Congestion Charge: higher penalty charge
Penalty charges to be brought in line with other traffic offences
The penalty for not paying the Congestion Charge is rising.
From today (10 December 2007) the penalty charge for not paying the £8 daily charge will be £120.
This reduces to £60 if paid within 14 days.
It brings the charge into line with London Borough/Transport for London (TfL) differential penalties which changed on 1 July 2007. These cover parking contraventions and moving traffic offences when the full penalty payable increased to £120.
A Congestion Charge Pay Next Day facility exists. This allows drivers who forget to pay by midnight on the day of travel to pay up to midnight the following charging day at a cost of £10.
TfL says the Congestion Charge has reduced the number of vehicles entering the central zone by 21%, with 70,000 fewer vehicles entering the zone each day compared to pre-zone introduction.
Hybrid cars like the Honda Civic Hybrid (pictured above) are exempt from the Congestion Charge.
