Our ref:           FOI-2754-1920/GH

Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 11 December 2019 asking for information about Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) penalty charge notices (PCNs).

Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. I can confirm we hold some of the information you require. You asked:

I request a redacted list of penalty charges being issued since the inception of the charge, how many of these charges are disputed and under what grounds and their outcome.

We introduced the ULEZ on 8 April 2019. As the ULEZ scheme was new, between 8 April and 10 May we issued warning notices rather than PCNs.

We have issued 458,008 PCNs for ULEZ contraventions between 8 May and 20 December.

We do not hold information on the reasons the representations were made. We have received 70,014 representations. Up to 20 December 2019, 32,863 have been accepted and 27,771 have been rejected with 9,380 awaiting a decision.

All appeal decisions are entered on a statutory register, available on the London Tribunals website: http://www.londontribunals.gov.uk/.

Also on an aggregated basis the age and demographic makeup of those charged

We do not hold this information.

And the amount of cases subsequently sent to county court.

We have issued 112,221 Order for Recovery letters which registers the debt with the Traffic Enforcement Centre (TEC).

In addition I would like to see the due process that TFL and the Mayor of London has gone through to ensure that everyone was fully aware of the charge and given appropriate information to comply on initiation of the charges.

We have endeavoured to provide adequate information to ensure that all motorists, including those from outside London, are aware of the ULEZ and how it operates. As well as placing signage at each entry and exit point and along all main approaches to the zone, our website contains extensive information regarding the scheme and how it operates. This includes a detailed map of the zone boundary along with a location check facility. Motorists can enter a postcode, street name or location name to verify whether or not their journey took them through the zone.

If in doubt, more information is available through our call centre, where customers are able to obtain advice and guidance on whether a given route or destination lies within the zone and whether a charge is payable. However, having passed signage to make them aware that they are entering or leaving the zone, the onus is on drivers to familiarise themselves with the rules of the scheme and ensure that the charge is paid within the prescribed timeframe. All information on the ULEZ is available on the TfL website.

The campaign targeted both private and commercial vehicle owners, using a multi-channel approach to reach drivers based within and outside London. In addition to paid media advertising messages ran on posters across the public transport network and at key roadside locations. National press articles also ran in the Daily Mail, Daily Mirror and The Sun, and radio adverts ran across 10 stations.
If this is not the information you are looking for please feel free to contact me.

Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.

Yours sincerely

Graham Hurt
FOI Case Officer
FOI Case Management Team
General Counsel
Transport for London