London Mayor Sadiq Khan declares a new crackdown on drivers who avoid paying fines for driving in the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), threatening to bankrupt repeat offenders. The new measures are now in effect.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan declares a new crackdown on drivers who avoid paying fines for driving in the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), threatening to bankrupt repeat offenders. The new measures are now in effect.

In the heart of the city, a shift has been underway since the introduction of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) in 2019. The initiative, spearheaded by Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, was designed to reduce pollution levels in the capital.

The ULEZ, which covers an area of over 580 square miles and homes nine million people, has expanded twice since its inception. In 2021, it extended to the North Circular and South Circular roads, incurring a daily £12.50 charge for any vehicle not compliant with European pollution standards.

However, the impact of the ULEZ on high street spending has been a subject of interest. According to Transport for London (TfL) data, high streets in outer London boroughs have experienced a financial hit. Barking and Dagenham saw the biggest drop, with a decline of 13.25% in high street spending. Other boroughs, such as Hillingdon, have seen increases in worker footfall but decreases in store spend after the ULEZ was expanded.

TfL has been employing an 'intelligence-led approach' to track down ULEZ fine dodgers, involving more data sharing with national bodies like the Department for Transport and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA). This approach has led to the recovery of £16.5million in road user charges and the seizure of over 530 vehicles from January to June.

Sadiq Khan, in a recent announcement, unveiled a new clampdown on drivers who repeatedly dodge ULEZ fines. The Mayor revealed that around 94% of ULEZ debt can be attributed to people with a minimum of four outstanding PCNs. In extreme cases, TfL may open bankruptcy proceedings against these drivers, or impose penalties such as requiring debtors to pay off what they owe before selling any property or having money directly taken from their paycheck.

TfL is also trialling changes to the format of penalty charge notices (PCNs) to make them easier to understand and encourage payment. The data shows that some London boroughs, such as Camden and City of London, have experienced declines in visitor footfall, worker footfall, and store spend after the ULEZ was expanded.

However, not all London boroughs have been affected equally. Some boroughs, like Camden and City of London, have managed to maintain their footfall and spending levels, despite the expansion of the ULEZ. The name of the person allegedly pursued by TfL to recover ULEZ charges is not publicly disclosed.

The total value of unpaid ULEZ PCNs as of the end of the last financial year stood at £789million. This underscores the importance of TfL's efforts to ensure compliance with the ULEZ regulations and collect outstanding debts. Non-payment of the ULEZ charge can lead to the issuance of a traffic offence ticket, with a fine escalating up to £280 if ignored.

In conclusion, while the expansion of the ULEZ has had a noticeable impact on high street spending in certain London boroughs, the initiative remains a crucial step towards reducing pollution levels in the city. TfL continues to work diligently to ensure compliance and recover outstanding debts, employing various strategies to make the process more transparent and accessible for all.