Penalties for Ignoring Congestion Charges

Congestion charges are not common in the UK but are in operation in two UK cities. Ignoring a congestion charge can lead to fines of £120 although this amount can be reduced for prompt payment.

What is Congestion Charging?

Congestion charges are usually applied to specific areas of a city where there is a high flow of traffic. When London introduced congestion charging into central London the number of vehicles to enter the congestion zone reduced dramatically. Congestion charges will usually focus on specific city areas with a high amount of traffic from Monday through Friday. There are exemptions and discounts that apply to drivers who do live and travel within the congestion zone.

Cities in the UK with Congestion Charges

In the UK there are two cities that apply congestion charges. In 2002 Durham become the first UK city to implement a permanent congestion charge. The City of London implemented its congestion charge in 2003 with an initial price of £5. The Department of London increased the congestion charge to £8 per day in 2005 and the charge now stands at £12 per day. Other cities such as Birmingham and Manchester have considered implementing congestion charges but eventually rejected the idea.

Congestion Zone Exemptions and Discounts

Drivers who live within congestion charging zones will usually receive a discount. This can be as much as a 90% discount although this will only apply to registered residents. Disabled drivers who hold a Blue Badge are usually 100% exempt from the congestion charge. Drivers who use electric and plug-in vehicles are also eligible for the 100% electric vehicle discount. Other ‘green’ vehicles such as those registered with the Greener Vehicle Discount Scheme are also eligible for a 100% congestion discount charge.

Paying the Congestion Charge

There are a number of different ways available to pay a congestion charge. For example the London congestion charge can be paid at newsagents, shops and petrol stations that display the ‘C’ sign. Drivers can also pay by post, by telephone and by text. If the charge is paid the night before travelling there will usually be a discount, and paying on the day may be more expensive. London’s congestion charge runs from 7am until 6pm, Monday through Friday. Durham’s congestion charge runs from 10am to 4pm, Monday through Friday with a £2.00 charge.

Congestion Zone Penalty Charge Notices

Drivers who fail to pay congestion charges will be liable to financial penalties. If a driver is caught on camera driving through the congestion zone and records show they have not paid the congestion charge they will be issued with a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN). Drivers will not know if they have been caught on camera until they receive the Penalty Charge Notice. If the congestion charge has not been paid by midnight of the following day then a PCN can be issued.

Financial Penalties for Ignoring a Congestion Charge

At present the financial penalty for non payment of a congestion charge in London stands at £120. This amount will decrease by 50% if the fine is paid within two weeks. The time limit for paying the Penalty Charge Notice is 28 days from the PCN date. Challenging a Penalty Charge Notice is available under certain circumstances.

Challenging a Congestion Charge Penalty Charge Notice

Drivers who feel that they have been wrongly issued a Penalty Charge Notice can dispute the fine. Reasons for dispute can include:

• The vehicle was exempt or the charge had been paid
• The register vehicle keeper was not driving the vehicle at the time of the offence
• The vehicle had been stolen or taken without the registered keeper’s knowledge
• The vehicle had been hired out to someone else at the time of the offence
• The vehicle’s registered keeper had applied at the time for a 100% exemption discount

Although there have been many petitions and oppositions to congestion charging there is no avoiding this fee in cities where it has been implemented. Congestion charges are in place to reduce traffic and pollution levels in major cities. But mistakes can occur, and anyone who does feel they have been unfairly issued with a Penalty Charge Notice has the right to dispute the congestion charge fine.