FOI request detail

Which law do LEZ and ULEZ fall under

Request ID: FOI-0630-2324
Date published: 15 June 2023

You asked

1. Can you point me to the law/the legislation that the LEZ falls under, please? 2. Is this the same law that the ULEZ falls under?

We answered

TfL Ref: FOI-0630-2324

Thank you for your request which we received on 26 May 2023, asking about the legislation governing the LEZ and ULEZ schemes.

Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy.  I can confirm that we hold the information you require.

Section 295 of the Greater London Authority Act 1999 (GLA Act, as amended) gives TfL the power to create road user charging schemes in Greater London. Schedule 23 of the GLA Act sets out detailed legal provisions. The Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) and London Low Emission Zone (LEZ) are road user charging schemes and are established under the Greater London Low Emission Zone Charging Order 2006 (2006 Order).  This 2006 Order contains a road user charging scheme called the London Emissions Zones Charging Scheme (‘the Scheme’) - this is contained in the Schedule to the 2006 Order. This Scheme originally only covered the LEZ (established in in 2006) but it was amended and renamed in 2015 to incorporate the ULEZ alongside the LEZ.

The GLA Act stipulates that a charging scheme must be contained in an order – which effectively sets out the rules which apply to the LEZ and ULEZ.  Details of the required contents of a scheme order are contained in Schedule 23 which stipulates that a charging scheme must:

 
  • Designate the area to which it applies
  • Specify the classes of motor vehicles in respect of which a charge is imposed
  • Designate those roads in the charging area in respect of which a charge is imposed, and
  • Specify the LEZ and ULEZ charges imposed.
  • Specify the level of penalty charges for non-payment of daily LEZ or ULEZ charge where a non-compliant vehicle is driven in the zone. 

A copy of the current consolidated text of the 2006 Order and Scheme (as amended to date) can be found at https://content.tfl.gov.uk/consolidated-scheme-order-september-2020.pdf

Two sets of Government regulations apply to the enforcement of the ULEZ and LEZ.  They cover et out the procedures for the enforcement and adjudication of road user charging schemes in Greater London under Schedule 23 to the Greater London Authority Act 1999. They cover requirements relating to the notification, adjudication and enforcement of penalty charges, the determination of disputes, appeals against determinations, the appointment of persons to hear any such appeals and the admissibility of evidence in proceedings under Schedule 23. They are the:

 
  • Road User Charging (Charges and Penalty Charges) (London) Regulations 2001/ No. 2285
  • Road User Charging (Enforcement and Adjudication) (London) Regulations 2001/ No. 2313

If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for any reason, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.

Yours sincerely

Eva Hextall
FOI Case Management Team
General Counsel
Transport for London

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