TfL Ref: FOI-1851-2425

Thank you for your request which we received on 9 September 2024, asking for information about ULEZ penalty charge notices (PCNs).

Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Environmental Information Regulations (EIR) and TfL’s information access policy. I can confirm that we hold the information you require. 

The ULEZ was expanded on 29 August 2023 across all London boroughs. Following the launch of the expansion, between 29 August and 25 September 2023, warning notices (WNs) 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, PCNs have been issued for contraventions.

When a PCN is issued the recipient has the right to challenge it by submitting representation to us. Should the representation be accepted the PCN is cancelled. We do exercise discretion and take mitigating circumstances into account when considering challenges against the issue of PCNs, which can result in representations being accepted despite falling outside the statutory grounds defined in the regulations. If a representation is rejected, the motorist has a further right of appeal to an Independent Adjudicator at London Tribunals.  

You specifically asked:

1.How many ULEZ PCNs were issued?

Between 1 July 2023 until 1 August 2024,  2,204,080 ULEZ PCNs were issued.

2. How many of those were challenged? 

Of the 2,204,080 PCNs which were issued, a total of 299,974 representations were received. It should be noted, the motorists have the right to challenge a PCN on numerous grounds, therefore, the total number of representations received does not mean they were all challenged based on mitigating circumstances. 

3. In how many cases did you exercise your discretion and cancel the PCN? 

Of the 299,974 representations which were received, 6467 were cancelled under discretion / mitigating circumstances.

4. On what grounds did you accept the associated mitigation?

We do not record the cancellation reason to that level of specification, however, the most common reasons why discretion is applied is where the customer has cited a journey due to an emergency, a health consideration, or other extenuating/mitigating circumstances.

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

Eva Hextall 

FOI Case Management Team

General Counsel

Transport for London