1. The total number of penalty charge notices issued to motorists by TfL from 2014 to 2018 (last five years) broken down into a) Bus lane infringements b) yellow box junction infringements c) Banned turns 2. The amount of income made from those PCNs listed in (1) 3. The amount of income lost from those PCNs listed in (1) as a result of not being able to collect monies and a break down with the reasons why (with respective money totals for each reason) i.e. Untraceable foreign number plate £3,000 4. Amount spent by TfL to recoup lost monies from infringing PCN parties (i.e. employing contractors/bailiffs) from 2014 to 2018 and how much was recouped for each year as a result 5. Bus lanes (by road name) where infringements have been highest for the last two years (top 5 on TfL network for each year - with number of infringements) 6. Yellow boxes (by road name) where infringements have been highest for the last two years (top 5 on TfL network for each year - with number of infringements)

---

Our Ref:         FOI-2987-1819

Thank you for your request received on 7 February 2019 asking for information about penalty charge notices (PCNs) issued on the TfL Road Network (TLRN). I apologise the delay in my response.

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 for:

1. The total number of penalty charge notices issued to motorists by TfL from 2014 to 2018 (last five years) broken down into a) Bus lane infringements b) yellow box junction infringements c) Banned turns
2. The amount of income made from those PCNs listed in (1)

TfL enforces traffic regulations with the sole purpose of keeping traffic moving safely and efficiently for the benefit of everyone. Vehicles that block roads, drive in bus lanes, park incorrectly or make banned turns, both inconvenience other road users and create hazards. All revenue generated by enforcement activity is reinvested in maintaining and improving the transport network.

The table below shows the number of PCNs issued and money collected per calendar year from 2014-2018.

Year Bus Lane Amount Paid (£) Banned Manoeuvre Amount Paid(£) Yellow Box Junction Amount Paid (£)
2014 13374 676,785.42 20294 1,311,403.18 107695 7,309,593.67
2015 9101 450,033.11 15482 1,041,700.6 99726 6,792,065.87
2016 5772 300,421.4 18230 1,311,805.58 101726 7,202,965.26
2017 10513 673,075.24 31120 2,131,859.3 125246 8,869,397.17
2018 16344 858,363.79 32115 2,199188.21 133581 9,261,411.58
Grand Total 55104 2,958,678.96 117241 7,995,956.87 567974 39,435,433.55

3. The amount of income lost from those PCNs listed in (1) as a result of not being able to collect monies and a break down with the reasons why (with respective money totals for each reason) i.e. Untraceable foreign number plate £3,000

The table below shows the value of PCNs issued in each year which have been written off. PCNs are usually written off after being dormant for two years which is why the values of penalties issued in 2017 and 2018 which have been written off is significantly lower that the values in earlier years. We do not specifically record the reason the penalty has been dormant. 

Row Labels Sum of Amount Written Off (£)
2014 1,632,661
2015 1,472,112
2016 667,488
2017 12,150
2018 10,072
Grand Total 3794483

4.  Amount spent by TfL to recoup lost monies from infringing PCN parties (i.e. employing contractors/bailiffs) from 2014 to 2018 and how much was recouped for each year as a result

Under section 12 of the FOI Act, we are not obliged to comply with a request if we estimate that the cost of determining whether we hold the information, locating and retrieving it and extracting it from other information would exceed the appropriate limit. This is calculated at £25 per hour for every hour spent on the activities described.

When we issue a PCN, if it remains unpaid we issue a further two notices. If no payment is received a warrant is issued to our contracted bailiffs to collect the outstanding balance. There is no cost to TfL in doing this.

We have estimated that it would cost over £450 to provide a response to this part of your current request. This is because it is estimated that it would take over 18 working hours to retrieve and compile the information you have requested. The amount remitted to us by our contracted bailiffs is recorded against the individual PCN record. To establish how much has been paid against each PCN we would have to access each individual PCN record and verify the payment.

To help bring the cost of responding to this section of your request within the £450 limit, you may wish to consider narrowing its scope so that we can more easily locate, retrieve and extract the information you are seeking. If you want to refine your request or make a Freedom of Information Act request in future, please bear in mind that the Freedom of Information Act allows you to request recorded information held by TfL. You might also consider limiting your request to a narrower period of time.

5. Bus lanes (by road name) where infringements have been highest for the last two years (top 5 on TfL network for each year - with number of infringements)

The below tables detail the top five locations where bus lane infringements occurred and the number of PCNs we issued per year.

2017  
Location PCNs Issued 
A10 GREAT CAMBRIDGE ROAD NORTHBOUND 7,468 
JAMAICA RD FROM WEST LANE TO TUNNEL APPROACH 1,465 
A10 STAMFORD HILL NORTHBOUND N16 629 
A10 GREAT CAMBRIDGE ROAD SOUTHBOUND 442 
A205 STANSTEAD ROAD EASTBOUND SE23 238 

2018 
Location PCNs Issued
A10 GREAT CAMBRIDGE ROAD NORTHBOUND 13,731
JAMAICA RD FROM WEST LANE TO TUNNEL APPROACH 975
A10 STAMFORD HILL NORTHBOUND N16 744
CAPITAL INTERCHANGE WAY CHISWICK ROUNDABOUT 615
A205 STANSTEAD ROAD EASTBOUND SE23 109

6. Yellow boxes (by road name) where infringements have been highest for the last two years (top 5 on TfL network for each year - with number of infringements)

The below tables detail the top five locations where yellow box contraventions occurred and the number of PCNs we issued per year. Yellow box junctions are designed to keep junctions clear for through-traffic, to avoid congestion and to keep road space free for emergency vehicles to respond to 999 calls. The top locations were outside fire stations at locations where stopping in the yellow box impedes fire engines leaving the station.

2017  
Location PCNs Issued 
WEST HILL SW18 / FIRE STATION 18,400 
HOMERTON HIGH ST/HOMERTON FIRE STN EMERGENCY EXIT 11,637 
HANGER LANE / EALING VILLAGE W5 8,395 
EUSTON RD / JUDD ST / MIDLAND ROAD 6,814 
SOUTHERN ARM TARGET ROUNDABOUT UB5 5,536 

2018 
Location PCNs Issued
WEST HILL SW18 / FIRE STATION 18,298
EUSTON RD / JUDD ST / MIDLAND ROAD 12,339
HOMERTON HIGH ST/HOMERTON FIRE STN EMERGENCY EXIT 10,949
CITY RD / GRAHAM ST / CENTRAL ST (NORTH BOX) 5,776
UPPER WOBURN PL / ENDSLEIGH GDNS 5,354

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

Gemma Jacob
Senior FOI Case Officer
FOI Case Management Team
General Counsel
Transport for London
[email protected]

Back to top

---