Request ID: FOI-0429-2324 Date published: 25 May 2023
You asked
I want the freedom of information for tfl Ulez for the maintenance of TfL payment and Car information on the website. I have been penalised and getting PCN’s for nothing. Back in April 2022 I paid the daily charge but received two PCN’s even though I paid the daily charge for both day. I now have a ULEZ compliant car with a private number that use to be on my old non ULEZ compliant car and there system hasn’t even updated and expect me to send emails and prove it’s a different car. I ask for this information before but for some reason it was not allowed. I will now do every in my power to take this matter as far as possible if you do not give me what I’m asking for which is the freedom of information for the maintenance of the TFL ULEZ website paying and ULEZ vehicle checker. I want to know when it’s maintained and how often it should be maintained. There is no chance this rubbish website is updated and maintained as it should be. Please send this information as I’m ready and waiting to fight all the way
We answered
Our ref: FOI-0429-2324/GH
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 12 May 2023 asking for information about the ULEZ website.
Your request has been considered under the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and our information access policy.
I can confirm that we do hold some of the information you require. However, there is no “maintenance” as such in relation to updating the website.
In order to establish whether a vehicle is compliant with the ULEZ emission standards we predominantly use the vehicle data held by the DVLA. In most cases we can establish a vehicle’s compliance status by the date it was first registered as new. We know that all diesel cars first registered as new after 1 September 2015, and all petrol cars first registered as new after 1 January 2006 are automatically compliant with the ULEZ standards.
Using the data provided by the DVLA we have developed a compliance database which lists the compliance status of all UK registered vehicles. This is not a live link to the DVLA data; rather a static list of vehicles which is refreshed with new updated DVLA data every month. By updating the list regularly it ensures any update to vehicle information held by the DVLA is reflected on our database soon afterwards.
When a registration plate is transferred from a non-compliant to a compliant vehicle our compliance checker is updated when we next refresh the data. This can result in a short delay in the compliance status of the vehicle changing. If a PCN is issued, as soon as it becomes apparent the registration is now on a compliant vehicle, the penalty is cancelled and the compliance status updated.
As outlined above we do verify compliance of every vehicle which is driven in the ULEZ prior to issuing a penalty. However we do not record how many penalties have been issued as a result of the data we are checking being inaccurate. This is because at the time of checking the data we would not know if it has recently been updated.
If you have any outstanding enquiries or penalties relating to the transfer of your number plate then you can contact our Road User Charging team at [email protected]
If this is not the information you are looking for, please do not hesitate to contact me.
If you are not satisfied with this response please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.
Yours sincerely
Graham Hurt FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
