Transport for London is promising to crack down on drivers who flout its ultra-low emission zone (Ulez) after revealing that 94% of the £790m owed in fines has been racked up by persistent offenders.
Non-payers have been fined as much as £17,000 this 12 months, together with one driver whose automotive was seized and bought at public sale after he ignored 130 warning letters and 14 visits by enforcement officers.
Greater than 97% of automobiles pushed within the Ulez are compliant, and TfL mentioned most individuals who drive extra polluting, older automobiles pay the Ulez cost. A small minority of drivers with 4 or extra penalty notices accounted for 94% of the excellent debt, it added.
About £16.5m was recovered by enforcement within the first half of 2025, and 530 automobiles seized, with 350 bought at public sale, elevating £285,000. TfL mentioned it was escalating motion to county courts and, in excessive instances, to potential chapter proceedings.
Tampering with enforcement cameras has been an issue in some elements of London. {Photograph}: Andy Corridor/The Observer
Motorists driving non-compliant automobiles – usually diesels greater than a decade previous or petrol vehicles registered earlier than 2004 – should pay a £12.50 day by day cost to drive within the capital.
Almost 2 million drivers and greater than 3m automobiles are signed as much as TfL’s computerized cost system for the congestion, Ulez and different highway fees primarily based on a number-plate recognition system.
The Division for Transport and the Driver and Car Licensing Company at the moment are sharing information with TfL to trace offenders and launch enforcement motion.
TfL mentioned there was a recognized hyperlink between deliberate evasion and different prison exercise. The federal government was aiming to extend powers to grab automobiles and deal with issues corresponding to registration plate tampering.
The Ulez, which was drawn up below Boris Johnson’s mayoralty and launched in 2019, turned a totemic political subject after his successor, Sadiq Khan, expanded the zone all through Better London in August 2023. It was a consider Labour’s failure to take Johnson’s former seat of Uxbridge and South Ruislip within the July 2023 byelection, though Labour triumphed there a 12 months later within the basic election.
Based on Metropolis Corridor’s progress stories on air high quality, roadside nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations are an estimated 54% decrease in central London than projected had the Ulez not been launched, and 24% decrease in outer London, with different pollution additionally considerably diminished.
There have, nonetheless, been quite a few stories of individuals being incorrectly charged. Tampering with quantity plates and enforcement cameras has additionally been a difficulty. TfL needed to rescind fees and PCNs despatched to drivers in Chingford final 12 months after vandalised cameras have been turned to face the unsuitable manner.
Various European drivers have been additionally issued with repeat fines by TfL, some incorrectly, after failing to pre-register automobiles with overseas quantity plates.
Alex Williams, TfL’s chief buyer and technique officer, mentioned: “We all know that we want daring options to deal with the general public well being disaster and poor air high quality in London and Ulez does simply that. Solely a really small minority of automobiles now don’t meet the requirements. Most drivers who’ve automobiles which can be chargeable for the cost are accountable and pay it. It’s only a small group of persistent evaders who fail to take action.”
Williams mentioned ignoring PCNs may imply vehicles or property being forfeited. He urged individuals who confronted monetary difficulties to not ignore PCNs however as a substitute “interact with our workers, who can take into account your particular person circumstances and work with you”.
