Request ID: FOI-2477-2223 Date published: 26 January 2023
You asked
I request the following information under the Freedom of Information Act:
First ULEZ - April 2019 (Central London)
What was the cost of the implementation?
How many PCNs have been issued?
How many PCNs have been successfully appealed?
How many cloned number plate PCNs have been cancelled?
How much profit has been made?
What are the air pollution figures at the start and now?
How many businesses have ceased trading due to the ULEZ?
Second ULEZ - October 2021 (inside the North and South Circular Roads)
What was the cost of the implementation?
How many PCNs have been issued?
How many PCNs have been successfully appealed?
How many cloned number plate PCNs have been cancelled?
How much money has been lost due to cloned number plates and cancelled PCNs?
How much profit has been made?
What are the air pollution figures at the start and now?
How many businesses have ceased trading due to the ULEZ?
We answered
TfL Ref: FOI-2477-2223
Thank you for your request which we received on 1 January 2023, asking for information about the Ultra-Low Emission Zone scheme (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 that we hold some of the information you require.
The ULEZ was launched on 8 April 2019 to cover the same area of Central London as the Congestion Charge zone. As the scheme was new, between 8 April & 10 May 2019 we issued warning notices rather the Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs).
The scheme was suspended from 23 March to 17 May 2020 in response to the Covid 19 pandemic. In order to ensure that motorists were aware that the scheme had been reinstated, between 18 & 29 May 2020 we issued warning notices rather than PCNs
On 25 October 2021 the ULEZ was expanded to cover the area up to but not including the North and South circular roads. As the expansion was new between 25 October and 22 November 2021, again we issued warning notices rather than PCNs.
If a vehicle is seen in the ULEZ without an appropriate daily charge, a PCN is issued to the registered keeper of that vehicle as held at the DVLA at the time and date of the contravention.
In order to challenge a penalty the recipient must first submit a representation to us. If the representation is accepted the penalty is cancelled. If we reject the representation the motorist has a further right of appeal to an Independent Adjudicator at London Tribunals.
You specifically asked:
First ULEZ - April 2019 (Central London) & Second ULEZ - October 2021 (inside the North and South Circular Roads)
What was the cost of the implementation?
The implementation costs for the ULEZ can be found in our previously published FOI responses, available via the below links;
How many PCNs have been issued? How many PCNs have been successfully appealed?
Between 11 May 2019, when the first ULEZ PCN was issued and 24 October 2021, the day prior to the ULEZ being extended we issued 1,043,039 PCNs for non-payment of the ULEZ daily charge. We received 146,129 representations against these PCNs, 82,230 of which were accepted, 50,218 were rejected and 13,681 remain open.
Between 25 October 2020. the date the zone was expanded and 6 January 2023 we issued 2,276,126 PCNs for non-payment of the ULEZ daily charge. We received 261,289 representations against these PCNs, 161,351 of which were accepted.
How many cloned number plate PCNs have been cancelled?
The ULEZ operates through Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology. As a vehicle enters, leave or drives within the zone, the registration along with an image of the vehicle, is recorded by the ANPR camera. At the end of the charge payment period the list of registrations observed in the zone is compared with the list of vehicles which are compliant, have had the charge paid, or are exempt or 100% discounted from the charge or have an active Auto Pay account. Where a match is found the image of the vehicle is deleted. Where no match is found the image is retained for enforcement purposes. We then contact the DVLA to obtain details of the registered keeper and the vehicle make and model details. 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 it 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 of satisfactory evidence the representation will be accepted and the PCN cancelled.
Of the 82,230 representations accepted against PCNs issued between 11 May 2019 and 24 October 2020 3,865 have been accepted on the basis the vehicle was cloned.
Of the161,351 representations accepted against PCNs issued between 23 November 2020 and 6 January 2023 12,978 have been accepted on the basis that the vehicle was cloned.
Please note that this does not necessarily mean that this many vehicles were cloned. The figures may change as the open cases are resolved.
How much profit has been made?
We do not record ULEZ profit specifically for the timeframes of the original zone and the expanded zone. However revenue information is publish in our annual statement of accounts which are available on the TfL website at https://content.tfl.gov.uk/tfl-annual-report-and-statement-of-accounts-2021-22.pdf. The latest ULEZ figures are available on page 140.
The expansion of the ULEZ is not about making money, but about improving air quality and the health of Londoners. Any money received from the ULEZ is reinvested into achieving the aims of the Mayor’s Transport Strategy.
What are the air pollution figures at the start and now?
In accordance with section 21 of the FOI Act, we are not obliged to supply you with a copy of the requested information as it is already accessible to you elsewhere.
How many businesses have ceased trading due to the ULEZ?
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
Eva Hextall FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
