Request ID: FOI-2255-2223 Date published: 21 December 2022
You asked
Please provide the number of cases and total amount (month on month breakdown ideally) for the past 5 years (or till whatever period you can) - for all such cases where the congestion charge was paid by the driver however the car wasn’t in the charging zone (not at fault) and the amount hasn’t been refunded back to the driver as per TFL’s current policy.
We answered
TfL Ref: 2255-2223
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 6 December 2022 asking for information about the Congestion Charge scheme’s Penalty Charge Notices.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. You asked for:
the number of cases and total amount (month on month breakdown ideally) for the past 5 years (or till whatever period you can) - for all such cases where the congestion charge was paid by the driver however the car wasn’t in the charging zone (not at fault) and the amount hasn’t been refunded back to the driver as per TFL’s current policy
It may be useful if I outline how we operate the Congestion Charge. The scheme operates using Automatic Number Plate Recognition technology. Each entry point to, and exit from, the zones are clearly signed, and as a vehicle enters, leaves or drives within the zone, its registration is recorded along with an image of the vehicle. When the three day payment period has expired, the list of vehicles observed in the zone is compared against the vehicles for which a charge has been paid and those which are 100% discounted, exempt from the charges or listed on an Auto Pay account. Where a match is found, the image and record of the vehicle is deleted. If no match is found, the details are retained for enforcement purposes.
As the records of vehicles for which a charge has been paid are deleted, we are unable to retrospectively verify whether a vehicle for which a charge has been paid, has been in the zone. Hence as the data you are seeking is not recorded in the format requested, we do not hold this information. 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
Jasmine Howard FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
