Low Emission Zone comes into force in London

Friday, 1 February, 2008 at 9:20 am by Motor Lawyers

New Low Emission Zone comes into force in London

On Monday 4 February 2008, the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) will come into force in greater London. Supported by a database, new signage and static/mobile surveillance cameras, the scheme checks all lorries in excess of 12 tonnes to ensure that they comply with the EU emission requirements.

The system is enforced by checking vehicle registrations against a database of compatible vehicles based primarily on year of manufacture. At present, all lorries made after October 2001 automatically comply with the EU standards of particulate emissions of 0.05g per km. Some older vehicles can be adapted to comply with the rules, although in general terms, this is unlikely to be cost effective for lorries manufactured before 1997. Those who do not comply, based on the fact that they do not appear on the database, will initially be given a warning letter for a first offence but thereafter a set charge of £200 is imposed which rises to £1,000 if it is not paid by midnight the following day.

Despite the recent installation of signage and cameras, and a publicity campaign by Transport for London, there appears to be general confusion over the rules, which vehicles are compatible and need to be registered and general compliance. As a direct result, there is a 28 day lead-in period but from the 3 March 2008, the legislation will be vigorously enforced.

Unlike the congestion charge zone, the LEZ covers a much wider area (roughly inside the M25) and further, is enforced 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Whilst at present it relates only to lorries in excess of 12 tonnes, in due course, it will be rolled out to cover all commercial vehicles and eventually mini buses and caravans by 2010.

Daily Charge
£200 for lorries, buses and coaches, and £100 for heavy vans and minibuses, which do not meet the emissions standards.

Penalties and Enforcements

Vehicle	Weight	Date affected	Penalty Charge	If paid within 14 days	If not paid within 28 days
Lorries Motor caravans Horseboxes	Exceeding 12 tonnes	4 February 2008	£1,000	£500	£1,500
Buses Coaches	Exceeding 5 tonnes	7 July 2008
Lorries Motor caravans Horseboxes	Between 3.5 and 12 tonnes	7 July 2008
Large vans Horseboxes	Between 1.205 unladen and 3.5 tonnes	4 October 2010	£500	£250	£750
Motor caravans	Between 2.5 and 3.5 tonnes
Minibuses	Below 5 tonnes