French motorist hit with £25,000 worth of fines for driving in London’s low emissions zones

Sami Quadri15 April 2023

A French motorist was fined almost £25,000 for driving his van in London’s low emission zone, according to reports.

Fernando Neiva runs a mini-bus service for French tourists to Britain.

The Guardian reports that he was hit with 12 fines totalling £2,000 each after one of his drivers entered the low emissions zone (LEZ) after visits to London last October and November.

He received an additional three fines totalling over £700 for breaching Ultra Low Emissions (Ulez) rules.

Mr Neiva’s van, which was driven by his associate Jayson Bachubira, is exempt from the charge though he has still been fined because he failed to pre-register his vehicle with Transport for London (TfL).

Mr Neiva said: “It’s just a small company and [we] try to go by the rules. So, that was super scary, especially when you know you’ve respected the rules.”

Any vehicle left unregistered is automatically classified as high emissions.

Mr Neiva said he submitted proof that his van was exempt from emissions charges six months ago, but only received a response that his appeal was being considered five months later.

When he later registered his vehicle, TfL acknowledged it was exempt from charges but his fines have not yet been cancelled.

Mr Bachubira added: “The wait is frustrating, especially when there is no answers from them and you continue to receive the PCNs, which keep increasing.”

The Ulez scheme requires drivers of older, more polluting vehicles to pay £12.50 a day to enter central London, or face a fine of £180, which is halved if paid within 14 days.

Vehicles registered in the UK do not have to be separately enrolled in the scheme to prove they are compliant.

The scheme is currently limited to the area within London’s north and south circular roads but is due to be extended to cover the whole of the capital from August 29 when it will expand to border areas of Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent and Surrey.

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