Request ID: FOI-0997-2122 Date published: 13 September 2021
You asked
In each of the last three financial years please state what the income was to TfL from fines levied to people who breached bus lane regulations?
In the last financial year (20/21) which ten roads bus lanes were responsible for the issuing of the most tickets for breaches of bus lane regulations? Please give the name of all ten roads and the number of tickets issued in the year for those roads.
We answered
Our ref: FOI-0997-2122/GH
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 16 August 2021 asking for information about fines levied to people who breached bus lane regulations.
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 the information you require.
In each of the last three financial years please state what the income was to TfL from fines levied to people who breached bus lane regulations? Information about PCNs issued in London is published annually by the London Councils and is available on their website at: London Councils Annual Enforcement Reports.
TfL only issue PCNs on the Transport for London Road Network – the red routes throughout London. Bus Lane penalties on other roads are issued by the London Boroughs. The table below details TfL income from bus lane penalties over the last three financial years. Income increases over time as more penalties are paid.
Financial Year
PCNs Issued
Amount Paid
18/19
14,620
£813,800
19/20
27,316
£1,641,269
20/21
15,451
£915,439
In the last financial year (20/21) which ten roads bus lanes were responsible for the issuing of the most tickets for breaches of bus lane regulations? Please give the name of all ten roads and the number of tickets issued in the year for those roads. In accordance with the FOI Act, we are not obliged to supply the information requested as it is subject to a statutory exemption to the right of access to information under section 31 of the FOI Act, which relates to law enforcement. Specifically, we are refusing your request under section 31(1)(b), which relates to information whose disclosure would be likely to prejudice the apprehension or prosecution of offenders, and section 31(1)(g), which relates to information whose disclosure would be likely to prejudice the exercise by any public authority of its functions or any of the purposes listed in subsection 31(2) of the FOI Act. In this case, this is section 31(2)(a) – the purpose of ascertaining whether any person has failed to comply with the law.
The release of the requested data could enable drivers to conclude that some locations are less likely to be enforced, which would let those who drive in restricted bus lanes avoid penalty charges for doing so, and so be likely to prejudice the purposes described above. Disclosure of this information to you has to be regarded as a disclosure to ‘the public at large’.
The use of this exemption is subject to an assessment of the public interest in relation to the disclosure of the information concerned. We recognise the need for openness and transparency by public authorities, but in this instance consider that balance lies in favour of withholding the information to ensure that we are able to manage traffic on the TfL Road Network. It would be strongly against the public interest to release any information that would undermine this. We consider that the release of this information would lead to increased traffic problems as some motorists may seek to take advantage of the information by using bus lanes in areas that we do not currently enforce, and therefore delaying bus services. This would in turn have a further effect that TfL would have to divert further resources to enforcing more zones, which would be likely to involve increased staff and direct costs. It would not be in the public interest to limit TfL’s ability to make the most efficient use of its limited funds in this manner.
