The TfL Low Emission Zone (LEZ)

THE LEZ OPERATES 24 HOURS OF EVERY DAY, 7 DAYS OF EVERY WEEK AND 365 DAYS OF EVERY YEAR.

Ken Livingstone has long gone back to his newts and appearing on daytime TV, but his crazy scheme is still causing problems for every Londoner and all those who provide services to the capital city. 

The present Mayor, Boris Johnson, says he'll scrap the third phase of the Low Emission Zone, which is due to hit vans and minibuses from October 2010.  He's going to consult the public before confirming the change.  TfL says it will publish the planned change and the formal consultation on its website, the Transport for London website and recommends that van and minibus operators don't do anything until the outcome is known.  The first two phases of the LEZ, affecting trucks, buses and coaches - are unaffected and remain in operation.  Broadly they affect vehicles operating inside the M25 ring and seek to apply tough penalties to operators whose vehicles don't meet the emission standards.  Boris Johnsonhas said his move to dilute Ken Livingstones original death threat for small companies is squarely aimed to cut that burden on small businesses.  Goods Vehicle Operators are likely to feel hard done by, as there are far more vans on the roads of Greater London than trucks and they probably cause at least as much emissions-related pollution. 

With Boris perhaps showing some glimmer of understanding of the reality of the LEZ I wonder how many old style TfL staff will be able to cope with this degree of realism, after working in Ken Livingstones period of dictatorship?

The Facts:

Lorries are affected by LEZ ....... but cars of any age and level of pollution are not affected ........................ strange, but true!

At the moment, the vehicles that are affected are all LGV's (that's Large Goods Vehicles) that are not proven, at least to the satisfaction of the TfL Congestion Charge/Low Emission 'team', to be up to Euro III compliant standards. In a few years, compliance will be amended to only permit Euro IV compliant trucks and possibly a specific type of ‘large van’ into Greater London, but this is now being reconsidered..

The LEZ affects many types of specialist vehicles that are derived from lorries and vans including; motorised horse boxes, breakdown and recovery vehicles, refuse collection vehicles, gritters, sweepers, concrete mixers, tippers, removals lorries, fire engines, motor caravans, ambulances and ..................... large hearses.

Daily charges that must be paid by TfL non-compliant vehicles

The daily charge for TfL non-compliant vehicles is £200.00 for all lorries and may be £100.00 for large vans if TfL brainwash Boris with their 'Livingstone logic'.

You are welcome to make payments to Transport for London (TfL) up to 64 working days in advance of travelling within Greater London, or on the day of delivery/travel, or until midnight on the next working day after travelling within the LEZ. If you fail to pay within the TfL required deadlines then you will be heavily penalised, by TfL.

Payments must be made for a specific vehicle on a nominated day.

The daily charging period runs from midnight to midnight. Having paid for a day a vehicle can then be driven within the Zone as many times as required on that day ....... at the moment.

There is a charge imposed by TfL for every day that a vehicle is within the Zone. For example, a vehicle being driven within the Zone at 10.00pm on one day but not leaving until 2.00am the next day will need to pay for two days entry into Greater London.  A non-compliant vehicle that is based at an operating centre within Greater London must pay TfL £200.00 every day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, for being operated from within the TfL zone, even if it doesn't go out on the road.

Penalty charges set by Transport for London (TfL)

If a TfL non-compliant vehicle is within or enters the London Low Emission Zone (LEZ) and the driver/operator does not pay TfL the daily charge, a further penalty charge will be enforced on the owner by TfL. This will be issued to the registered keeper of the vehicle.

Lorries that do not meet the levels of compliance laid down by TfL will be forced to pay £1000.00 penalty charge per day if they don't pay the daily levy within the required period (see above). This will be reduced to £500.00 per day if paid within 14 calendar days, but increased to £1500.00 if not paid within 28 calendar days.

A penalty charge may be issued by TfL if the charge has not been paid by midnight on the next working day after the day of travel, or if an incorrect Vehicle Registration Mark (VRM) or day of travel was supplied when the charge was paid. The onus is on the operator, not TfL, to prove he/she is innocent. So, you will be deemed guilty unless you can prove to TfL that you are innocent. TfL will expect penalties/fines to be paid first, then you can attempt to get a refund later if you manage to satisfy their requirements of proof.........................but they don't say how much later you will/may receive your money back.

The table below displays the commercial vehicles that will be affected over time by the TfL implementation of the LEZ, the relevant emissions standards and the date on which standards will be brought into effect by TfL.

Cars, motorcycles and small vans are not included in the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) scheme.

• The LEZ covers most of the Greater London Authority boundary and operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

• All roads, including certain motorways within the LEZ boundary are included within the Zone. The M25 motorway is not included in the LEZ, even where it passes within the boundary.

• If your chosen route takes you through the Central London Congestion Charging Zone, you will need to pay Transport for London both the daily Congestion Charge and any LEZ daily penalty charges you incur.

An LEZ vehicle compliance registration form can be completed in advance of entering the zone for the first time and sent into TfL at the address on the form, along with documentary evidence, as demanded by TfL, to verify the vehicle’s emissions standards meet the requirements of TfL. A separate form must be completed for each vehicle. 

Registration forms are available from TfL by calling 0845 607 0009

Good luck !