle within three days of the journey taking place, and no Auto Pay arrangement is in place, a penalty charge notice (PCN) is sent to the registered keeper.
If a vehicle’s registered keeper does not pay the penalty, it is registered as an unpaid debt and an order made for its recovery. If still not paid this leads to a Court-issued warrant, and enforcement action to recover the outstanding debt. If a registered keeper ignores a warrant, bailiffs visit their address to recover money owed.
Enforcement agents also have the power to seize particular belongings of the debtor and use the proceeds to satisfy any outstanding debt. Between August 2023 and July 2024, 761 seized cars were auctioned, recovering £710,147 of debts accrued by the minority who refuse to pay the ULEZ charge.
Alex Williams, TfL’s chief customer and strategy officer, said, “The aim of the ULEZ is to clean up London’s air and remove old polluting cars from the road so no drivers need to pay, and no fines occur. There is only a small minority of drivers who are eligible for the charge, and even fewer who are refusing to pay – but we encourage anyone experiencing financial difficulties not to ignore PCNs, and to engage with our staff, who will work with you toward a resolution, including setting up debt payment plans.”
TfL encourages drivers to sign up for its Auto Pay system, which enables customers to be billed automatically when their vehicle enters the ULEZ and therefore avoids a fine. Customers registered with Auto Pay are debited monthly for daily charges and receive a monthly statement of the charges. Those registered with Auto Pay holders have 90 days to dispute any charges debited.
A pilot scheme to offer increased support to vulnerable recipients of penalty charges is also set to be introduced in the coming months. The scheme will include new guidance for TfL staff to assist those experiencing hardship, such as referring to a partner organization which provides financial guidance.
