Drivers flout Low Emission Zone rules as repeat offender prefer to pay £1,380 than obey restrictions

The total number of penalty notices issued in August reached 5,682, slightly higher than July's 5,622, but lower than June's 6,039 when the LEZ first came into effect.

The LEZ was introduced in Edinburgh on May 31, 2022, along with LEZs in Glasgow, Aberdeen, and Dundee, restricting the most polluting vehicles from entering certain areas.

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In Edinburgh, a two-year grace period was put in place, meaning no penalty charges were issued during this time, but became active on June 1, 2024.

Notably, while the first offences remained relatively stable, there was a marked increase in fines for the fourth offences, rising from 67 to 98, according to official documents.

But even more striking was the jump in fifth or subsequent offences, which surged from 23 to 99 cases.

These figures suggest some drivers are consistently flouting the rules despite facing substantial financial penalties.

Edinburgh's LEZ restricts entry for the most polluting vehicles, including most diesel cars and vans registered before September 2015 and petrol vehicles registered before January 2006.

The fine structure is designed to discourage repeat offences. Initial penalties are set at £60, halved if paid within 30 days.

However, subsequent breaches within 90 days see the fine double each time, up to £480 for cars and light commercial vehicles and £960 for heavy-duty vehicles.

This escalating system means a fifth penalty notice could result in fines totalling £1,380, or £690 if paid promptly.

Edinburgh City Council’s transport convener Stephen Jenkinson welcomed the decrease in first-time offenders but expressed concern over the rise in repeat contraventions.

He told Edinburgh News: "It is disappointing to see an increase of repeat contraventions, that's why it's more important than ever that we reiterate the collective benefits of the LEZ."

"Our objective is to protect public health from harmful emissions, reduce health inequalities and make Scotland a cleaner, greener place to be."

Jenkinson noted that the LEZ aims to achieve behavioural change, with the ultimate goal of zero fines as all drivers comply with the rules.

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However, he cautioned against drawing conclusions too quickly, saying: "It's still early days, I would like to see how it looks over a longer period of time."

Despite the rise in repeat offences, Edinburgh's LEZ has shown some positive trends. The number of first-time offenders has decreased significantly since June, dropping from 5,765 to 4,695 in August.

This suggests that many drivers are adapting to the new restrictions. The city has also noted an increase in vehicle compliance rates.