Transport for London (TfL) has ramped up enforcement against drivers who persistently evade fines related to the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), warning that continued non-payment could lead to bankruptcy proceedings or direct deductions from wages. Over recent months, TfL has seized more than 1,400 vehicles from drivers refusing to settle penalty charge notices (PCNs), with 530 vehicles seized in a six-month period alone. These measures reflect a targeted effort against a specific group of persistent offenders who owe substantial sums, with outstanding fines reaching up to £280 per charge.

TfL highlighted that 94 percent of ULEZ debt is attributed to individuals with at least four outstanding fines, underscoring a pattern of deliberate evasion among a minority of drivers. To tackle this, the authority is deploying an intelligence-led strategy, including tracking offenders to multiple addresses and enhancing data sharing with national bodies such as the Department for Transport and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority. This approach has yielded significant recoveries, with around £25 million recouped from non-payers over the past year and approximately £16.5 million recovered between January and June alone. Part of these efforts includes the seizure and sale of vehicles, which generated £710,000 in funds.

In addition to seizing vehicles, TfL is escalating enforcement through potential bankruptcy proceedings against those who refuse to pay, and may pursue debts via earnings deductions or require payment prior to property sales. The authority is also trialling revisions to the presentation and wording of penalty notices to improve clarity and encourage prompt payment.

The ULEZ, expanded in August 2023 to cover all 32 London boroughs, requires most petrol vehicles registered before 2005 and diesel vehicles registered before September 2015 to pay a daily charge of £12.50 upon entering the zone if they do not meet emissions standards. Non-payment results in a PCN, initially £180 and rising to £270 (or £280 in some statements) when ignored, contributing to an outstanding ULEZ fine debt valued at nearly £790 million at the end of the last financial year.

Despite the enforcement challenges, data shows that compliance across London is high, with over 96 percent of vehicles now meeting emissions standards within the ULEZ. TfL’s chief customer and strategy officer, Alex Williams, emphasised that “most drivers who have vehicles liable for the charge are responsible and pay it,” adding that only a small minority of persistent evaders are failing to meet their obligations. The revenue generated from ULEZ fines and charges is reinvested into public transport improvements, such as enhancing bus routes, particularly in outer London.

TfL has also tripled the size of its investigations team to strengthen collaboration with enforcement agents and tackle repeat offenders more effectively. These steps demonstrate the authority’s commitment to maintaining the environmental goals of the ULEZ while ensuring the scheme’s financial sustainability through robust enforcement.

In summary, while the expansion of the ULEZ has largely been met with compliance, TfL’s intensified enforcement measures are a clear signal to persistent fine evaders that evasion will not be tolerated, with financial and legal consequences increasingly likely for those who ignore their obligations.

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Source: Noah Wire Services