London LEZ transitional arrangements

London LEZ changes – period of grace

Logistics UK has clarified the arrangements for the issue of Penalty Charge Notices (PCN) to operators following the changes to the Low Emission Zone scheme in January 2012. From 3 January 2012:

• lighter vehicles and large vans over 1,205kg unladen weight but not exceeding 3.5 tonnes gross vehicle weight (gvw), minibuses with more than nine seats but below 5 tonnes gvw and motor caravans between 2.5 tonnes and 3.5 tonnes gvw must meet the particulate matter levels for Euro 3
• heavier goods vehicles, over 12 tonnes gvw, medium vehicles including goods vehicles, motor caravans, horseboxes and other specialised vehicles (over 3.5 tonnes and up to 12 tonnes gvw) and buses/coaches (more than nine seats and over 5 tonnes gvw) must meet the Euro 4 particulate matter level

Logistics UK has confirmed with Transport for London (TfL) that if a vehicle enters the zone from 3 January, is non-compliant with the emission standards and the daily charge has not been paid the keeper will be sent a warning letter, rather than a PCN. The vehicle will then be given a period of grace of 28 calendar days, which begins on the date of the warning letter. At the end of the 28 days, if the same vehicle is detected in the zone and still does not meet the emissions standards and the daily charge has not been paid, a PCN will be issued.

TfL offers lifeline to operators facing LEZ retrofit delays

Transport for London says that it is aware that a small number of operators have experienced difficulties in getting approved abatement systems fitted in time for the changes to the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) on 3 January 2012. In order to avoid penalising responsible operators unnecessarily, TfL has said that it will ensure that if an operator can provide evidence that it purchased a filter before 3 January 2012, it will not issue a penalty charge notice to the vehicle owner if that vehicle is driven within the zone before the filter is fitted. Please note, all claims made under these circumstances will be examined by TfL on a case by case basis.

Read more on the London Low Emission Zone.