1. During the first 2 months of the LEZ charging scheme (from the 8th April to the 7th June) how many foreign registered vehicles have entered the LEZ? 2. Of those how many were you able to positively identify at the point of entry as either liable to pay, or exempt or entitled to a discount? 3. Of those, how many paid the LEZ charge within the allotted time? 4. Of those, how many were charged penalties for non payment on time? 5. What is the total amount of penalties charged to foreigners in respect of this period? 6. From the information you presently have, how many of those vehicles have been identified as liable to pay, how many as not liable to pay, and how many have not yet had their status clarified? 7. What consideration was given to your obligation to treat foreign drivers equally with domestic drivers, and what alternative methods of treating foreign drivers were considered in view of your obligation to treat them equally, and indeed fairly, given the likelihood that many of them would be driving vehicle models that are exempt but would not be aware of the new scheme?

---

Our ref: FOI-1521-1920

Thank you for your request received on 19 August 2019 asking for information about Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ).

Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our Information Access Policy. I can confirm we do hold the information you requested. You asked:

1. During the first 2 months of the LEZ charging scheme (from the 8th April to the 7th June) how many foreign registered vehicles have entered the LEZ?

We have assumed you’re referring to the ULEZ rather than the LEZ.

We do not record the number of foreign registered vehicle entering the ULEZ.

2. Of those how many were you able to positively identify at the point of entry as either liable to pay, or exempt or entitled to a discount?

As above

3. Of those, how many paid the LEZ charge within the allotted time?

As above

4. Of those, how many were charged penalties for non payment on time?

As the ULEZ scheme was new, between 8 April and 10 May we issued warning notices rather than PCNs. Since we started enforcement of the ULEZ on 11 May, we have raised 48,816 contraventions against foreign registered vehicles.

5. What is the total amount of penalties charged to foreigners in respect of this period?

The value of the penalties is £879,540.00.

6. From the information you presently have, how many of those vehicles have been identified as liable to pay, how many as not liable to pay, and how many have not yet had their status clarified?

We do not hold this information.

7. What consideration was given to your obligation to treat foreign drivers equally with domestic drivers, and what alternative methods of treating foreign drivers were considered in view of your obligation to treat them equally, and indeed fairly, given the likelihood that many of them would be driving vehicle models that are exempt but would not be aware of the new scheme? I await your response.

All foreign registered vehicles are subject to the ULEZ in the same way as those registered in the UK. To administer the ULEZ for UK registered vehicles we predominantly use the vehicle data held by the DVLA. This allows us to establish whether a vehicle is compliant with the ULEZ emissions standards.

As we do not have access to data relating to vehicles registered outside of the UK, we operate a ULEZ registration scheme. This allows motorists to contact us and provide evidence that their vehicle complies with the ULEZ emissions standards. On receipt of this information we register the vehicle as complaint with the standards. This allows the vehicle to be used in the ULEZ without payment of the charge or risk of receiving a PCN.

In instances when a penalty is issued to a foreign registered vehicle, and the recipient of the penalty confirms their vehicle is compliant with the standards, the penalty will be cancelled.

If you have any outstanding questions regarding penalties you have received you can contact our ULEZ correspondence team at [email protected]

Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.

Yours sincerely,

Jasmine Howard

FOI Case Officer

General Counsel

Transport for London

Back to top

---