How many motorists erroneously pay a congestion zone charge after being directed into the zone by a police officer
Request ID: FOI-2493-2324 Date published: 15 November 2023
You asked
On July 17th, 2023 at 08.30 Tower Bridge was closed because of an on-going incident. A police officer was re-directing traffic trying to cross the bridge - a non-charge zone - to carry straight on into The City. That "no escape" diversion took drivers into the pay-zone. On contesting the charge levied motorists were told that TfL had no record of Tower Bridge being closed at that time. Despite being sent a tweet from London's City Police about the bridge being closed, plus a local newspaper headline confirming the closure, TfL insisted it had no record of the incident. However, the TfL press officer Danny Keillor later confirmed his office did have a logged closure notice. He was at a loss to explain why the congestion charge team was not aware of this. So, it is possible to know how many drivers were forced to pay wrongly a charge after the police directive to drive on? What liaison is there between the congestion charge team and the rest of TfL?
Clarified 23 October 2023: Thank you for coming back to me so promptly.
I’m looking for information – if possible – on how many motorists paid a congestion charge after being diverted into the zone by authorised traffic officials.
If that information could be pinpointed to Tower Bridge on one day – July 17th – it would be very helpful.
If such a number can be retrieved is it possible to know how many motorists were refunded the charge on appeal.
As I explained, on July 17th Tower Bridge was closed at 08.30 because of an on-going police incident.
However, on appealing the fine the TfL charge team refused re-payment because it had no record of its closure.
Yet, the TfL press office had it logged in its books as closed – as did the City of London
We answered
TfL Ref: FOI-2493-2324
Thank you for your clarified request received by Transport for London (TfL) on23 October 2023 asking for information about congestion zone charging.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act and our information access policy. Unfortunately we do not hold the information you have requested. When a motorist pays the Congestion Charge we do not record the reason they enter the Congestion Charge zone.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.
Yours sincerely,
Mary Abidakun FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
