London Becomes Low Emission Zone
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
From January 3rd 2012 new emissions regulations (Euro IV) come into force which affect drivers of diesel-vehicle engines exceeding 3.5 tonnes or passenger vehicles exceeding 5 tonnes within the Greater London area. The London Low Emission Zone (LEZ) will now apply whether vehicles are used for commercial or private use and will affect larger vans, minibuses, motor caravans, ambulances, motorised horse boxes, breakdown and recovery vehicles, refuse collection vehicles, snow ploughs, gritters, road sweepers, concrete mixers, tippers, removals lorries, fire engines, large hearses (over 2.5 tonnes), extended-cab dual purpose pick-ups and some light utility vehicles.
A daily charge will be payable for diesel vehicles not meeting the new emissions standards. There will be no barriers or toll booths within the LEZ but cameras will read number plates and check against a database of registered vehicles (compiled using information provided by the DVLA and the Vehicle Operator Services Agency (VOSA). Most vehicles registered in Great Britain will not need to register, but non-GB registered vehicles will need to register with Transport for London (TfL) in advance.
TfL have stated that drivers may be issued with a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) if the vehicle does not meet the Low Emission Zone emissions standards and are not exempt or registered for a 100 per cent discount, or if the charge isn't paid by midnight on the next working day after the first day of travel. The LEZ was introduced in 2008 to encourage the most polluting diesel vehicles driving in the Capital to clean up their act.
For more information on LEZ, restrictions and penalty charges, visit http://www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/lez/