Request ID: FOI-1661-2324 Date published: 13 October 2023
You asked
The general law abiding public is being penalised whist those drivers in London that are unregistered or uninsured are not being prosecuted, of which there are significant numbers. I therefore request, that:
• can you therefore provide details of the number of penalty charge notices for ULEZ and Congestion charge that have not been pursued as owners cannot be found, vehicles not registered or false numbers and vehicle cloning by year since the introduction of the schemes to present day. These vehicles are also statistically more likely to be involved in collisions and may well be more polluting.
• the corresponding numbers of PCNs that have been dropped due to vehicles not being registered, false number plates, or owners not being found per year.
We answered
Our Ref: FOI-1661-2324
Thank you for your request received on 21 August 2023 asking for information about road user charging penalty charge notices (PCNs).
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act and our information access policy. I can confirm that we hold some of the information you require. You asked:
The general law abiding public is being penalised whist those drivers in London that are unregistered or uninsured are not being prosecuted, of which there are significant numbers. I therefore request, that: • can you therefore provide details of the number of penalty charge notices for ULEZ and Congestion charge that have not been pursued as owners cannot be found, vehicles not registered or false numbers and vehicle cloning by year since the introduction of the schemes to present day. These vehicles are also statistically more likely to be involved in collisions and may well be more polluting. • the corresponding numbers of PCNs that have been dropped due to vehicles not being registered, false number plates, or owners not being found per year.
The Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) was launched on 5 April 2019 to cover the same area as the Congestion Charging scheme. On 25 October 2021 the zone was extended up to, but not including the North and South Circular roads. This represented an 18 times increase in the size of the zone which accounts for the increasing figures in 2022 and 2023. In accordance with the regulations governing the Congestion Charge and ULEZ PCNs are issued to the registered keeper of a vehicle as held by the DVLA. It is a legal requirement of any vehicle owner to register their vehicle with the DVLA and ensure details are up to date. If a vehicle has incurred a Congestion Charging or ULEZ penalty we contact the DVLA to obtain the keeper details. If they do not hold any keeper details for the contravening vehicle a penalty cannot be issued. The table below details the number of penalty charges generated where we have been unable to issue a notice due to the DVLA not holding any keeper details for UK and non-UK registered vehicles. Please note that the figures relate to the number of penalties charges generated. The number of vehicles will be less as many vehicles will have incurred more than one PCN.
Contravention Year
Congestion Charge PCNs Not Issued
ULEZ PCNs Not Issued
2019
109,829
146,659
2020
143,728
107,642
2021
179,075
183,466
2022
136,781
487,925
2023*
114,274
417,080
*Up to 29 August 2023 When the DVLA do provide us with registered keeper details we also obtain details of the make and model of the vehicle. Prior to issuing a penalty we verify that the vehicle details provided by the DVLA match the image of the vehicle which we have. Where there is a match a PCN is issued. If the vehicle description provided by the DVLA doesn’t match the image of the vehicle which we have, a PCN will not be issued. On receipt of a penalty a motorist has a statutory right to challenge the penalty by submitting a representation to us. If a motorist contacts us stating that the penalty has been issued due to the vehicle being cloned, we ask for evidence to support this. On receipt, and verification of, satisfactory evidence the representation will be accepted and the PCN cancelled. The table below details; the number of representations accepted on the grounds that evidence has been provided to confirm the vehicle has been cloned. Please note that the figures relate to the number of penalties which have had representations accepted. The number of vehicles will be less as many vehicles will have incurred more than one PCN.
Contravention Year
Congestion Charge
ULEZ
2019
2,314
1,639
2020
2,620
1,298
2021
3,226
2,779
2022
2,037
12,762
2023*
1,082
6,064
*Up to 29 August 2023
While we work with the DVLA to identify unregistered vehicles, overall responsibility for the enforcement of unregistered vehicles remains with the DVLA who have their own dedicated enforcement team to investigate such instances. If this is not the information you are looking for please do not hesitate to contact me.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.
Yours sincerely
Gemma Jacob Senior FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
