Clean Air Zone charges bungled as drivers win majority of fine appeals against council

Motorists have been slapped with tens of thousands of fines for breaching emissions relating to the city’s emissions-based charging scheme.

Figures from the Government’s Traffic Penalty Tribunal shows show that 56 per cent of cases saw tribunal judges rule in favour of drivers.

​Most of the other outcomes would end in a compromise resulting in drivers not having to pay a £60 or £120 fine, but rather the initial £9 charge.

Once drivers have seen their appeal to the council or local authority rejected, they are able to take it to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal.

Of the 882 appeals heard by the Tribunal, 500 were found in favour of the driver, with a further 232 cases closed, some of which were because the vehicle had not been identified correctly.

Bristol is one of the latest cities to introduce a Clean Air Zone, having done so in November last year.

Petrol vehicles that were produced generally after 2006 and are counted as Euro 4, 5 or 6 standards will escape the daily £9 charge.

Similarly, most vehicles with a diesel engine will not be charged if they are Euro 6, meaning they were first registered after the end of 2015.

Bristol’s CAZ is one of a handful of emissions zones to charge private vehicles, in addition to taxis, LGVs, HGVs, buses and coaches.

It is estimated that around 71 per cent of vehicles travelling into Bristol already meet the zone’s emissions standards.

While Bristol Airport is not included in the Clean Air Zone, motorists may have to drive through the zone to get there, thus potentially incurring a fee.

Initial funds raised from fines will be put towards the installation and maintenance of cameras and signs, while any further money being spent on local projects and helping motorists upgrade their vehicles.

A council spokesperson said: “Those who think they have received a Clean Air Zone PCN in error or have mitigating circumstances can submit an appeal. Each appeal will be assessed based on its own merit.”

Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees recently announced that another measure aimed at reducing emissions in the city would be scrapped, namely a workplace parking levy (WPL).

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The levy would have seen employers with more than 10 parking spaces charged per space, potentially charging £500 per employee.