Bus lanes, clean air zones and road charges
Camera penalties from councils, Transport for London and road charging schemes follow a statutory process much like a council parking ticket. We use each stage of it, and take the case to the independent adjudicator if the answer is no.
What this covers
- Bus lane and bus gate penalties, usually recorded by a fixed or mobile camera.
- Moving traffic penalties, such as no entry, banned turns, yellow box junctions, school streets and weight or width restrictions. London councils and Transport for London have enforced these for many years. Since 2022, councils in England outside London have been able to apply for the same powers, so not every council has them.
- Clean air zones run by councils outside London, where a daily charge applies to vehicles that do not meet the zone's emission standard.
- The ULEZ, the Low Emission Zone and the Congestion Charge, run by Transport for London.
- The Dart Charge at the Dartford Crossing, the Mersey Gateway charge, and similar road user charging schemes.
These are civil penalties, not criminal offences. Police speed and red light cameras are different: they lead to a notice of intended prosecution. See our guide to notices of intended prosecution.
| Penalty | Usually issued by | Independent appeal |
|---|---|---|
| Bus lane and moving traffic, England outside London and Wales | The council | Traffic Penalty Tribunal |
| Bus lane and moving traffic, London | The London borough or Transport for London | London Tribunals (Environment and Traffic Adjudicators) |
| Clean air zones outside London | The council that runs the zone | Traffic Penalty Tribunal |
| ULEZ, Low Emission Zone, Congestion Charge | Transport for London | London Tribunals (Road User Charging Adjudicators) |
| Dart Charge | Dart Charge, for the Secretary of State for Transport | Traffic Penalty Tribunal |
| Mersey Gateway | Halton Borough Council, as the charging authority | Traffic Penalty Tribunal |
How the process usually works
The details differ between schemes, and the deadlines printed on your notice are the ones that count. The usual pattern is:
- Penalty charge notice. Posted to the registered keeper, based on camera evidence. It gives the date, time and place, the amount, a reduced amount for early payment, and how to make representations.
- Representations. Usually within 28 days of the date the notice is served. The reduced amount usually applies for a shorter period, often 14 or 21 days depending on the scheme.
- Notice of rejection. If the authority does not accept the representations, it sends a notice of rejection explaining how to appeal. An appeal is usually due within 28 days.
- Independent appeal. An adjudicator at the Traffic Penalty Tribunal or London Tribunals considers the evidence from both sides. The decision is binding on the authority.
If a notice is neither paid nor challenged in time, the authority can usually issue a charge certificate increasing the amount, then register the unpaid sum as a debt and use enforcement agents.
Councils outside London that have taken on moving traffic powers usually send a warning notice, rather than a penalty, for a first contravention at a new camera site during the first six months of enforcement there.
Grounds we check
The grounds for representations and appeals are set by the regulations for each scheme and are printed on the notice. Common grounds include that:
- the contravention did not happen, for example because the signs or markings were missing, unclear or did not match the traffic order, or the footage does not show what the notice says
- you were not the registered keeper on the date, because the vehicle had been sold or had not yet been bought
- the vehicle had been taken without consent
- the vehicle was hired, and the hire company has supplied the hirer's details
- the charge had already been paid, or the vehicle was exempt or registered for a discount
- the penalty is more than the amount that applies
- the authority made a procedural mistake, such as serving the notice late or leaving out required information
Where no ground applies, the authority can still cancel a notice for a compelling reason supported by evidence. We put those reasons forward where they exist.
Clean air zones and the ULEZ: check the vehicle record first
Some penalties arise because a vehicle that meets the emission standard is not recorded as compliant, or because a daily charge was paid for the wrong date or registration. Evidence such as the manufacturer's confirmation of the vehicle's emission standard, or the payment receipt, can resolve the point. Send us whatever you have.
What we do
- Review the notice, the camera footage, the signs and markings, and the traffic order or scheme rules
- Write the representations, citing the ground relied on
- Lodge the appeal with the Traffic Penalty Tribunal or London Tribunals on your written authority
- Represent you at a phone or video hearing if you want us to
- Keep track of every deadline on the notice
What we do not do
- Make a statutory declaration or witness statement for you. If one is needed, you make and send it yourself, and we explain the options.
- Deal with enforcement agents on a debt that has already been registered, beyond explaining the process
- Advise on police speed or red light camera offences, which are criminal matters
- Handle schemes in Scotland or Northern Ireland
The reduced amount and appeal deadlines
Making representations can mean the early payment discount is lost if the challenge fails, although some authorities re-offer it. The time limits are short and strictly applied. Send us the notice as soon as it arrives.
Common questions
I sold the car before the date on the notice. What happens?
That is a recognised ground. Evidence that you had sold the vehicle and told the DVLA, such as the confirmation letter or the buyer's details, usually supports representations that you were not the keeper on the date.
Can someone else speak for me at the tribunal?
Yes. The tribunals allow appellants to be represented by another person. We can conduct the appeal and speak for you at a phone or video hearing if you want us to.
Does a mistake about the zone count as a reason?
Not knowing about a charging zone is not one of the statutory grounds. The authority may still consider the circumstances, but we will tell you honestly whether a challenge has a proper basis before we start.
Is a council parking ticket handled the same way?
The process is very similar. See council parking tickets.
Our status
Appeal Specialists is an independent consultancy, not a law firm. We are not solicitors or barristers and we are not regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority or any other legal regulator, so you cannot complain about us to the Legal Ombudsman.
We provide non-reserved legal services only. We do not conduct litigation, file or serve court documents, or accept service of court documents for you. Where the law allows, we can speak for you at a small-claims hearing or a tribunal, but only with your agreement and, at small-claims hearings, only if you attend.
What you tell us is not protected by legal professional privilege. We never hold your money. We work on matters in England and Wales only. We do not guarantee any outcome.
All correspondence by email
We deal with everything in writing, so every point and every deadline is on the record. If you are replying to a letter from us, please quote our reference.