Nearly 30,000 Low Emission Zone fines handed out in Glasgow last year

Glasgow City Council handed out nearly 30,000 Low Emission Zone (LEZ) fines during its second year of operation.

The council collected more than £750,000 from drivers through the scheme.

The figures, included in an annual report on Glasgow’s LEZ, show a fall in the number of penalty charge notices compared to the first year of enforcement, when more than 38,000 fines were recorded.

Glasgow’s LEZ came into effect for all vehicles in May 2022, with a one-year grace period on enforcement, which then began in June 2023. It was created to reduce levels of harmful vehicle emissions.

In the first year, between June 2023 and the end of March 2024, figures showed that more than 25,000 fines had been paid, bringing in £982,415, with a net revenue of £747,511.

In year two, from April 2024 to the end of March 2025, a total of 29,838 penalty charges were issued for non-compliant entry to the zone.

The new report shows 18,962 fines have been paid, totalling £764,580. Following appeals and cancellations, £7,590 has been refunded.

It states: “During 2024/25, the number of PCNs [fines] issued has continued to slowly reduce. However, a significant number of non-compliant vehicle entries continue to be recorded, averaging approximately 2,500 per month.”

There were 4,468 appeals against fines in the second year, with over half (53.3% or 2383) of these successful. In year one, 5,692 appeals were received, with 31% (1,765) of those successful.

Most cancellations were a result of the recipient having a blue badge, providing evidence that their vehicle was LEZ compliant, or the vehicle registration being entered incorrectly.

Others were cancelled for reasons such as a diversion being in place, which forced vehicles into the LEZ.

Reasons for appeals failing included drivers believing their vehicle was compliant or they weren’t within the LEZ as well as people being unaware of the LEZ or blaming SatNav for taking them into the zone. Unsuccessful appeals can be referred to an independent adjudicator.

Surcharging, where the fine doubles for subsequent LEZ breaches by the same vehicle, started in July 2023.

The majority of fines “were in respect of the first level of penalty charge and within the 14-day period eligible for a 50% discount on the charge rate, resulting in a payment of £30”.

Council officials are working to improve the reporting of fines linked to surcharging. Penalty charges start at £60 and are capped at £480 for cars and light goods vehicles. The limit for buses and heavy goods vehicles is £960.

Spending on the development and operation of the LEZ hit £614,000 (subject to verification) in 2024/25, with, unlike in previous years, no government grants provided. There is £142,990 left over.

Overall, the total expenditure on the LEZ since 2018 is around £2.58m, with £1.58m coming from grants.

The remaining available money will be used on projects which contribute towards meeting air quality objectives or emissions reduction targets.

In 2023/24, money was allocated to “city greening and tree planting activity” as well as a fund for community organisations to bid for grants for “projects which support the objectives of the LEZ”.

Over £620,000 has been awarded to 18 projects, with leftover money to be allocated to a new funding round.