Request ID: FOI-4034-2324 Date published: 28 February 2024
You asked
Sir/madam, Please consider this a formal public RFI under Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA). I would like to know how many ULEZ PCNs have been issued since ULEZ was expanded, how many of those have been challenged, and in those challenges on how many occasions the reasons given were either: the ULEZ website giving wrong information regarding vehicle liability and/or how many were regarding the website not bring clear to the user and thus mistakes being made. In both those latter cases how many times did the Council agree with the complainant and how many times the representation was rejected. Thankyou.
We answered
TfL Ref: 4034-2324
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 5 February 2024 asking for information about ULEZ PCNs.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Environmental Information Regulations and TfL’s information access policy. You asked: You asked: I would like to know how many ULEZ PCNs have been issued since ULEZ was expanded, how many of those have been challenged, and in those challenges on how many occasions the reasons given were either: the ULEZ website giving wrong information regarding vehicle liability and/or how many were regarding the website not bring clear to the user and thus mistakes being made. In both those latter cases how many times did the Council agree with the complainant and how many times the representation was rejected.
The ULEZ was expanded further on 29 August 2023 across all London boroughs. Following the launch of the expansion, between 29 August and 25 September 2023, warning notices were issued to owners of non-compliant vehicles who had not paid the ULEZ charge after driving in the zone. Warning notices were issued to ensure the correct action is taken in the future and to allow for any genuine mistakes that may have occurred. Since 26 September 2023, Penalty Charge Notices have been issued for contraventions.
To answer your specific questions, please see below:
How many ULEZ PCNs have been issued since ULEZ was expanded, how many of those have been challenged.
Between 26 September 2023 and 16 February 2024, 953,564 PCNs have been issued.
On receipt of a PCN a motorist has the right to challenge it by submitting a representation to us. The number of representations against these PCNs is 119,776.
And in those challenges on how many occasions the reasons given were either: the ULEZ website giving wrong information regarding vehicle liability and/or how many were regarding the website not bring clear to the user and thus mistakes being made.
In both those latter cases how many times did the Council agree with the complainant and how many times the representation was rejected. Thankyou.
I can confirm TfL holds the information you require. However, given the extent of the information you are looking for, Regulation 12(4)(b) still applies as we believe that the request is still ‘manifestly unreasonable’ because providing the information you have requested would impose unreasonable costs on us and require an unreasonable diversion of resources.
This exception is applied with specific regard to the data you have requested on the reasons for challenging the PCN and whether the representations were upheld or not on that basis. This information is not recorded at this level of specificity and so we do not have any way of reporting on these specific reasons for challenges and rejections and we would have to review every one of thousands of representations made to determine the grounds for the representation of each; we would need to extract and collate that data.
The use of this exception is subject to a public interest test, which requires us to consider whether the public interest in applying the exception outweighs the public interest in disclosure. We recognise that the release of information would promote accountability and transparency in public services and also help address your particular concerns about this issue. However, the time it would take to provide the information you have requested would divert a disproportionate amount of our resources from its core functions and on balance we consider that the public interest currently favours the use of the exception.
If a motorist is unsuccessful in their representation against a PCN they have a further right to appeal against this decision to an Independent Adjudicator at London Tribunals. If the appeal is allowed the penalty is cancelled and if refused it remains outstanding.The most current and accurate information regarding the number of appeals and their success rates is held by London Tribunals and can be requested from them:https://www.londontribunals.gov.uk/
Please note - if you have experienced difficulties with our website or the compliance status of your vehicle, then you can raise this with our Road User Charging correspondence team by email them at [email protected]
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
Sara Thomas FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
