Request ID: FOI-4423-2324 Date published: 27 March 2024
You asked
Follow-on from FOI-3812-2324:
Original question:
1. How many ULEZ PCNs - wrong penalty charges have been in areas of London from August 2023 to the end of January 2024?
Explanation: In this case, I mean incorrect ULEZ fines, when a penalty has been incorrectly issued it is cancelled.
Follow-up:
can you provide me with information related to the penalties TFL has cancelled based on the same question?
Original question:
2. How many ULEZ PCNs - unpaid penalty charges have been registered in areas of London from August 2023 to the end of January 2024?
Explanation: With unpaid charges I mean people who didn`t pay the fine and it has been registered as an unpaid debt at the Traffic Enforcement Centre.
Follow-up: can you please provide me with a breakdown per month of the data you sent to me?
We answered
Our Ref: FOI-4423-2324
Thank you for your request received on 5 March 2024 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 Environmental Information Regulations (EIR) and our information access policy. I can confirm that we do hold the information you require. You asked for:
I am asking for the total number of cancelled ULEZ PCNs, as well as a monthly breakdown – irrespective of reason, between 1 August 2023 and 31 January 2024
I am requesting a monthly breakdown of the 956,490 PCNs that have been issued since 1 August 2023 until 31 January 2024
In our previous response to your FOI request under FOI-3812-2324, we explained how the ULEZ was expanded on 29 August 2023 to cover all London boroughs and 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 was taken in the future and to allow for any genuine mistakes that may have occurred. Since 26 September 2023, PCNs have been issued for contraventions. This is why the number of PCNs issued and cancelled is significant lower in September 2023 than the other months.
When considering representations against PCNs we do exercise discretion and consider mitigating circumstances. This can often result in a PCN being cancelled despite it being correctly issued. An example would be when a motorist inadvertently pays for the wrong date of travel or vehicle registration and incurs a penalty as a result. In such circumstances the PCN may be cancelled. Therefore, the cancellation of a PCN does not always indicate it has been incorrectly issued.
Please see the table below which provides data for the number of ULEZ PCNs which were cancelled each month between 1 August 2023 and 31 January 2024 and the number of PCNs which were issued each month between 1 August 2023 until 31 January 2024.
Month
ULEZ PCNs Issued
Cancelled ULEZ PCNs
Aug-23
102,292
8,663
Sep-23
13,470
2,834
Oct-23
211,740
28,082
Nov-23
230,497
28,401
Dec-23
211,181
21,847
Jan-24
187,308
16,766
Total
956,488
106,593
If this is not the information you are looking for please do not hesitate 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
