Transport for London (TfL) is under scrutiny after agreeing to settle a claim regarding unlawfully issued fines to Dutch lorry drivers.
This settlement follows a legal challenge initiated by Transport in Nood BV (TNBV), representing several Dutch haulage companies, which alleged that millions of pounds in ultra-low emission zone (Ulez) and low emission zone (Lez) fines were improperly levied.
The issue arose when TNBV claimed that TfL had issued fines amounting to €7.5 million (£6.25 million) in violation of UK legislation, which mandates that penalties must be stated in pounds.
The judicial review, launched earlier this year, revealed that TNBV’s members faced crippling financial penalties, with one flower transporter receiving nearly 400 fines totaling €400,000 (£330,000).
TfL faces scrutiny for data privacy violations regarding EU citizens and penalty charges.The Ulez, expanded in August 2023 to cover all 32 London boroughs, imposes a £12.50 daily charge on non-compliant vehicles, while the Lez charges heavy goods vehicles, with fines reaching up to £3,000.
TNBV’s review uncovered that an inflated exchange rate was used in these fines, and an unlawful 5% administrative fee was applied by TfL’s contractor, Euro Parking Collection (EPC).
A TfL spokesperson confirmed the agreement to settle, noting that it pertains solely to fines issued to Dutch haulage companies and requires court approval.
Despite this settlement, a dispute remains regarding the refund amounts, with TfL seeking to refund only the additional administrative fees rather than the full fines.
The controversy escalates as TfL faces allegations from five EU countries for illegally obtaining personal data to issue over 320,000 penalties.
This situation raises concerns over data privacy and compliance in post-Brexit regulations, as transport authorities across Europe scrutinize TfL’s practices.