To understand the logic as to why TfL have increased the PCN fine from £130 to £160
Request ID: FOI-2361-2122 Date published: 01 February 2022
You asked
TfL have increased the PCN fine from £130 to £160 based on the issue of PCNs rising by 26% between 2016 and 2019. This will not bring the number of PCNs down as London already has 400000 tonnes of goods delivered every day and this will rise as the population grows by a further 10%, at the same time kerb space is disappearing by the week.
This increase must have been the last resort, and I want to know what other areas have been reviewed before the final decision was made to increase the fine
We answered
TfL Ref: FOI-2361-2122
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 14th January 2022 asking for information about Penalty Charge Notices.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy.
Specifically you asked:
“TfL have increased the PCN fine from £130 to £160 based on the issue of PCNs rising by 26% between 2016 and 2019. This will not bring the number of PCNs down as London already has 400000 tonnes of goods delivered every day and this will rise as the population grows by a further 10%, at the same time kerb space is disappearing by the week. This increase must have been the last resort, and I want to know what other areas have been reviewed before the final decision was made to increase the fine”.
The decision to increase the fine level for TfL PCNs on the Transport for London Road Network (TLRN) took into account a number of considerations. An overview is set out below. The Penalty Charge level for contraventions on the TLRN has not increased for over ten years. The last increase was in April 2011 when it rose from £120 to £130. The increase to £160 is in line with inflation since the last increase. We expect the higher Penalty Charge level will increase compliance with the rules which will boost bus reliability, reduce congestion, improve air quality and encourage more people to walk and cycle. Good compliance with road regulations is key to the safe and efficient operation of the TLRN. Our aim is to improve compliance, not to penalise drivers. We widely publicise the rules of the TLRN as well as ensuring that all on-street signage and road markings required to enforce the rules is fit for purpose. Our priority is to keep London moving safely and reduce delays, not raising revenue through fines. In relation to the net revenues from TLRN contraventions, by law they must be used for relevant transport and environmental purpose following the cost of the enforcement operation. In 2019/20 surplus revenue generated was invested in making improvements to the Capitals transport infrastructure such as in the following projects –
£16.8m for the Roads and Bridges programme for improving the quality of street conditions and bridges, including safety.
£10.5m for the Road Safety Programme of initiatives to reduce road casualties including engineering schemes and road safety campaigns
£3.9m for the Walking and Cycling Programme of improvements for pedestrians, including on London borough roads, and investments in cycling initiatives.
£3.9m for Bus Network Improvements, for continued enhancement of London’s bus infrastructure, expansion of 24-hour routes and expansion of CCTV on buses
Following the public consultation we review all feedback from stakeholders and our comprehensive consultation report can be viewed here: https://haveyoursay.tfl.gov.uk/penalty-charge-2021/widgets/29891/documents (see the “TfL Penalty Charge consultation report”). This report looks in detail at all the feedback received - from Page 77 onwards it documents the key issues raised and our reasoned responses to them. Other statistics that were reviewed alongside the findings from the Public Consultation were -
Data shows that there has been a significant increase in contraventions over the three years prior to the pandemic, with a 26 per cent increase in contraventions issued for parking, loading, bus lane and moving traffic offences between 2016 and 2019 (excluding enforcement of vehicles weight, height and width restrictions at the Rotherhithe Tunnel for critical safety reasons which was introduced in February 2019)
Reviewing data more specifically, between 2016 and 2019 there was a 300 per cent increase in bus lane contraventions, 31 per cent increase in moving contraventions, 17 per cent increase in CCTV enforcement of parking and loading restrictions and a 27 per cent increase on street enforcement of these restrictions.
In addition to the overall increase in contraventions the data also shows increases in reoffending rates (the number of vehicles receiving more than one PCN). The reoffending rate involving individual vehicles receiving a PCN has increased by almost 20 per cent between 2016 and 2019. This rises to 43 per cent if Rotherhithe Tunnel PCNs are included.
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 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,
David Wells FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
