Enforcement of Scotland’s first Low Emission Zone (LEZ) begins tomorrow and will see drivers of older vehicles entering the forbidden zone with huge fines that double with each subsequent breach. The Mail has more.
The scheme is far stricter than London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) and Birmingham’s Clean Air Zone (CAZ), both of which have daily charges for drivers who enter in non-compliant vehicles.
Instead, the first Scottish LEZ introduced in Glasgow from Thursday is a blanket ban on older cars that’s operational 24 hours a day, 365 days a year – and with harsh punishments for those who fail to adhere to the restrictions.
A driver entering the LEZ in a non-compliant older car will be hit with a £60 penalty charge notice – and if they break the rules again, the PCN amount doubles each time.
Despite enforcement due to start in less than 24 hours, the city council is facing a late bid to have it delayed…
Glasgow is the first of Scotland’s four biggest cities to enforce the LEZ scheme.
While signage and automatic numberplate recognition (ANPR) cameras have also been installed in preparation for similar zones in Aberdeen, Dundee and Edinburgh since last May, Glasgow City Council is the first to set them live from June 1st 2023.
Dundee’s won’t be enforced for another year from May 30th 2024, and in Aberdeen and Edinburgh from June 1st 2024.
The extended delay between installation and enforcement of the zones is intended to give drivers and businesses time to prepare and replace their older – non-compliant – motors.
However, time is due to run out for those living and commuting into Glasgow from tomorrow.
Escalating penalties for drivers of non-compliant cars
The Glasgow LEZ covers an area of the city centre bounded by the M8 motorway to the north and west, the River Clyde to the south, and Saltmarket/High Street to the east.
In total, 299 of Glasgow’s streets will be within the zone perimeter, it has been reported.
ANPR cameras installed around the boundary identify the vehicles entering the zone.
Any car that fail to meet the minimum required emission standards – Euro 6 for diesel cars (generally those registered after September 2015) and Euro 4 for petrols (typically those registered from 2006 onwards) – is banned from entering this boundary from Thursday.
The restriction will also impact diesel-powered Euro VI HGVs and buses, though mopeds and motorcycles are exempt.
Read More: Glasgow Low Emission Zone Bans Older Cars From City Centre
